Poll Position: Should politicians who resign early help cover the cost of special elections?
Chip Rogers made news this week by announcing he was resigning his recently re-won Senate seat to take a job at Georgia Public Broadcasting. A special election for the seat will be held Jan. 8, just two months after Rogers’ replacement could have been elected in the general election had he stepped down earlier. Channel 2 Action News reports the special election will cost Cherokee and Fulton counties $500,000.
Should politicians who resign early help cover the cost of special elections?
- Yes (203 Votes)
- It depends on the circumstances of the resignation (166 Votes)
- No, they should give their campaign funds back to their donors (39 Votes)
- No, that's part of government and they should be able to use their campaign funds as they wish (27 Votes)
Total Voters: 435
Loading ...But that’s not all. Rep. Sean Jerguson, who like Rogers hails from Cherokee County, is resigning his House seat to run for the Senate post. So there will be a special election the same day to refill that seat. The two seats do not exactly overlap, so there will be some additional cost to Cherokee to hold a special election in the non-overlapping precincts.
And, for good measure, Sen. John Bulloch of Ochlocknee also announced this week he was stepping down before the 2013 legislative session starts, prompting a third special election that day in the eight southwest Georgia counties Bulloch served. (Well, it’s the third so far; it’s not out of the question that a House member could resign to run for that Senate seat and cause a fourth special election.)
Which raises a question: Should taxpayers get some help in covering the cost of special elections when politicians resign their offices early — from the politicians themselves? With the special election for Rogers’ seat alone costing $500,000, we surely are talking about millions of dollars in extra expenses for counties over the past two years.
By my count, these three special elections will bring the total since Jan. 1, 2011, to 17 (that figure is for state-level offices only; there may have been more if local races were included). One of those, the race for Senate District 30, was held on the same day as this year’s general election and thus didn’t represent an additional cost to the affected counties. But it, like eight of the other special elections, wasn’t settled without a runoff — representing even more costs to counties.
Two of the past 17 special elections were required because the elected official died in office; not much one can do about that. But eight of them were because the elected official took a job in state government; four elected officials resigned to run for another office; two moved out of their districts; and one (Bulloch) retired.
In some cases, the politicians resigned their offices left without no campaign funds left in their accounts or a negligible account. But a few of them had at least $10,000 in their accounts. Rogers ($231,033) and Bulloch ($105,967) had much more than that as of the latest report filed. To be fair, both of those reports were filed before the Nov. 6 election and may not reflect their final expenses; on the other hand, neither of them had general-election opponents, so it’s unlikely that they spent huge chunks of their war chests.
Should elected officials who resign their offices and prompt special elections be required to give their remaining campaign funds to counties to help cover the cost of those elections? That’s this week’s Poll Position question. Answer in the nearby poll and the comments thread below.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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243 comments Add your comment
Michael H. Smith
December 7th, 2012
7:25 pm
Should elected officials who resign their offices and prompt special elections be required to give their remaining campaign funds to counties to help cover the cost of those elections?
Yep.
Should more socialist-liberals get permanently booted off Kyle’s blog?
Double Yep.
Streetracer
December 7th, 2012
7:36 pm
Kyle @ 6:15
All I need to know. I’m considered to be a “rude, crude, socieally unacepticable red-headed step child” by a lot of folks. But there are standadrds that should be maintained.
bluecoat
December 7th, 2012
7:47 pm
If these people are not willing to serve out their terms,they should not run.Some exceptions like (Gabby) Arizona.Fine them and ban them from running again.If they switch parties hang them.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 7th, 2012
9:51 pm
“one of the worst 5 Presidents in history”
———————-
No trillion dollar deficits though.
Kept unemployment around 5% for eight years.
Fixed the Islamofascist terrorist problem he inherited.
Turned the economy around after the dot-bomb bust.
Didn’t put record numbers on the dole.
Kept our credit rating at AAA.
Our President Bush: Rate him as you wish, but he’s vastly superior to Obozo.
getalife
December 7th, 2012
9:51 pm
Echo chamber
getalife
December 7th, 2012
9:55 pm
“Our President Bush: Rate him as you wish, but he’s vastly superior to Obozo”
Whopper of a lie.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 7th, 2012
9:55 pm
Oh, Our President Bush never borrowed 46 cents of every dollar the government spent, as Obozo has to do thanks to his profligate, un-patriotic spending.
getalife
December 7th, 2012
9:59 pm
Your party exploded the deficit con.
The gop built that debt.
Taxes on the wealthy is coming.
Here's Johnny
December 7th, 2012
10:04 pm
Barry would whine 24/7 if he didn’t have to sleep.
You remind me of a character from “One flew over a cuckoos nest”
And you will respond because you can’t help yourself..
getalife
December 7th, 2012
10:04 pm
”
The Republicans’ “Job Creators” Don’t Create Jobs
Raising Upper-Income Tax Rates Won’t Hurt the Economy
Low Capital Gains Tax Rates Drive Income Inequality, Not Investment
Income Inequality is at an 80-Year High …
… While the Total Federal Tax Burden is at a 60-Year Low
Tax Cuts Don’t Pay for Themselves
Closing Tax Loopholes Can’t Pay for Lower Rates and Just Hit the Rich
The Estate Tax Has Virtually No Impact on Family Farms and Businesses
The National Debt? Republicans Built That
There Really Isn’t a Fiscal Cliff”
The gop are always dead wrong.
They say we are going over their cliff they invented so they will cut a deal.
bluecoat
December 7th, 2012
10:39 pm
xpresident bush was never Bush-Whacked.He inherited a well run presidency.Hon.President Obama inherited a broken ,bent,warped Bush-Whacked presidency.Not being a magician,it’s taking him some time to correct the inherited debt ridden presidency.
Lil' Barry Bailout -Vote American
December 7th, 2012
10:43 pm
The gop are always dead wrong.
———-
And yet, no GOP President has ever presided over a trillion-dollar defici or run up six trillion in debt in a single term.
Obozo: Epic fail.
Ronin
December 7th, 2012
10:45 pm
Yes. All funds they collected for political favor should be paid to the State to cover the cost of the special election. Actually, there should not be a special election, rather an appointment for the remainder of the term.
bluecoat
December 7th, 2012
10:47 pm
bush lost money by the sackfull.Lied when his lips were moving.Was well trained by ghw bush.
td
December 7th, 2012
11:24 pm
I have taken some time off the blog’s since the election (mainly to make sure my investments are in order before the Obama tax increases hit), been back on for a few days reading and have noticed something very puzzling.
The libs won the election and instead of being happy and rejoiceful have come back with more hate and disdain then ever. Why is this?
Get a grip Dems
December 7th, 2012
11:43 pm
Finn McCool,
YOU need to take your Meds and go away – back to your single wide!
Get a grip Dems
December 7th, 2012
11:49 pm
Bluecoat,
Pass the Doritos! Are u really this dillusional cause this cant be your “normal” thinking approach. Enough of the bs of what muss Obama came into, he now has 4 more years to fix ( while I move to Costa Rica), who is he going to blame then?
Get a grip Dems
December 7th, 2012
11:52 pm
Getalife,
Thought you were retired or something!
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 8th, 2012
7:06 am
Progs like to pretend their Little Lord Barry is some kind of super-president, but he’s done even worse than Our President Bush, so…….
Attack Dog
December 8th, 2012
7:11 am
Now we know why DeMint is so against taxing income over $250K. His $174K congressional salary wasn’t effected, but his $1 million CEO would. With his new Heritage Foundation salary, how many good paying jobs would he create if he kept an extra $9,000?
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 8th, 2012
7:15 am
Real Americans are against raising taxes on anyone at this point because
1) Obozo will just spend it
2) It’s immoral, greedy, and un-patriotic to take more than 10% of anyone’s earnings.
Michael H. Smith
December 8th, 2012
7:34 am
The libs won the election and instead of being happy and rejoiceful have come back with more hate and disdain then ever. Why is this?
Ever heard of the term, “Sore Winners”? If not, then you by now at least know them empirically, while the applied terminology remains pending.
Michael H. Smith
December 8th, 2012
7:41 am
Now we know why DeMint is so against taxing income over $250K
Yeah, I’ll bet he’s in the hip pocket of those MARTA bus drivers who make $250K plus a year too!
CC
December 8th, 2012
8:01 am
“Getalife, Thought you were retired or something!”
God should be so merciful!
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 8th, 2012
8:03 am
Progs never retire because it would be wrong to stop paying income taxes. Right?
AU Liberal in ATL
December 8th, 2012
8:07 am
There should be some kind of penalty for failing to fulfill your commitment. I’d say that if one resigns prior to the end of his or her term, they give up their pension benefits and any and all other government paid benefits. Additionally, I don’t care for elected officials who switch parties mid term. If they want to switch, they should have to wait for the next election and run in the party of their choice.
AU Liberal in ATL
December 8th, 2012
8:08 am
Note to Lilly….stfu. You’re such a dumbass.
CC
December 8th, 2012
8:11 am
LBB:
Progs never retire becausse they’re like termites, working relentlessly until all is destroyed.
CC
December 8th, 2012
8:15 am
AU Liberal in ATL:
“Note to Lilly….stfu. You’re such a dumbass.”
Seems that would serve better as a “reminder note” to yourself . . .
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 8th, 2012
8:16 am
That’s true, CC, and just like with termites, the damage is usually hidden until the thing they’re trying to destroy falls down.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 8th, 2012
8:29 am
AU Liberal in ATL: Note to Lilly….stfu. You’re such a dumbass.
———————
Thanks for the attention!
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 8th, 2012
8:41 am
…and nice job hitting the trifecta, AU: Changed the spelling of my screen name, snuck in a four-letter word, and engaged in personal attack with namecalling!
carlosgvv
December 8th, 2012
8:49 am
The question is not should they pay?
The question is will they pay anything or will they just slide into another cushy job at taxpayers expense?
You get three guesses.
The first two don’t count.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 8th, 2012
8:53 am
BTW, I don’t recall any progs complaining about Jesse Jackson Jr. doing the same thing.
CC
December 8th, 2012
8:58 am
“BTW, I don’t recall any progs complaining about Jesse Jackson Jr. doing the same thing.”
. . . and you won’t, because he’s ‘one of their own’.
Rightwing Troll
December 8th, 2012
9:40 am
“And yet, no GOP President has ever presided over a trillion-dollar defici or run up six trillion in debt in a single term.”
Except the last one whom you elected not once… but twice…
I know you all are smart enough to know how Credit Cards work, so I don’t understand how you give W a pass on the current state of our affairs… but you do… I wonder if we were discussing President McCain’s first term… would you all be so outraged??? The deficits would be NO different, and his options would be the same… tell the truth now… if you can.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 8th, 2012
10:00 am
I don’t understand how you give W a pass on the current state of our affairs
———————
See that word you used…”current”?
Our President Bush never proposed or ran a trillion-dollar deficit. It took him eight years to run up as much debt as Obozo did in a mere four. Our credit rating stayed at AAA while Our President Bush was in office. We didn’t have nearly as many folks on the dole under Our President Bush as we do under Obozo. Checked the labor participation rate lately? And Our President Bush kept unemployment around 5% for eight years, through the 9/11 and dot-bomb messes He inherited. It wasn’t Our President Bush who increased spending by $700 billion per year for four years…yep, that was Obozo. Obozo inherited a recovery–how did he screw it up this badly?
Obozo: Fiscal and economic disaster.
bluecoat
December 8th, 2012
10:01 am
Obama won.The people spoke.Now you in the minority(votes) accept or reorganize your T pot see if you can get it whistling again.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 8th, 2012
10:05 am
House Republicans won.The people spoke.Now you in the minority(votes) accept or reorganize your adult diapers to see if they can contain your rhetorical bowel movements.
Rightwing Troll
December 8th, 2012
10:12 am
” And Our President Bush kept unemployment around 5% for eight years, through the 9/11 and dot-bomb messes He inherited.”
That right there splains it all sparky… and obviously I was wrong about you… you truly don’t understand how Credit cards work…
So if W “inherited” something that affected the economy… how did Obama not? (this should be good…)
especially when the “dot-com bomb” was years after W took office and W’s recession was going on 2 years in 2008?
Rightwing Troll
December 8th, 2012
10:16 am
House Republicans won.(fewer seats than they had)
The people spoke.(that they wanted fewer nuts in the house)
The nuts control one of the 3 branches… yep the people spoke loud and clear… they don’t trust you ilks with 2/3’s control of the government… maybe all the lies had something to do with it… or the willful and ongoing destruction of the economy for political ends… I dunno.
Glenn Beck
December 8th, 2012
10:20 am
Barry is on his step stoop and huffing and puffing this morning…..
Hahahahahaha
Just don’t take the bib off, you wouldn’t want your drool to get on you new garanimal shirt
Poor little fella
yuzeyurbrane
December 8th, 2012
10:25 am
Legitimate health reasons, like Bulloch’s case, should always be an exception.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 8th, 2012
10:41 am
Rightwing Troll: So if W “inherited” something that affected the economy… how did Obama not?
————————
Bush did something about the messes He inherited. The economy recovered. Unemployment went down. Tax revenues went up. Economic growth went up.
Obozo made all the wrong moves and we’re still suffering because of it (see my litany of Obozofailures above). Had Obozo not intentionally stunted the recovery with Obozocare, hassling of business, hyper-regulation, and uncertainty over tax rates and overspending, we’d be back to normal and people would be working for a living instead of voting for one.
BehindEnemyLines
December 8th, 2012
10:42 am
What a silly notion … unless of course you’re going to also give those who are occasionally unopposed in a special election a check for the amount opening the polls would have cost.
Dusty
December 8th, 2012
11:10 am
Well, all kind of “swappings” down in the warm state of Florida. Former Republican Gov. Crist of that state has now decided he is a DEMOCRAT. Woohoo! Now, neither Democrats nor Republicans trust him. Wishy washy and self defeating in the great race to get ahead in politifcs.
Good riddance! No use to elect a man only interested in getting ahead any way he can. Informed opinions in Florida see Crist hanging on to Prez Obama’s coat tails in order to move forward to Washington
.Maybe he will get “appointed” there. How about Honorary Officer of Obamacare’s Extensions for Yokels known as HOOEY?
willie lynch
December 8th, 2012
11:11 am
I think politicians who win an election running for one party then switches to another party after they win should have to face another election under his new banner.
Cliff
December 8th, 2012
11:18 am
Does anyone think that when you quit your job that you should have to pay for your employer’s expenses in replacing you and expenses associated with the intervening vacancy? No. So why would we think politicians would have such an obligation, if we don’t think we should have that obligation?
@@
December 8th, 2012
1:28 pm
John Q: I missed much of this afternoon’s commenting working on other things, but your 2:40 went way over the line. We’ll see you in 2013.
Maybe.
OK, then, John Q. Let’s make it permanent.
One of those rare drive-bys on a Saturday afternoon.
Why? So I could say “Oh my!”
And to think, this intended target (@@) didn’t even feel “the pain”.
Oh well….
schnirt
CC
December 8th, 2012
2:28 pm
@@:
It would appear that losers never quit losing! To hurl words that the recipient never read and then be banished for the act is somehow so very fitting. At any rate, the banishment is welcomed by many and mourned by very, very few.