Your morning jolt: A checklist for tonight’s vote
You probably have your own list, but here’s what I’ll be watching tonight as the votes roll in:
– Even if the TSPLOST doesn’t pass in metro Atlanta, will it pass within the city limits? An in-city victory would serve as a measure of Mayor Kasim Reed’s strength one year before a re-election bid. Don’t look for Reed to be in a good mood should the referendum fail, but win or lose, there’s one side benefit to this campaign for the mayor: The business community is sorely obligated to him.
– Will TSPLOST supporters wait until 7 p.m. before assigning blame for the campaign?
– What price will Tim Lee, chairman of the Cobb County Commission, pay for being part of the creative force behind the TSPLOST vote? Outright defeat will have Republican suburban politicians thinking twice before they play nice with Atlanta again.
– Will the question on casino gaming on the GOP ballot receive enough support to cause state Capitol figures to rethink their opposition?
– In the new 9th District congressional race, a GOP affair, where Martha Zoller finishes could tell you something about the temperature of the electorate. In her contest against state Rep. Doug Collins and former middle school principal Roger Fitzpatrick, she never missed a chance to declare herself a “firebrand.”
– In the 12th District congressional race, which Republican makes it into a runoff with Wright McLeod – Lee Anderson or Rick Allen?
– In Cherokee County, a race for chairman of the school board between Janet Read and Danny Dukes could be a precursor of the charter school campaign that begins Wednesday. Read is a current school board member. Dukes is a member of the governing board of a charter school that had been rejected by the school system.
– A number of Republican state senators are facing significant challenges this year. Incumbent Chip Rogers of Woodstock versus Brandon Beach of Alpharetta; incumbent Don Balfour of Snellville versus Travis Bowden of Snellville and Steve Ramey of Lilburn; incumbent Cecil Staton of Macon versus Spencer Price of Thomaston; incumbent Bill Heath of Bremen versus Bill Carruth of Dallas; incumbent Frank Ginn of Danielsville versus Danny Yearwood of Winder; and incumbent Johnny Grant of Milledgeville versus Burt Jones of Jackson.
– Will Senate District 52 up in Rome move into a runoff? If both David Doss and Chuck Hufstetler survive, look for this to become ground for a confrontation between Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who is backing Doss, and his GOP rivals for power in the Senate.
– Will state Rep. Mark Hatfield, R-Waycross, attorney for birthers, sneak past Republican establishment favorite Tyler Harper of Ocilla in the open District 7 race for state Senate?
– Who makes it into a District 6 senate runoff with Republican Hunter Hill? Drew Ellenburg or Josh Belinfante?
– Will the Democratic effort in Athens to drive voters into state Rep. Doug McKillip’s first race as a Republican pay off for primary challenger Regina Quick?
***
Walter Jones of Morris News Service has done more on the disparate fundraising between metro Atlanta’s TSPLOST campaign and the umbrella effort that covered the other 11 regions:
The campaign for the 10 counties around Atlanta raised $6 million, while the rest of the state drew just one-third as much, $2 million, even though roughly 60 percent of the state’s population and projected tax revenue are outside the metro region.
The Coca-Cola Co. gave $197,000 to the Atlanta drive and zero to the statewide effort. The Home Depot spent $150,000 in the 10-county region where its headquarters and about three dozen stores are located, but nothing in communities like Athens where it has 26 stores within a 50-mile radius of the city.
***
Russ Bynum of the Associated Press today reports that personal investments have marked the GOP race to pick a challenger to the last white Democrat from the Deep South serving in Congress:
The GOP candidates seeking to oust Democratic Rep. John Barrow of Augusta in east Georgia’s 12th District have loaned their campaigns a combined total of $668,000. That means for every dollar the Republicans have raised from outside donors, they’ve added 57 cents from their own pockets, according to campaign finance reports.
The candidate who’s dipped deepest into his private bank account is Augusta construction company executive Rick W. Allen, who last week raised his personal stake to $290,000. That money, which supplements $422,560 Allen raised from donors, is being used in part to buy TV ads during Olympic broadcasts in the Augusta and Savannah markets.
***
Maria Saporta of the Saporta Report also served this year as chairman of the Atlanta Press Club’s debate series, televised statewide on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Saporta declared herself disappointed that only two congressional incumbents facing primary challengers this year – Phil Gingrey of Marietta and Rob Woodall of Lawrenceville – bothered to face down their opponents:
Specifically, U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, the incumbent Republican running in 3rd Congressional district; U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, the incumbent Republican representing the 10th Congressional district; U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, the incumbent Democrat representing the 4th Congressional district; and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, the incumbent Democrat representing the 5th Congressional district, all decided not to participate in our debates.
***
Justin O’Dell, one of three Cobb County Democrats running for House District 41, suspects that this flyer sent out by rival Michael Smith is bogus. Already, he said, U.S. Rep. John Lewis has said he’s made no endorsement in this contest:
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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119 comments Add your comment
bc
July 31st, 2012
1:29 pm
RBM- You hit the nail on the head. The wording on the charter school issue was sufficiently confusing to send most people the wrong way.
Paul Johnson.
July 31st, 2012
1:32 pm
Phil Gingrey needs to be retired. Chicke sh@$ non-answer if he voted for or against TPLOST…
All that dye in you hair can’t hide the fact that you are 70 years old…
Vote for William Llop for the 11th congressional district TODAY!
Need a common sense approach for job creation and he cane get it done!
Selah…
RBM
July 31st, 2012
1:36 pm
I think “Not Your Typical Atlantan” should run for office. I will be your campaign manager. Very well writtend and pretty freakin obvious when you think about it. I actually work for a large Atlanta based airline and agree with that point also. The terminal is beautiful….it adds 12 new gates. Total that up at a cost per gate and see what a great buy that was.
Jess
July 31st, 2012
1:36 pm
@freeme, how does this “do something” other than line the pockets of officials and business leaders who are the only ones benefitting? How does a trolley between 2 points that no one visits eliminate traffic accidents? People would support a plan that actually solved traffic and transportation problems. This one simply does not. It’s laughable. It is clearly aimed at benefitting special interests in the business & political circles, and does nothing to improve transportation for 99% of everyday people in any of the counties involved. It solves no problems. Supporting this is like blowing money to hire a mime in the hopes he will fix your plumbing problem. Makes zero sense.
Kris
July 31st, 2012
1:46 pm
My Voting list.
Vote NO —tspLOST….check
Vote all incumbents out….Check.
If there is a question on the ballot Vote NO….Check
A TAX is a tax no matter what you call it…A pig is a pig even if it has lipstick on it.
Vote NO
tom
July 31st, 2012
1:51 pm
I don’t blame Westmoreland for not facing his opponents. One of the might ask him to name the ten commandments.
findog
July 31st, 2012
1:55 pm
I typically support SPLOST
It is a great concept: if a community wants more than what the federal, state governments [and local taxes] can provide they take an option for better schools, parks, sewers, or roads.
Now because the republican state legislature has given away its ability to tax they are trying to super-size a good thing.
The regressive nature of this tax when local is easy to accept as it supports the local tax payer. Regionalizing a tax and then spreading a percent of the proceed to local control is completely beyond what the framers of our constitution meant when they passed the first one to get the liberty bell.
Church Announcements.....
July 31st, 2012
2:06 pm
I VOTED YES FOR the TPSLOST in support of the future of our region! You can’t blame our elected officials now! At least they are trying to work together and compromise on getting issues resolved for the greater good. No CITY or STATE is perfect! Deal with it!!!! I don’t know GA political history, but I know that GOLD DOME has had ethical issues for years. I strongly support the Mayor and his efforts and I dont believe that we will be fooled by supporting this effort to work together for the future.
Ya Know
July 31st, 2012
2:08 pm
First ask why is there sprawl? If Atlanta Down Town was desirable, everyone would live near Marta stations, use Atlanta schools, and more efficient use of existing infrastructure. Same reason Atlantic Station is failing. Crime, School Performance and High Taxes. Fix the first problem. What economic boom would there be if people lived down town?
Atlanta suffers because they are trying to survive on property tax on real estate worth $40K, when it could easily be $400k. Some cases $4M! Oh well.
Jack in Kirkwood
July 31st, 2012
2:11 pm
@Hmmmmmmmmmm it is no secret that this campaign is being paid for by a cooperative movement to move this city forward. WE CAN NOT CONTINUE TO PUNT ON THE SERIOUS ISSUES OF TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC IN THIS CITY! This measure is the way forward for our city.
Just say no
July 31st, 2012
2:13 pm
I voted no mainly because a large portion is being allocated to the Beltline project. There is already a TAD to fund this project so why is there an addional tax needed? I am also inclined to vote no to any tax increase that supports MARTA until there is new leadership in place within that organization. Just throwing money at the problem will not solve anything until there are fiscally minded people in the leadership roles
Bobo is Not the Problem
July 31st, 2012
2:20 pm
@dd — “It’s inane to think drivers should pay more than for what they use.”
Really, dd? Maybe you should check out all the areas where government charges for services you do not use. Schools are a big recipient of property tax money. Does the government make sure you have school-age children before assessing property taxes?
Everything government does is inane.
Bobo is Not the Problem
July 31st, 2012
2:24 pm
In the early 1980’s, the entire sales tax in the state of Georgia was 3%. Some counties tacked on another 1%, many didn’t. So for most, total sales tax was 3-4%. If T-SPLOST passes, total sales tax for most people will be 8-9%.
Why does government now need 2 to 3 times the proportion of sales tax revenue than it needed 30 years ago?
Why didn’t government budget for needed transportation and infrastructure changes with all the revenue already at its disposal?
Why should we the people believe government will effectively spend these billions?
Why should we believe that the T-SPLOST will ever actually go away, even after it has theoretically “expired”?
joe
July 31st, 2012
2:25 pm
No vote: Check.
End of checklist.
OneWhoBeleives
July 31st, 2012
2:26 pm
All too often we confuse facts with rhetoric and conspiracy! TSPLOST IS a plan that will benefit a region of people! Understand that transportation issues effect us all and we need to all work towards solutions for all. Fundamentally TSPLOST is necessary to secure resources that come from many individuals. We are not in this alone! Increase jobs, increase access to alternative means and just do the right thing and VOTE YES and begin to move our region forward! Thank you Mayor Reed for being a fearless leader for our City, our Region, and our State!
Ted
July 31st, 2012
2:26 pm
Vote for new people.
I supported Gingrey when he first ran, but ten years is enough. Ditto every other office. Give new people a chance.
DeKalb Wonkette
July 31st, 2012
2:32 pm
Look ahead to August 1 and beyond. Regardless of the outcome on the T-SPLOST, we’ve all suffered a huge setback because of it: the ability to have civil dialogue.
bc
July 31st, 2012
2:32 pm
55% to MARTA and buses? Are you joking? Less than 10% of the voting region uses mass transit. Why in the hell would somebody vote to pay for something they won’t use? The trickle down “spread the wealth” crap hasn’t worked before and won’t work in the entitlement driven, “gimme that” culture of Atlanta government.
Fartavious
July 31st, 2012
2:38 pm
I voted No to the TSPLOST for most of the reasons already mentioned. I also voted against incumbents. These actions are a voter’s equivalent of hitting the mule over the head to get it’s attention. Politicians, are you paying attention?
A.E.
July 31st, 2012
2:40 pm
Can we see the front of the chick in the brown at the “podium” next time please?..she may be hot.
Jon Lester
July 31st, 2012
2:42 pm
I really hope GA-3 voters won’t be stupid enough to keep Lynn Westmoreland, but that may be in vain. Maybe some constituencies just don’t deserve any better.
jj
July 31st, 2012
2:42 pm
TSPLOST has more pork in it than an Iowa farm.
Would you vote for this?
Rail up 400 to Windward
E & W on 20 — Conyers to Douglasville
N & S on 75 — Town Center to Griffin
N & S on 85 — 316 to Peachtree city.
Every region represented equally.
A comprehensive system that brings all areas of subrubia into and out of the city
As a matter of public trust everyone on any MARTA board is thrown out, and we start over with new representatives from each region.
Is this something all of Atlanta would support?
I voted NO today but would gladly support this plan.
Keith
July 31st, 2012
2:43 pm
I’m definitely voting NO for T-SPLOST.
Definitely not a good time to RAISE TAXES when our unemployment rate is just shy of 10%.
Outrageous.
findog
July 31st, 2012
2:44 pm
Hey Jack,
The state of Georgia punted when it voted for people who signed Grover Norquist pledge to never, ever, ever raise taxes.
You have all the infrastructure you are ever going to get. All the other states will get the federal dollars because they will raise taxes to meet the matching demand.
Pray for calamity, that is the only way things will be upgraded in Georgia – FEMA Grants
oldfart
July 31st, 2012
2:45 pm
TSPLOST is still going to haunt for years to come and once it is proven unconstitutional only the lawyers will be happy in the end. Keep in mind there is still a penalty to be paid by every county in an unconstitutional “special district” that does not vote for the TSPLOST. The counties will be required to pay a 30% match rather than 10% one for road improvement grants (derived from gas tax revenue) until their “special district” agrees to the 1% sales tax. There are no provisions in the Georgia Constitution for “special districts” to levy taxes.
Gov. Deal has rescinded the automatic increase in the gas sales tax twice now within a year that would have increased the state sales tax nearly a penny from 12.1 to 12.9 cents. He would rather see the TSPLOST approved for a 1% sales tax on everything including food and medicine for transportation.
And for the person imitating Ms. Scarlett, (Where shall I go? What shall I do?). Hold your reps responsible for this travesty of legislation. Tell them to grow a set and make the hard choices to vote what is right and not just down the party line. They could start with a little sunshine on the selection of members to the DOT board. Insist that something is done regarding the inequitable distribution of the motor fuel tax even if it is tilting at windmills. Insist that if Gena Evans wants HOT lanes then bonds should be floated if anyone is willing to buy them for the absurd periods it will require to pay them off. No motor fuel tax money should be used on Lexus Lanes when it can be better utilized on projects that actually alleviate traffic jams rather than making them worse.
Vote them out. I will be voting against every incumbent with the exception of the ones that have broken ranks and opposed TSPLOST and HOT lanes.
Realist
July 31st, 2012
2:46 pm
Let’s be honest, a 1% tax for T-SPLOST isn’t that much more money out of anyone’s pocket. Also, for the folks who are voting “No” for T-SPLOST because they believe government waste will overtake the project, you are probably right. However, the idea of T-SPLOST is bigger than the project itself. If we don’t show the rest of the south that we have a plan for traffic, we will lose billions of dollars from businesses looking for a new city to call home. Vote YES now, we can figure out the details later.
Keith
July 31st, 2012
2:46 pm
Yes, i’ll be voting against many incumbents as well.
Term limits, anyone?
Keith
July 31st, 2012
2:48 pm
Re: Realist
“Vote YES now, we can figure out the details later.”
That is shortsighted and a bit naive.
findog
July 31st, 2012
2:58 pm
1believer,
Really, this is so important that it took three years to pass and they then scheduled the vote 18-months after that during a primary.
Next you’ll be passing the bong with the it’s a job program smoke as the first shovel will not be turned for five years
This is not planning, planning is what will you need, this is a hostage situation where we pay them for ten years and in fifteen we will be where we need to be today
Force the politicians to do their jobs and get the revenue to pay for transportation improvements that are overdue.
And they could cut the budget by meeting just every two years like Texas, and do not pay them per diem to travel on state business outside the 40-day window
RBM
July 31st, 2012
3:05 pm
Hey Realist?? This increase is over 16%….how do you not consider that a lot of money. Go buy a crappy toyota for 20K and add $200 to your price. No..not really that much money
Let’s be honest, a 1% tax for T-SPLOST isn’t that much more money out of anyone’s pocket.
DawgDad
July 31st, 2012
3:18 pm
Realist: You post as “Realist” but then you advocate voting for empty SYMBOLISM? Sorry, not biting.
bc
July 31st, 2012
3:20 pm
jj, I’d vote for that plan all day long, but this hodgepodge that we were given on the ballot today is a mess, an example of work done by self-serving committees
Ga Values VOTE NO FOR WASTE, GRAFT & CORRUPTION
July 31st, 2012
3:30 pm
OneWhoBeleives
July 31st, 2012
2:26 pm
were you “vote yes” yesterday &” proud voter” earlier in the week..Hope you are being paid in cash.
OneWhoBeleives
July 31st, 2012
3:31 pm
@notYourTypicalAtlantan…thank goodness that we have Atlantans who continue to support initiatives that are designed to enhance the lives of typical and non-typical Atlantans alike…let us know when you want to refuse any services that have been secured on your behalf!
Church of the painful Truth
July 31st, 2012
3:33 pm
I did not vote for Westmoreland. Time for a change.He rides the coattails of others in D.C.trying to look like he is doing something,which is really nothing. I also voted NO on everything and any incumbent did not receive my vote.
hiram
July 31st, 2012
3:33 pm
Does anyone know what the relationship is between Toby Carr, who was just appointed to be the “State Transportation Planning Director”, and R. Bradley Carr, the attorney for Rudy Bowen, “Chairman of the DOT Board” ?
KALEIDOSCOPE LAND DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Agent Name: R. BRADLEY CARR
Office Address: One Sugarloaf Centre
1960 Satellite Blvd. Suite 4000
Duluth GA 30097
Agent County: Gwinnett
——————————————————————————–
Officers
Title: CEO
Name: DAVID R. BOWEN
Address: 6650 Sugarloaf Parkway
Suite 200
Duluth GA 30097
“DOT board chairman Rudy Bowen said he liked working with Carr(Toby). “I think it’s a great choice from the governor’s office,” Bowen said. “He’s a very capable young man.”
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-government/deal-appoints-aide-to-1425102.html
DawgDad
July 31st, 2012
3:33 pm
To all the TSPLOST supporters I pose this simple calculus:
TSPLOST would require me to pay $xxx.xxx per year for at least 10 years (likely forever) for projects that are by lack of design not going to improve my commute on I-75, not alleviate traffic in my locality, not help me get in and out of downtown quicker. With the relevant traffic congestion not cured (at all, by even my most generous estimations) and all the new MARTA and beltline infrastructure to support, how long would it take the politicians and “business community” to come calling for MORE money? (I’d say next year, via Gas Tax hike). How likely is it this tax would ever end? (not in my lifetime).
seabeau
July 31st, 2012
3:34 pm
Ga.needs more water reservoirs!! Additional and improved roads will simply add to the congestion!!
RBM
July 31st, 2012
3:38 pm
So good I had to re post it
hiram
July 31st, 2012
3:33 pm
Does anyone know what the relationship is between Toby Carr, who was just appointed to be the “State Transportation Planning Director”, and R. Bradley Carr, the attorney for Rudy Bowen, “Chairman of the DOT Board” ?
KALEIDOSCOPE LAND DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Agent Name: R. BRADLEY CARR
Office Address: One Sugarloaf Centre
1960 Satellite Blvd. Suite 4000
Duluth GA 30097
Agent County: Gwinnett
——————————————————————————–
Officers
Title: CEO
Name: DAVID R. BOWEN
Address: 6650 Sugarloaf Parkway
Suite 200
Duluth GA 30097
“DOT board chairman Rudy Bowen said he liked working with Carr(Toby). “I think it’s a great choice from the governor’s office,” Bowen said. “He’s a very capable young man.”
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-government/deal-appoints-aide-to-1425102.html
Eustis
July 31st, 2012
3:38 pm
Vote no on T-SPLOST, We don’t need more Mexicans working on our roads.
Romney has a proven track record as an anti-gun Governor, socialized medicine, pro-choice, and jobs killer.
Why do you think he’s going to be different as President?
atlanta needs relief from overpopulation
July 31st, 2012
3:47 pm
Well, the T-SPLOST is all set to fail…..guess what? The sun is still gonna rise in the morning. Atlanta won’t have disentigrated to ash. We’ll actually have a few less traffic problems than with new construction traffic created by T-SPLOST. You want 10 years of that?
Doomsday predictions of the sky is falling and last minute threats by supporters have not come to fruition. And will not.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 31st, 2012
3:48 pm
Ga Values VOTE NO FOR WASTE, GRAFT & CORRUPTION
July 31st, 2012
3:30 pm
were you
“vote yes” yesterday &” proud voter” earlier in the week“Kris” earlier this morning & Kris (Please Vote) & Kris (voted NO and damn proud) & Kris (Vote NO) last night? Hope you are being paid in cash, sport.atlanta needs relief from overpopulation
July 31st, 2012
3:54 pm
Hope this causes a mass exodus of population….there’s not enough jobs for what we have now. And new jobs won’t meet expectations for further populace growth.
That will solve traffic problems. And much easier to meet job expectations with a more feasible population.
And it would make for a much nicer town than it has been for many years now.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 31st, 2012
3:54 pm
TSPLOST would require me to pay $xxx.xxx per year for at least 10 years (likely forever) for projects that are by lack of design not going to improve my commute on I-75, not alleviate traffic in my locality, not help me get in and out of downtown quicker.
Doing nothing will not improve your commute on I-75, not alleviate traffic in your locality, not help you get in and out of downtown quicker.
Sorry, not biting.
Thomas Heyward Jr
July 31st, 2012
3:54 pm
Vote no to Tsposh.
Vote no to all incumbants.
.
Vote YES to Liberty and Ron Paul in November.
Or possibly Gary Johnson.
.
atlanta needs relief from overpopulation
July 31st, 2012
3:59 pm
Please move out of Atlanta, especially if a failed T-SPLOST was a fear for you.
Leave and take an extra 2 or 3 million more people with you….
please move back north, back to mexico, or whereever as long as it’s the heck out of GA
time to move
July 31st, 2012
4:02 pm
Why won’t politicians or press address the real issue…..OVERPOPULATION.
hiram
July 31st, 2012
4:05 pm
Lobbyist Name:
MOELLERING , DAVID J
On Behalf of:
GEORGIA HIGHWAY CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
Public Official:
RUDY BOWEN – CHAIRMAN GDOT BOARD
Date:
04/26/12 – 04/29/2012
Amount:
$1200.00
Description:
Georgia Highway Contractors Association
Annual Convention Ritz-Carlton
Luxury Resort Amelia Island, FL
Guest/Speaker
ethics.ga.gov
Pompous Pontificator
July 31st, 2012
4:05 pm
Here’s what I’ll be watching tonight as the votes roll in. I’ll be hoping that every candidate that harrassed me with a robocall goes down in flames. In November, I’m going to keep a record of those annoying calls. I will not vote for any candidate that participates in robocalls.
Brought to you by the chamber of commerce.....we can't sustain anymore either!
July 31st, 2012
4:05 pm
get off your unemployed butts and move to where there are jobs…if it’s not here, why do you stay?
Insanity….different results aren’t coming…..MOVE