[Mark] Harris had lost the 2016 Republican primary for North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District by a mere 134 votes. A handful of absentee votes in Bladen County had made all the difference.
The story of what happened in the race for North Carolina’s 9th District shows just how rare and also how basic and local election fraud really is. What happened in Bladen County in 2018 wasn’t carried out by sophisticated computers from a foreign land, but by low-level operatives with handwritten lists and spreadsheets in a forgotten stretch of eastern North Carolina where the median household income is $36,000 a year, where the most prominent employer is a hog-slaughtering plant and where folks were desperate enough to knock on doors and ask for people’s votes for candidates they didn’t know.
On the night of the June 2016 primary, as Mark Harris conceded victory to Pittenger, [his son] John clicked through the results: Out of 26,606 cast his dad had lost by a margin of one half of 1 percent. It was late, 11 p.m., when he shot both of his parents an email: “I mentioned by text that things looked strange coming out of Bladen County. I’ve taken another look, and can confirm that the absentee by mail votes look very strange.”
The results were close enough that Harris and his campaign team considered calling for a recount. Any wrongdoing they could find, they figured, would only bolster their argument. In his email, John Harris highlighted the wild mail-in ballot numbers in Bladen, which ran completely counter to the overall results:
• 221 votes for Todd Johnson, who finished third overall in the district
• 4 votes for Mark Harris, who nearly won the election
• 1 (one) vote for Robert Pittenger, the sitting congressman
“The irregularity suggests perhaps there is a more systemic error, and given that you outperformed Pittenger in both early voting and on Election Day in Bladen County, it may be worth investigating,” John went on in his email. “This smacks of something gone awry.”
Nestle is a playful 8-9 week old Lab/Bulldog. She has her first vaccinations and deworming. She gets along well with her siblings and enjoys playing with them and her toys.
George is 4 months old, Lab/Pit mix ( mom is on the site – Georgetta), vaccinated, neutered and house-trained for puppy pads. He is good with other dogs and children. Sweet, friendly puppy, likes to play and have fun.
Quill and his littermates were surrendered to the shelter. He is 5-6 months old, vaccinated and dewormed. Will be neutered when adopted. Really friendly boy, gets along well with littermates and other dogs. Playful guy who will be great with an active family.
I’m a people pleaser – would love an active human to hang with. Ok, so I’m choosy when it comes to which canines I’m friends with but let’s meet, get to know each other, and see where this could go…
The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.
Hi, my name is Apollo but my friends call me Buddy! I am a male that is about 19 weeks old (estimated birthday is 6/16/21), and I currently weigh about 35 lbs. I am a lab mix of some sort, but no one has seen my parents so that is just a guess (I was found as a stray with my siblings). I am a very friendly and love other people, children, and other dogs. I tend to bark at cats but I am getting more used to them in my foster home. I’m house trained and I know tricks like “sit.” I am also learning how to walk well on a leash and to come when I am called. I am crate trained and sleep in my crate at night. I am a sweet, lovable puppy that is looking to pour out some love with my new family! I am looking for my furever family…could that be you?
Hey yall my name is Millie! I am approximately five years old and weigh around 10 pounds. I am spayed, up to date on vaccinations, microchipped, and heartworm positive — but don’t worry, it’s not contagious and the rescue pays for my treatment until I am heartworm negative! I enjoy cuddling with my foster parents and going for walks outside. I’m looking for someone who is going to be patient with me, as I can be shy and might take a while to open up to new people and places. Once I feel comfortable, I am just the sweetest little girl. I love to be close to my people and will give the best cuddles. I have a tendency to do best with women, and would thrive in a home with at least one female. I get along with dogs and cats, although big dogs scare me a little. I am house-trained, right now my foster parents dont crate me when they leave the house because I am trustworthy. I enjoy sometimes playing with toys, especially those that make crinkle noises! Im looking for my Furever home, could you be it?!
Finn (Finnegan) will be 1.5 years old in January 2021 and currently weighs about 50ish pounds. He is up to date on vaccinations, neutered & heartworm positive, but we will test again before adoption, it’s not contagious, and the rescue covers his treatment until he tests negative! Best guess on breed: Shepherd/retriever mix. Finn was rescued from an abandoned house as an older puppy by animal welfare. It was clear that he had not had human interaction and was terrified of humans. It has taken tremendous patience, but Finn has come a long way from the scared puppy that he was to the quirky, funny dog that would thrive in right home. Finn will need an experienced dog owner.
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go. Washington
The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.
[I]t was not until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to fall on the last Thursday of November, that the modern holiday was celebrated nationally.
With a few deviations, Lincoln’s precedent was followed annually by every subsequent president–until 1939. In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt departed from tradition by declaring November 23, the next to last Thursday that year, as Thanksgiving Day. Considerable controversy surrounded this deviation, and some Americans refused to honor Roosevelt’s declaration. For the next two years, Roosevelt repeated the unpopular proclamation, but on November 26, 1941, he admitted his mistake and signed a bill into law officially making the fourth Thursday in November the national holiday of Thanksgiving Day.
As Georgia Democrats fanned out across the state this week to tout the benefits of the bipartisan infrastructure package, Gov. Brian Kemp convened top state officials to paint a grim picture of supply chain issues triggered by congestion.
“Supply chain interruptions don’t just hurt job creators,” Kemp said, “it also hits Georgia families in their wallets.”
Democrats counter that the intricate supply chain problems are symptom of systemic problems that the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure measure will begin to fix. Biden has recently tapped a special port envoy and announced around-the-clock hours for the Port of Los Angeles to help clear the backlog.
State Democrats, meanwhile, have embarked on an extended victory lap to promote the infrastructure measure, which will pour billions of dollars into roads, bridges, utilities, public transportation and initiatives to combat climate change.
All eight Georgia Republicans in the U.S. House opposed it, raising concerns about the cost and programs aimed at cutting carbon emissions. At stops around the state, Democrats have highlighted projects that would benefit from the funding – and reminding audiences of the GOP opposition.
The recently-passed $1.2 trillion infrastructure package will bring to Columbus millions of dollars in projects and push the long-discussed Interstate 14 proposal closer to reality.
More than $11 billion will come to Georgia over the next five years as the result of the bill, according to Sen. Jon Ossoff’s office. Columbus will get a portion of those funds for public transportation, the airport and several other projects.
According to Ossoff’s office, key portions of the bill include:
• $1.36 billion in funding to improve and expand public transportation statewide
• $8.9 billion to repair Georgia roads and highways
• $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs statewide
• At least $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across Georgia
• $135 million to build an electric vehicle charging network across Georgia, as well as funding to replace transit vehicles and buses with clean, low- and zero-emissions vehicles
Language in the infrastructure bill designates I-14, including the proposed Georgia section, as a high-priority corridor. Sen. Raphael Warnock previously told the L-E that the bill provides no funding to the project.
Muscogee County will receive at least $20.7 million to improve and expand its public transportation, Ossoff said during his Tuesday visit to the METRA Transit System’s administrative office on Linwood Boulevard.
More than $20 million from the federal bipartisan infrastructure act should be arriving in Augusta to support public transportation, clean water, internet access and bridges as soon as next year.
“Across all of these areas, transportation, education, high speed internet, and the infrastructure we need to upgrade our daily quality of life, there will be real resources flowing to the Augusta area next year,” Ossoff said.
The total amount coming to Richmond County remains unclear at the moment.
“Those figures are fluid at this point,” said Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. who introduced Ossoff.
“I expect this bill will deliver more than $20 million for transit for Augusta, and possibly significantly more,”” Ossoff said. “It will be the most significant investment for public transit in this community ever made.”
“We see an opportunity for the 13th Street Bridge, with this money, coming into the city of Augusta, for us to move that forward in a very significant way,” said Davis.
To allow for increased holiday traffic, Georgia Department of Transportation is suspending lane closures on Georgia interstates and roadways near shopping centers beginning today at 5 a.m. until Sunday at 10 p.m. These statewide lane closure restrictions will help to reduce traffic congestion during the Thanksgiving holiday. Similar restrictions will be in place for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
“By limiting lane closures during the holiday season, we hope to promote a safer, less congested traveling experience,” said John D. Hancock, Georgia DOT state construction engineer. “Unfortunately, we have seen a noticeable increase in motor vehicle fatalities nationwide due to distracted driving, speeding and driving under the influence. This holiday season we encourage all drivers to put down the cellphones, buckle up, slow down and drive sober.”
Warner Robins Mayor Randy Toms and his runoff opponent, LaRhonda Patrick, disagree on crime, according to 13WMAZ.
“A lot of things that people don’t understand about the crime rate in Warner Robins is they think they can read it in a magazine and take that for the truth and it’s just not the truth. l think the crime rate in Warner Robins is actually pretty low compared to some of the other cities that could have been prepared,” Toms said.
“Crime is definitely at a space where we need to reel it in. It’s not as bad as it could be and it’s not as bad as people speculate it is, but if we’re having the conversation, that means it’s bad enough that we need to address it, so proactive crime prevention is what I would recommend,” Patrick said.
Toms took out an ad that says Patrick wants to defund the police. He said that he has added at least 20 positions to the force.
“My opponent made the statement that some people would say that we need more police officers, and I don’t think that’s the answer. It’s pretty cut and dry to me. I think the answer is more police officers and my opponent thinks it’s not the answer,” Toms said.
Congressman Andrew Clyde (R) was surprised at being drawn out of his district, according to AccessWDUN.
Clyde currently resides in, and represents, Jackson County as part of the 9th District. During the recent redistricting process, Jackson County was drawn out of the 9th District and will now be a part of the 10th District along with Barrow, Jackson, Madison and other counties south and southeast.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Clyde says that he believes the redrawing was intentional.
“Over the next few days, you will hear many reasons as to why the decision to draw Jackson County out of the 9th was unavoidable. Some will be based on numbers, and some will be based on process, but I contend that all of them are false,” Clyde wrote.
“I believe this was a purposeful decision made by a handful of establishment politicians in Atlanta. I knew when I was elected that being a hardcore conservative would come at a steep price in Washington. I have always happily paid that price in the name of freedom. What I never anticipated was the unprecedented act of being drawn out of my own district by a Republican Lieutenant Governor and a Republican Speaker of the House.” [said Clyde]
“While it will break my heart to no longer have the opportunity to represent Jackson, Elbert, Clarke, Dawson, Pickens, Madison, and Forsyth Counties, I will continue to stand in the gap for the same conservative values which they elected me to safeguard just over a year ago.” [said Clyde]
The new 9th District includes Hall, Dawson, Lumpkin, Banks, Habersham, White, and other surrounding counties. Forsyth County will no longer be in the 9th District but will be in the 6th District, along with part of Fulton County.
As the current second-longest-serving Georgia House member, redistricting is nothing new to state Rep. Gerald Greene.
Elected as a Democrat in 1983, the representative from Cuthbert switched to the Republican Party after winning re-election in 2010.
Albany Democratic Rep. Winfred Dukes also has a lengthy period in office. First elected to District 154 in 1996, he has rarely had an opponent, either in a primary or general election.
For Dougherty County, the urban hub of the region, the changes will mean Greene’s district moving to the west and incorporating more of the county. District 152 state Rep. Bill Yearta, a Sylvester Republican, will lose the portion of his district in Sumter County, and the new district will incorporate part of Dougherty County.
With the reshuffling, Dukes and Greene will find themselves both within the borders of the new House District 154, which will be the largest in terms of area in the state as it includes low-population counties including Baker and Clay.
District 154 will now consist of all or parts of Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Dougherty, Early, Miller, Quitman, Randolph and Seminole counties.
State Rep. Gregg Kennard (D-Lawrenceville) introduced legislation for the 2022 session addressing mental health coverage for first responders, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.
Kennard pre-filed a bill last week to ensure first responders, such as police and firefighters, can get workers’ compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder or other psychological injuries that they suffer from as a result of the stresses from their jobs.
That bill, House Bill 855, will be taken up when legislators convene for their next regular session in January.
Tifton voters approved a liquor sales in November, according to WALB.
Tifton city leaders told WALB News 10 on Tuesday that the city is working to get a solid plan for those who can qualify for the liquor license.
“They are going to draw the city out into four different zones and they are going to pick one application from each zone, and those four people will be the ones that can open up the liquor stores,” said Heather Cheek of 41 Beverage.
WALB News 10 asked city leaders a number of questions about what happens now, like how much liquor licenses will cost, who will get them and when those licenses would have to be renewed.
Tifton City Manager Pete Pyrzenski said the city is still trying to figure it all out and they’re not yet ready to answer those questions just yet. City officials said there would be a detailed plan before the new year.
New polling data shows former President Trump the GOP favorite, according to Politico.
As Donald Trump builds out a presidential-campaign-in-waiting, his team is focusing on an electoral strategy that relies on recapturing the five states that flipped to Joe Biden in 2020.
The five states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — delivered a total of 73 electoral votes in 2020, enough to produce a decisive Electoral College victory for Biden. Since then, Trump has held four rallies, endorsed dozens of candidates and played a key role in shaping contests that could put his allies in top offices in those states in 2024.
According to the poll, a memo of which was obtained by POLITICO, the former president led Biden in Arizona by 8 percentage points, Georgia by 3 points, Michigan by 12 points, Pennsylvania by 6 points and Wisconsin by 10 points.
“Poll after poll clearly demonstrates that former President Donald Trump is still the 800-pound gorilla in the GOP and would be its 2024 nominee should he run,” said Fabrizio, who confirmed the numbers for POLITICO but did not provide them. “This new data clearly shows that today the voters in these five key states would be happy to return Trump to the White House and send Biden packing.”
Of the five states surveyed, the poll shows that Georgia is consistently the tightest state between Trump and Biden, while Michigan and Wisconsin appear to be leaning the most heavily toward Trump or away from Biden.
Peanut Butter is a 5 yr old scruffy terrier mix. He was living with 2 pits and a cat but his owner lost his home and had to give him up. He’s a good dog who loves attention but has a bit of an independent streak so he would do best in a household with adults or at least older children.
Teeny is a small scruffy terrier about a year old. She came to us along with 4 other terriers when her owner was no longer able to care for them. She can be very nervous and nippy at first meeting but once she trusts you she is a love bug. These dogs were kept in the house and rarely let out so they are not house trained. They are working on house training but their adopter must be prepared to work with them. They are starting to do well with the pee pads. These dogs are not leash trained and need a fenced yard to insure their safety.
Izabel is a 6 yr old coonhound mix. She was turned into a rural animal control when her family decided they could no longer afford to take care of her. She was pregnant and gave birth to 8 beautiful pups there. She was a great mom in spite of the fact that she was skin and bones and could barely feed her pups. Her rescue group has gotten her back to a healthy weight and she is ready to show you how good she is at loving.
Early voting for the runoff to decide Brunswick’s next mayor is currently underway with the runoff Election Day set for Nov 30.
The News: Tell us a little bit about why you are running.
Figueroa: My wife Karen and I made our home in Brunswick because we were drawn by the strong sense of community. That sentiment has only grown over the years. We love our neighbors and enjoy walking into town to meet new friends and support our local businesses. In short, we love what makes Brunswick, our home. I had been looking for opportunities to get more involved but having served two terms on a Georgia City Council when my daughters were young, I know the commitment it takes to do the job and do the job right. When I retired last year, Karen and I discussed a run for mayor because in addition to having the time and experience, I have that commitment. In my professional life, I have worked for large and small companies that have provided municipal services to a variety of Georgia cities and counties. In 2011, Gov. Nathan Deal appointed me to the state Workforce Development Board of Directors where I served through 2018. More on my background can be found at VoteIvan.com. While experience and recognition matters, in my book, the most important thing a mayor can offer is the passion to serve Brunswick from corner to corner. We need someone whose priority is our city — our businesses, our residents and our quality of life. Karen and I make our home in SoGlo — you’ll see me often out in our yard or around the neighborhood. Say hello — regardless of the outcome of this election, we are not going anywhere because Brunswick is our home.
The News: What can be done to reduce crime in the city?
Figueroa: Public safety is everyone’s concern, and it’s my No. 1 priority. Major crimes in the city have dropped significantly over the past few years. That said, I have repeatedly warned that when we fail to fill open positions, we are inviting crime. At last count we have over 20 unfilled Officer positions. This is unacceptable and puts our community and our officers at repeated and unnecessary risk. While the city has slightly increased officer’s pay, we fall short of the county and sheriff’s office. We have officers in cars that should have been replaced years ago. Public service, and all those who serve our community will be at the center of my administration. Each employee will know they are valued and above all, responsible to our citizens and businesses. An investment in public safety is an investment in Brunswick’s future.
