Georgia Politics, Elections, and Campaigns for May 30, 2012

“24345” is a black, lab mix female who is young, friendly, and available for adoption today from the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter. Puppy and kitten season, which is right now, often means increased euthanization at shelters and shorter hold times. Black dogs are especially susceptible to being put down due to “black dog syndrome.”

Politics, Elections, and Campaigns

The trend of Democratic officeholders and candidates switching to the Republican Party has become such a routine part of Georgia’s political culture since Governor Sonny Perdue, a former Democrat, was elected, and four state senators followed him, moving control of that body into the GOP column. But for much of the Democratic domination of Georgia politics, control of local offices was integral part to their retaining statewide control. Now that Georgia’s realignment as a red state is complete at the state level, the GOP continues to consolidate control at the local level. So we’re coloring a map to show that. Blue counties indicate a formerly-GOP officeholder who switched to the Democratic party.

We’ve added Hall County to the red counties on the map, having noted yesterday that no Democrat appears to have qualified for county-level partisan office.

In Hart County, which was already on the map yesterday due to the party change of Clerk of Court Frankie Gray and County Commissioner Joey Dorsey, we learned that Sheriff Mike Cleveland also switched to the GOP.

In Catoosa County, not a single Democrat qualified for partisan office, and neighboring Walker County had 23 Republicans qualify versus two Democrats. Among the Catoosa County Republicans qualifying were former Democrats Tax Commissioner Sandra Self and Coroner Vanita Hullander, while in Walker County, Sheriff Steve Wilson and Tax Commissioner Carolyn Walker had announced their intent to switch parties in October.

The flip-side to these changes is that occasionally, GOP officeholders switch to the Democrats. Gwinnett County school board member Loiuse Radloff, who has served since 1972 as a Republican, will run as a Democrat this year, saying, “The democratic party is and has been focused on supporting public education, which makes me comfortable running as a democrat.”

In Fayette County, board of education member Terri Smith also switched from the GOP to the Democratic party. Mary Kay Bacallao will run as a Republican against Smith, as will Gary Griffin. (Other Fayette County races are covered here.)

Radloff’s switch in Gwinnett likely reflect changing demographics in her district, while Smith’s change in Fayette County accompanies a change from at-large voting for all Board of Education seats to district voting.

Qualifying for three seats on the Fayette County Commission starts today and runs through noon Friday after having been delayed pending Justice Department preclearance.

The Cherokee County Republican Party will host a series of eight debates beginning tomorrow night at 7 PM at Cherokee Republican Party Headquarters, located at 1428 Towne Lake Pkwy. in Woodstock (behind Longhorn Steakhouse). The first debate features candidates for Tax Commissioner and Sheriff.

AJC Political Insider Jim Galloway has coverage of the burgeoning “bromance” between Mitt Romney and Donald Trump. If only the Kardashians enter politics, his editors will realize their fondest dream.

Local qualifying coverage for Columbus and Muscogee County is available at the Ledger-Enquirer. The Valdosta Times covers Lowndes, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, and Lanier Counties. Savannah Morning-News covers Savannah, Chatham County, Bryan and Effingham Counties qualifying. Henry Daily Herald previews races in that county.

The Georgia Association of College Republicans has elected regional directors:

Leanne Livingston, Northeast Regional Director
Jonathan Collier-Porter, Northwest Regional Director
Sarah Chambers, Atlanta Metro Regional Director
Gabe Flores, East Regional Director
Patrick Kelly, Central Regional Director
Craig Norris, Southern Regional Director

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle has come out as an advocate for ethics reform.

Cagle, who spoke to the Kiwanis Club in Gainesville on Tuesday, said he supports a measure like the one Sen. Josh McKoon proposed last session that died.

The proposal would have capped lobbyist gifts at $100, among other restrictions. A similar measure also died in the Senate.

Cagle told Kiwanians that he voted for ethics legislation in the Senate before he was elected lieutenant governor.

“I remember when I first came in, there were virtually no ethics (rules) in terms of disclosures,” Cagle said. “…I think we’ve made great strides. Is there more that needs to be done? Absolutely.”

Cagle said he supports limits on lobbyists’ gifts, and he said he plans to form a study committee on the issue.

Republicans Gone Wild?

In Cherokee County, the feud between local tea party activists calling themselves the Canton Tea Party and County Commissioner Karen Bosch has taken a turn for the amusing worse, as Bosch filed an ethics transparency complaint against Tea Party Patriots, alleging that the local tea party branch is violating state campaign laws requiring registration and disclosure by groups advocating for or against a candidate or referendum.

 “This organization is collecting funds from various sources. The funds are being used to influence voters for and against candidates, as well as for and against an upcoming ballot referendum (T-SPLOST).”

Interestingly, the complaint targets the larger and well-known Tea Party Patriots organization, naming Debbie Dooley and Jenny Beth Martin, among others.

Meanwhile, Bosch’s ex-husband has filed an affidavit alleging that Bosch accepted a pile of cash from a county vendor that was not disclosed as having come from the vendor but was put by the vendor into envelopes containing $100 each with different names written on each in order to evade the requirement that donations more than $101 be reported. Last week the recycling company whose owner is the subject of the affidavit filed bankruptcy, possibly leaving the County Commission and Cherokee County taxpayers on the hook for $1.7 million. Look for Chip Rogers to introduce legislation next session outlawing such public-private partnerships.

Bosch is not seeking a third term on the County Commission.

Local muckraker Jim Walls at AtlantaUnfiltered, with intern David Michaels, an Emory journalism student, ran a piece detailing the non-political career of Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, alleging that Rogers worked as a sports handicapper on cable television infomercials and a recorded handicapping line.

Rogers has called the reports “gutter politics at its worst” and told the Cherokee Tribune:

“I realize my opponents do not wish to debate my record of cutting taxes, reforming Georgia’s property tax system, shrinking the size of government or helping create jobs here in Cherokee County. It is unfortunate that they would be given a platform for dragging political debate to this level.”

Senate Rules Committee Chairman Don Balfour has drawn flak for his penchant for sporting events.