Neighbor Newspapers – Lawmakers appear to want compromise on Douglas elections board hotel motel tax changes

Most Douglas County representatives to county and state governing bodies last week appeared ready to compromise on proposed changes to the county’s election board and increasing the hotel-motel tax before the Georgia General Assembly begins its 2014 session in January.

During last week’s sometimes heated meeting between Douglas County legislators and commissioners at the county courthouse, District 66 State Rep. Kim Alexander, D-Douglasville, said she and District 35 State Sen. Donzella James, D-College Park, had agreed on legislation Alexander had sponsored this year for a board with two members each appointed by the county Democratic and Republican parties and one appointed by the Republican-controlled county commission.

Commission Chairman Tom Worthan said his concern was the board change proposal was “too political” because of an emphasis on party membership.

“I think it should be fair and impartial,” he said. “It shouldn’t be based on what party you’re in.”

A 2008 law sets the five-member board at one member each appointed by the two major political parties, senior superior court judge, the “chairperson of the county governing authority” and the “county governing authority.”

However, Worthan proposed to lawmakers a five-person board with the two parties’ picks and only a judicial appointment.

District 68 State Rep. Dustin Hightower, R-Carrollton; District 67 State Rep. Micah Gravley, R-Douglasville; District 61 State Rep. Roger Bruce, D-Atlanta; and District 62 State Rep. LaDawn Jones, D-Atlanta, also gave differing five-person proposals.

via Neighbor Newspapers – Lawmakers appear to want compromise on Douglas elections board hotel motel tax changes.