Archive for the ‘Jeff Chapman’ Category

WSB-TV and InsiderAdvantage released a poll today showing the Republican race for governor largely unchanged over an April survey, except for a stronger performance by former congressman Nathan Deal of Gainesville.

Both John Oxendine and Karen Handel dropped slightly, but not beyond the margin of error. The poll does not show any improvement in the standing of Eric Johnson, the former senator from Savannah, despite several rounds of TV ads.

By the numbers:

John Oxendine: 23%

Nathan Deal: 15%

Karen Handel: 14%

Eric Johnson: 5%

Jeff Chapman: 2%

Ray McBerry: 2%

Otis Putnam: 0%

Undecided/No opinion: 39%

The stats: 423 likely voters contacted by automated phone calls, with a MOE of 5 percent.
The April IA survey:

John Oxendine: 26%

Karen Handel: 18%

Nathan Deal: 9%

Eric Johnson: 5%

Other 11%

No Opinion: 31%

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.

Continue reading WSB/IA poll: Oxendine (yawn) still leads GOP field »

A set of debates among Republican and Democratic candidates for governor on science and industry in Georgia has been cancelled due to a lack of interest.

Only two of seven GOP candidates agreed to attend a May 27 forum sponsored by Georgia Bio, a consortium of academic and private research interests.

Three of five Democrats had committed to a Thursday panel – and one of them, Ray City Mayor Carl Camon, was forced to withdraw after a Monday car accident that injured him and his wife.

From the press release:

“We sincerely thank Kennesaw State University officials for agreeing to host these events. However with so few candidates agreeing to participate from both the Democratic and Republican Parties, we felt the expense was too great to justify holding the events,” said Georgia Bio President Charles Craig.

“We commend Democratic primary candidates Attorney General Thurbert Baker, Mayor Carl Camon and General David Poythress, and Republican primary candidates former Congressman …

Continue reading Debates on role of science cancelled by Georgia Bio »

Washington has begun to acknowledge the possibility of a U.S. Senate race in Georgia this November. This from Congressional Quarterly:

[A]t least a glimmer of competition has entered the contest because of the April decision by state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond to enter the race, which followed recruiting entreaties by Democratic officials.

Thurmond is African-American, which could give him particular appeal to a black constituency that makes up more than a quarter of the state’s population. CQ Politics has changed its rating on the race to Likely Republican.

The seat had been designated “safe Republican.” But don’t cry for Isakson. Fund-raising requires a certain amount of dramatic tension.

Over the weekend, Walter Jones of Morris News Service tackled the question of why Republican candidates for governor Karen Handel, Nathan Deal and Eric Johnson have been shooting at each other – and not at John Oxendine, conceded to be the front-runner:

How come? They all want him …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: The beginnings of a U.S. Senate race in Georgia »

Surrounded by her legal team, Kennesaw State University student Jessica Colotl is released from the Cobb County jail on Friday. John Spink/AJC

It’s tough to be an illegal immigrant in the United States these days.

But it’s even tougher to be an illegal immigrant caught up in the meat grinder of a Republican primary.

Jessica Colotl, the 21-year-old Kennesaw State University student from Mexico whose secret was uncovered during a traffic stop, must think she’s hauling the entire GOP race for governor on her back.

Three candidates — former state Sen. Eric Johnson, state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and former Secretary of State Karen Handel — say they’d like to see people like Colotl expelled from all state universities.

A spokesman for Nathan Deal says that, for years, the former congressman has written university officials in North Georgia, warning that they break federal law when they permit undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates. As Colotl did.

But the …

Continue reading The unauthorized alien and a Republican meat grinder »

This piece from my AJC colleague Bob Keefe, on a building confrontation between Congress and the state of Georgia, hasn’t gotten enough attention:

Taking direct aim at controversial gun legislation just passed by the Georgia General Assembly, a New Jersey senator has introduced a bill that would expand federal regulations on guns in airports.

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.)/Associated Press

Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s “Firearm-Free Airports Act” would make it illegal to carry a firearm into any non-federally regulated area of an airport, including the lobby, baggage claim and ticket counter areas.

The bill would counter legislation passed by the General Assembly that would allow gun permit holders to carry weapons in any non-secure areas of a Georgia airport — including Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the world’s busiest. The Georgia legislation is awaiting Gov. Sonny Perdue’s signature.

“In the post-9/11 world, it simply defies common sense that …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: Congress vs. Georgia over guns at Hartsfield-Jackson »

Last week, the University of Georgia unveiled a set of 13 handcrafted pigs.

The freshly shampooed creatures represented a 20-year breakthrough in campus research. “A seminal discovery in animal and human biology,” declared Scott Angle, dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

One of 13 customized pigs unveiled in Athens last week. Photo/University of Georgia

Two UGA researchers, Steve Stice and Franklin West, have discovered how to implant and activate pluripotent stem cells — capable of morphing into any kind of organ — into pig embryos.

Forget the jargon. In a world of possibilities, the immediate bottom line is this: Custom-made animals without the complications of cloning, whose organs could be developed for human use — without rejection.

“We could have herds and herds of pigs from which we would collect beta islet cells for diabetic patients, hearts for transplants — kidneys, livers and such,” said West, a 28-year-old product of Augusta, Ga., public …

Continue reading Of 13 handcrafted pigs and the governor’s race »

Last month, Georgia Bio invited Democratic and Republican candidates for governor to a pair of forums, where they could express their views on science and economic development before an assembly of the state’s scientists, academics and CEOs of bioresearch companies.

The consortium of research and business interests scheduled two dates at Kennesaw State University: May 20 for Democrats, and May 27 for Republicans.

The stampede of candidates has been less than thunderous.

On the Democratic side, only three have agreed to attend: Attorney General Thurbert Baker, who last week declared biotech to be an essential part of his jobs program; former National Guard commander David Poythress; and Ray City Mayor Carl Camon.

House Democratic Leader DuBose Porter and former Gov. Roy Barnes have yet to commit, even though the KSU event is in Barnes’ backyard.

Response from the GOP side has been even weaker. Only former congressman Nathan Deal has agreed to appear.

Charlie Craig, president of …

Continue reading The jolt is back: Candidates for governor duck talk about science and jobs »

All right, so the Insider stinks at taking time off.

Karen Handel’s declaration that she won’t appear on the same stage with fellow GOP candidate for governor Ray McBerry appears to have had some effect.

The following just landed in the in-box:

The Columbia County Young Republican Club will be hosting a gubernatorial debate on Saturday, May 8th at 4 p.m. It will be held at the Jabez Hardin Auditorium in the Columbia County Library. After the debate, there will be an opportunity for citizens to meet the candidates.

Michael Ryan, editor of the Augusta Chronicle, will be the event moderator, while Helen Blocker Adams, a local community activist, and Pat Van Hooser, a small business owner, will act as panelists.

Invited candidates include former congressman Nathan Deal, former state senator Eric Johnson, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, former secretary of state Karen Handel and state Sen. Jeff Chapman.

Due to recent allegations, and the refusal by former secretary of state …

Continue reading Karen Handel gets a Ray McBerry-less debate »

Six Republican candidates for governor gathered down the street and around the corner from Roy Barnes’ house on Friday, for a forum before the Cobb County Republican Women’s Club.

It was an outdoor affair, on the edge of a golf course with a spectacular view.

Former state Sen. Eric Johnson of Savannah declared that he’s the only one who can beat the former Democratic governor seeking to regain the seat he lost in 2002. State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine poached on Johnson’s issue of school vouchers.

Former secretary of state Karen Handel declared that her five rivals have already had their chance to fix things in the state Capitol.

Yours truly was the moderator, so here’s a slice of Jon Gillooly’s piece in today’s Marietta Daily Journal:

In an apparent dig at other candidates whose questionable ethical engagements have been duly noted by the media, state Rep. Austin Scott (R-Tifton) said he’s welcomed the press to look into his history and any ethical issues …

Continue reading Six GOP candidates gather in Roy Barnes’ backyard »

Eight Republican candidates for governor enter the final four months before the July primary ready to throw nearly $7.3 million at the contest, according to financial disclosure reports filed with the State Ethics Commission.

The GOP candidates with the most cash on hand: state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, with $2.03 million; newcomer Ray Boyd with $2 million; and Eric Johnson with $1.7 million.

While finishing second in a recent statewide poll, former Secretary of State Karen Handel has less ready money for spending ($573,610) than former congressman Nathan Deal ($796,312).

Oxendine, state Sen. Jeff Chapman of Brunswick ($17,655 COH) and state Rep. Austin Scott of Tifton ($87,550 COH) have been barred from fund-raising since the Legislature has been in session.

Moreover, economic uncertainty played havoc with fund-raising for all candidates, and Oxendine Johnson was able to claim $701,100 raised in the last three months – the most of any GOP candidate. But that …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: Finances and the race for governor »