House GOP leader: ‘My goal is to end Fulton County’
When the Legislature passed new maps for the state House and Senate last year, Republicans gave themselves extra slices of certain counties.
Earlier this month, House Speaker pro tem Jan Jones of Milton bluntly explained the merits of the tactic to a group of north Fulton voters. From Neighbor Newspapers:
In January, according to Jones, there will be a north Fulton majority in both the House delegation and the Senate delegation.
Which means, “we can cut Fulton County down to size until we get Milton County,” she said.
“My goal is that we reduce the thumbprint … of Fulton County on your lives and your pocketbooks such that in a very few years, Atlanta and south Fulton will not fight us on recreating Milton County because Fulton County will be insignificant,” she said. “We will begin that process next year.”
Jones said she actually thinks splitting Fulton into three counties would be in the best interest of all citizens.
“My goal is not to re-create Milton County. My goal is to end Fulton County and bring government closer to the people,” she said. “But it will take convincing.”
Jones’ comments, reported last week, are only now circulating within the city of Atlanta. They explain the motives behind HB 1052, which would have given the power to appoint two of three Fulton County representatives on the MARTA board to municipalities in north Fulton, said state Rep. Rashad Taylor, D-Atlanta.
“The strategy is to chip away at any power that Fulton County has. One of the greatest powers the county has is the appointment of representatives to the MARTA board,” Taylor said.
Taylor has invited Jones to a town hall meeting in his neck of the woods – on any Saturday in the next two months — “so that my consituents and others not in north Fulton may have the benefit of your views.”
***
Over in the editorial department, my AJC colleague Kyle Wingfield reports this bit of news:
Multiple GOP districts last month voted to propose that a ballot question about ethics reform be put to voters in July’s Republican primary. This and other potential ballot questions will be weighed tomorrow as the party begins its annual two-day convention in Columbus.
A question about ethics reform is a slam dunk at the ballot box, if opinion polling is any sign. In a statewide poll before this year’s legislative session, 82 percent of self-identified Republicans said they supported a cap on gifts from lobbyists to legislators — the central plank in this year’s stymied ethics reform bills.
***
The New York Times has two articles worth your time today. The first is about groundwork being laid for a $10 million Republican effort to redefine President Barack Obama in harsh terms:
A group of high-profile Republican strategists is working with a conservative billionaire on a proposal to mount one of the most provocative campaigns of the “super PAC” era and attack President Obama in ways that Republicans have so far shied away from….
“The world is about to see Jeremiah Wright and understand his influence on Barack Obama for the first time in a big, attention-arresting way,” says the proposal, which was overseen by Fred Davis and commissioned by Joe Ricketts, the founder of the brokerage firm TD Ameritrade. Mr. Ricketts is increasingly putting his fortune to work in conservative politics.
A new study released by the Brookings Institution argues that Mitt Romney’s Mormon religion is unlikely to hurt him at the polls in November.
The researchers based the conclusion on an experiment in which people were asked whether they planned to vote for Mr. Romney or Mr. Obama. Some of the respondents were first given information about Mr. Romney’s religion – and in some cases, quite detailed information – while others were given none. Those who received the information first were no less likely to support Mr. Romney.
***
Over at the Savannah Morning News, Larry Peterson has this on the Republican race to challenge U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Augusta:
A 12th Congressional District hopeful is ducking an opponent’s claims that he broke federal election law.
Rick Allen says Wright McLeod didn’t fully report expenditures, took donations larger than allowed and stole campaign donor information.
***
Members of the executive and state committees of the Democratic party on Wednesday received this note from Russell Edwards:
”While I intended to stay on board as the Treasurer to help finalize a budget and provide information to Committee members until my replacement was elected, the situation has changed due to circumstances beyond my control.
“My access to the Party’s financial information was terminated last Monday, effectively cutting off my ability to perform my duties. After unsuccessfully attempting to reinstate my access to perform my job for the State Committee, I am left with no choice but to resign immediately.”
The party’s April financial report is due on Monday, which will give everyone a peek at the party’s financial situation.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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177 comments Add your comment
Marlboro Man
May 17th, 2012
11:09 am
Wimps go around the system, winners use the system. Babies cry about the system.
DannyX
May 17th, 2012
11:10 am
“Has anyone ever noticed the lack of diversity in the Fulton buildings?”
You mean like Gwinnett? One minority elected to county wide office even though less than half the population there is white, from the school board, county commission, and state offices. One minority department head in county government. Whites dominate the school system front office.
Of course you were going to get to Gwinnett too, weren’t you Ron. Cobb is almost as bad.
Contractor
May 17th, 2012
11:10 am
Danny O,
Do I need to waste my time on Foreclosure rates, crime rates, poverty rates, government assistance rates? The statistics prove my points and I would advise you to do a tad bit of research instead of just asking the simple question and making someone do it for you. Have some respect and a little due diligence.
Right
May 17th, 2012
11:11 am
Maybe we should just get rid of Georgia and make it a part of Florida….especially since our elected officials want to act like goofy Floridians. People it’s time to realize our votes have consequences.
td
May 17th, 2012
11:13 am
Look before I leap…
May 17th, 2012
10:20 am
So, no matter how crooked a rep is, as long as his constituents continue to send him back to the Gold Dome, it’s ok?
You are making it sound like I approve people getting away with illegal activity. We are talking about taking trips or going to Falcons games or getting wined and dined. This is not illegal and IMHO is the business between the representative and his/her voters that put them in office.
atlpaddy
May 17th, 2012
11:14 am
Let them have their Milton County – and then sell each and every former Fulton County piece of property to the highest bidder – schools, roads, parks, waste-water treatment facilities, all of it. Future Miltonites can put their money where their mouth is. How’s that for free-market capitalism?
Contractor
May 17th, 2012
11:15 am
Truth,
South Fulton is a run off of Clayton County! They are one in the same. Why is it racism that Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, and Milton are so successful? There are black people in those communities. You demonize them because they are tired of being grouped with the takers and losers in society. It’s so easy for you to label them racist, but that name calling holds no water and is played out. Try working up an argument that supports your claims instead of making you look ignorant and pathetic.
jarvis
May 17th, 2012
11:17 am
@Phil Lumney, I imaging the folks in N. Fulton would argue that the post-civil war debt has been repayed 10-fold.
Billy
May 17th, 2012
11:17 am
Revive the old Milton and Campbell counties and then take what’s left of Fulton and have DeKalb annex it into their county. Fulton came from DeKalb in the 1800s anyway. Maybe even throw in Clayton for good measure.
All the counties in south Georgia should be combined into large counties. Texas is the only state with more counties than GA; the old rule that you should be able to ride your mule to the county seat in one day’s time has outlived it’s usefullness, wouldn’t you say?
Cutty
May 17th, 2012
11:17 am
As long as Milton pays Fulton back for the schools, parks, infrastructure, water, et al. they can do what they want. To think their going to secede from Fulton without paying a dime makes the pro-Milton crowd look like a bunch of lemmings.
Truth
May 17th, 2012
11:18 am
Contractor is obviously not from here. I SAY GIVE HIM AND ALL THE OTHER RACISTS WHAT THEY WANT! LET THEM HAVE THEIR OWN COUNTY!!!
trixie
May 17th, 2012
11:19 am
Hey Jim,
Did you invent the “Jump To Conclusions” mat?
td
May 17th, 2012
11:20 am
Not true
May 17th, 2012
10:33 am
@td -
The reality is that things are not openly disclosed. The trip to Europe that you speak of wasn’t disclosed until media found out about it and looked into it.
If that is true then it was an illegal act and the lobbyist should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and immediately ban from lobbying at the state house forever.
Pizzaman
May 17th, 2012
11:21 am
Did you expect anything less from a state that elected a crook as it’s Gov just because he’s a Repub? Of course not. People in mega-red states will vote for a convict over a law abiding citizen because of party. No wonder the whole Country’s in trouble.
jarvis
May 17th, 2012
11:22 am
@atlpaddy, Don’t think they haven’t already considered all of that. If the prices from F. County exceed what Milton can build new facilities for…what do you think will happen?
td
May 17th, 2012
11:22 am
Centrist
May 17th, 2012
10:27 am
I saw you on Kyle’s board this morning and I go over there from time to time also.
Lucy
May 17th, 2012
11:22 am
The leftists only support Obama because he is black (ok. only part black) and having a black president is far more important to them than having a capable president.
RexDogma
May 17th, 2012
11:23 am
Why do all the white folks complain about Fulton & DeKalb Co. I am not African American, but there are plenty of white republican counties that are ran poorly too!! Oh, but that is OK!!! I guess?
Danny O
May 17th, 2012
11:23 am
@Contractor:
There is nothing disrespectful about my statement towards you. You cite “statistics,” but you provide none. I’m not making anyone do anything for me, I’m just saying that if you base your argument on something, you should be willing to back it up. I appreciate civility on these blogs and try to practice it myself.
THE INFAMOUS DK
May 17th, 2012
11:24 am
Boy people sure are showing their true colors.
Toes The Line
May 17th, 2012
11:24 am
Better idea – get rid of Jan Jones.
Contractor
May 17th, 2012
11:27 am
Truth,
Once again your true intelligence rears its ugly head. I was born at DeKalb General Hospital and lived in DeKalb and Rockdale Counties my entire life basically. It’s unvelievable the transformation both of those places have taken over the past 28 years. You can read the writing on the wall and it wreaks of South Fulton and Clayton mentality. Call me a racist all you want, but a Realist is more like it. Whine and cry about your poor little community, but with the success that lives in Milton, I have a hard time believing it’ll be as run down as the airport and the surrounding areas. I gotta get back to that little thing called work, Truth, so get a clue and have a good day.
THE INFAMOUS DK
May 17th, 2012
11:29 am
The record shows Obama is more capable than Bush on any level. It was Dubya who got him elected, so you can thank him. See the one thing we know.. In order to be apart of the system we have to be 10 times better and smarter than ya’ll will ever be just to get in the door. We dont have the benefit of nepotism or my friends father runs the company. We have to do it on merit and intelligence alone. So Obama is surely more capable than Bush on many levels.
I will make Georgia howl
May 17th, 2012
11:30 am
Why don’t we just go back to pre-Civil War times in Georgia? Let’s resurrect the plantations, get rid of cars, buggies and horses for all. It seems that is all some very ignorant people want in this backassward state.
td
May 17th, 2012
11:33 am
DannyX
May 17th, 2012
11:04 am
I do not live in Fulton county so I really do not have a dog in the fight but since you and other south Fulton people want to bash north Fulton so much for not doing their share then why do you not just let them go? Would you all not be happier with everyone like minded running the show in Fulton county?
Moe
May 17th, 2012
11:35 am
Who died and made Jan the boss.
milton pig
May 17th, 2012
11:37 am
You can put lipstick on a Sow, but at the end of the day she’s still a oinker.
Truth
May 17th, 2012
11:37 am
Clayton county has NOTHING to do with South Fulton. LOL!! I guess because Black folks live next to each other they are one in the same, huh? Just like all Black folks look alike! You want proof. Go back and look at Mitch Skandalakis campaign in the mid 90s (I know you probably didn’t live in the community back then). Then spend a day in an elementary school in S. Fulton and one in N. Fulton. Yeah, there is a lot of leaching going on. LOL! I SAY GIVE ALL THE RACISTS THEIR OWN COUNTY!
LMAO
May 17th, 2012
11:40 am
Contractor don’t lump me in with Clayton County! South Fulton paid for the infrastructure in North Fulton. You folks don’t want to hear the truth of the matter. Your egolected officials have sold you a bad bill of sales. South Fulton is and has been pulling its own weight for quite sometimes.
By the way, the worst part of all this is North Fulton Schools were built from South Fulton money. Ya’ll don’ want to discuss that disaster do you? It took 15 years before a new high school was constructed in South Fulton after all the schools were consolidated. In the meantime, four or five high schools were built in North Fulton.
North Fulton is going to be allowed to walk away with all the schools etc. without paying a dime because the legislature is going to make sure South Fulton is short changed. I smell a lawsuit in the making.
josh stinger
May 17th, 2012
11:41 am
Let North Fulton keep our money! We are the people who work and pay taxes for a living. Let Atlanta enjoy the airport and the great communities in South Fulton that drag down the North Fulton populations. South Fulton citizens need to stop hating the Northside. If they want nicer things IT IS CALLED WORK!!! I’m not talking about part time either. Good luck South Fulton. God Bless North Fulton and may we have our own County VERY Soon before Atlanta and South Fulton County bring the North Fulton communities down to their level. South Fulton can’t even make a decision on their CTP plan!!! My tax dollars are ready to stay in my community!!
RAMZAD
May 17th, 2012
11:42 am
I have been saying it. Black people are making themselves irrelevant in America- except when the contention is a new prison, and white folks are only too delighted to help and oblige them.
Look out black people, your ghetto facilities are slowly being transformed into plantation chic. Congratulations your are earning it.
Truth
May 17th, 2012
11:42 am
I live in Buckhead now. I guess I moved on up! I’m also Black and didn’t vote for Obama. Kinda destroys your stereotype, huh…. Growing up in Fulton I know right from wrong and I also know the history of the county. Knowing that history is vital in understanding the issue. But heck, we have a klansman in the Governors mansion so that tells me all I need to know about Georgia’s mentality. Also, Dekalb county is not Fulton. I guess they didn’t teach geography in Conyers.
tigerguy
May 17th, 2012
11:44 am
Well I don’t currently live in Fulton, but I did live in north Fulton for a brief moment of time. All this splitting/ending Fulton is dumb. It’s far better to work the problems out since history has a way of repeating itself. Most cities of any significant size tend to have this situation where one side of town is the “new kid on the block” where all the businesses are moving, the better houses are, and etc. The other side of town is the side in decline where poorer people move in and where things in general aren’t as good. Over time though the new area hits that critical point and then the tide starts to turn and gentrification of the less desirable area begins. Before you know it the former bad side is now the “new kid on the block” and the other side of town is now in decline. That’s just how cities tend to work. Deal with it and the problems that come with it or move far out in the country where you’ll likely never have to worry about city issues.
Buh bye
May 17th, 2012
11:45 am
Let them go and then slap a hefty commuter tax on them. They want to come to the big city to work, then they have to pay to get here.
JohnnyReb
May 17th, 2012
11:48 am
Fulton County government has been a train wreck for too long. Here’s good luck and best wishes to the effort to either eliminate or greatly restrict Fulton so its disfunction affects as few as possible. If the citizens that remain in a smaller/restricted Fulton really want things to improve, vote Republican. As to non-believers; just how many more years of failure will it take before you let go of Democrats?
hombre
May 17th, 2012
11:48 am
Blacks and Whites had their chance, let’s put the Mexicans in charge.
Contractor
May 17th, 2012
11:51 am
LMAO,
It’s not me lumping y’all together, it’s your neighboring communities that overflow into each other that are doing the lumping together. Once your side of town starts showing examples of not being the same as Clayton County, then there won’t be an issue. And I don’t wanna hear about tax payer dollars, because more people DON’T pay taxes than do, and of you’re receiving tax refunds for more than you spend, then uou’re not a tax payer.
Truth,
You’re the voice of reason. No wonder people have such high opinions of you on these boards.
Need More of Them
May 17th, 2012
11:53 am
Cobb County should hire more police officers. Yesterday, at 1:30 pm I saw 4 Cobb County cop cars sitting along side I-75 southbound between the I-285 interchange and the Chattahooche River bridge. Don’t it appear to be a “speed trap”. Yes, we need at least 4 more of those cops in that area!!!
Someone's mother
May 17th, 2012
11:57 am
If Milton wants to become their own county, let them. However, unlike Sandy Springs becoming their own city with money from Fulton County, Milton would be immediately cut off financially. Start all services from scratch. All FC employees would immediately lose their salaries. Sink or swim! Last Dec an article was written in the AJC about Milton High School using funds that were earmarked for South Fulton schools! Their reason…an oversight!! It was only discovered because an audit was requested. Let them leave…but first a complete financial audit.
Double Zero Eight
May 17th, 2012
11:58 am
Lat time I checked, Sandy Springs was the “media
darling” for violent crime coverage in Fulton County.
It’s ironic that this happened after it was incorporated.
Gwinnett County has its share of corruption. In addition,
you will see a big drug bust, or murder almost every
day on the local news. .
Taipei Personality
May 17th, 2012
11:58 am
hombre, LOL! Seriously, couldn’t do any worse than our string of corruption in ATL from both parts of the oreo…
Dirty Dawg
May 17th, 2012
11:58 am
Seems to me that if they split off ‘North Fulton’ then the majority of the tax burden for what’s left will fall on Buckhead…or are you planning on yet another county for them as well? Tell ya folks, this ‘thing’ that’s happening to us…this selfishness and hate-driven behavior will be the death of us all. Just like this country we are a diverse people and we are only strong if we accept that reality and work together to improve not to ‘divide and conquer’. I mean what if every state in the union were to say that they wouldn’t commit to any money they contribute to the Federal government being spent to benefit another state? Most of the US would be in piss-poor shape. Or maybe you want it that way…which is the saddest part of all..the realization that we have become completely overcome with fear, hate and greed. God help us, cause we are sure not helping ourselves.
Truth
May 17th, 2012
12:00 pm
I wish I was one of those non tax payers. I had to write a NASTY check to the IRS. Saying S. Fulton bleeds into Clayton is like saying it bleeds into Fayette and Cobb. More people live on the Fayette border than Fulton. You gonna compare those folks to Fayette next? I don’t come on these boards often. Only when ignorance needs to be called out!
909
May 17th, 2012
12:05 pm
FACT:
There will be WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY fewer than 159 counties in Georgia in 5 years.
Marlboro Man
May 17th, 2012
12:05 pm
Fear and greed are the politians toolbox.
Only in Fulton County: A jail with locks that don’t work | Kyle Wingfield
May 17th, 2012
12:08 pm
[...] stories like this one as you read about Georgia Republicans’ plans to shrink Fulton County’s impact on residents’ lives on the way to breaking it up. The [...]
Intowner
May 17th, 2012
12:09 pm
Whew. Lots of hate spewing back and forth. As an intowner, with a corporate job, paying taxes, in SW Atlanta, and white, I say simmer down both sides. I have relatives in North Fulton who pull the “we want to keep our money” card. Fine, do so. City of Atlanta, let’s put up tolls on every major highway coming into the city. You want to use our roads, our attractions, our sporting venues, our shopping, our restaurants, our airport, our festivals, etc., you pay the piper. It seems that I see more traffic is coming into the city from North Fulton in the morning than there is going out? Same thing in the afternoon?
I will say the sheer number of counties is weird, and just adds more layers of government. I lived in San Diego for about 5 years. You never head bupkis about San Diego county, you heard about local city governments. Why? Because all of San Diego and many of the surrounding suburbs are in one county. Not saying they are doing things right in CA, because they obviously have their issues, but the number of local governments in GA is staggering. Do we really need all these counties? Who won’t let us pare that number down? Ah yes, local politicians.
Let Milton go, let them buy the parks and schools, but charge them to drive into the city. And city of Atlanta and south Fulton, stop bickering and pull yourself up by the bootstraps. Lots of people, black and white, are moving back into the city. Let’s clean this place up!
Tweedle Dee
May 17th, 2012
12:11 pm
First of all, the taxpayers in North Fulton have paid for the infrastructure that exists within their communities through the years, so selling them something that they have already paid for seems illogical. Second, the SPLOST paid for the construction of the schools, not South Fulton as someone asserted and their location and timing was determined by the school board based on population growth.
And finally, calling the governor or anyone else a Klansman or worse only shows your ignorance and racial bias, which makes your other points worthy of dismissal.
Taipei Personality
May 17th, 2012
12:11 pm
909…huh? even most extreme ocean rise scenarios would only swamp a handful of counties. would you like to give us some idea what donkey trail you’re headed down here?
LMAO
May 17th, 2012
12:14 pm
Contractor you are an idiot. You wouldn’t know South Fulton if it slapped you in the mouth. South Fulton is rural and beautiful. Clayton County is more urban. South Fulton has nothing to do with Atlanta. We pay as much if not more in taxes. Somehow the crooks representing you have gotten you to buy into stereotypes. Get a life!
South Fulton built North Fulton go back and read the history that your crooked politicians have hidden from you. The truth hurts. You guys rode to your success on the back of Fulton County and now you’ve gotten to big for your britches as they use to say.