Candidate profile: Karen Handel for governor

Karen Handel is a native of Washington, DC and grew up in Maryland. According to her website, she left home at 17 due to a “deteriorating family situation.” She was able to finish high school and began taking college courses at night while working for Hallmark Cards.

She worked as Deputy Chief of Staff to Vice President Dan Quayle’s wife, Marilyn, during the first Bush Administration. While working for Mrs. Quayle, she was involved in the breast cancer awareness campaign that ultimately became the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure.” Later, she held executive positions at Ciba Vision and KPMG, an international accounting firm. She also led the Greater Fulton County Chamber of Commerce during a period when an employee had recently embezzled all but $10 from the organization. Handel led the group through troubled times and back to solvency.

In 2002, she returned to politics as Chief of Staff for Governor Sonny Perdue. In 2003, she was asked to run as a Republican in a special election for Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. She won handily, even though Atlanta is heavily Democratic, after campaigning on property tax and ethics reform. She inherited a $100 million deficit, but was able to balance the budget without raising taxes thanks to sharp spending cuts. She also passed one of the strongest ethics laws in Georgia. Her ethics reforms eventually led to dismissal of Fulton County Sheriff Jackie Barrett on corruption charges.

In 2006, Handel was elected Secretary of State. Her duties in that office included overseeing elections and professional licensing boards. She also formed an office to combat election and consumer fraud. Handel also launched a Transparency in Government initiative which shows state spending data on the Secretary of State website, along with Handel’s political and financial disclosures.

As Secretary of State, Handel was at the center of Georgia’s voter ID controversy. In 2005, Georgia passed a law requiring voters to show photo identification at their polling place. The law was challenged as unconstitutional, but was ultimately upheld. The Supreme Court upheld a similar Indiana law.

In 2009, Handel also made news when her biographical entry on Wikipedia was altered to claim that she did not have a high school diploma, but had received a GED. She actually does have a high school diploma. One of her supporters, Erick Erickson, blogger on peachpundit.com, claimed that the alteration was traced to a state computer in a building where John Oxendine’s staffers have offices. Erickson also says that the same computer was used to make positive changes to Oxendine’s Wikipedia entry. The Oxendine campaign denies any role in the affair.

Handel made a controversial stand at the Republican debate in April 2010. At the end of the debate, she stated that she would not appear with fellow candidate Ray McBerry again. Her statement included an indirect reference to accusations that McBerry had an inappropriate relationship with female student (http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-34858-Carroll-County-Elections-2010-Examiner~y2010m6d8-Candidate-Profile-Ray-McBerry-for-Governor). She was the only candidate to take such a stand.

An astute reader pointed out that I had missed something about Karen Handel when I first posted this profile. There have been claims that Handel was a dues-paying member of the Log Cabin Republicans from 2002 through 2004. This was presumably to become more friendly to gay voters in the Atlanta area. Handel denies the claim, but politifact.com rates it as being probably true (http://www.politifact.com/georgia/statements/2010/jun/16/karen-handel/did-handel-ever-joing-log-cabin-republicans/).


Handel resigned her position as Secretary of State in January 2010 in order to campaign for governor.

Here are her positions on some important issues:

Jobs: Handel believes that Georgia’s location, work force, and low taxes are the keys to creating jobs. She also believes that Georgia’s infrastructure and educational system are limiting factors due to population growth.

Education: Handel wants to coordinate programs with teachers, parents and community leaders to cut the drop-out rate. She wants to expand the number of charter schools and make sure that children graduate with the knowledge and skills to succeed in college or in the workplace.

Transportation: Handel favors a comprehensive, rather than regional, approach to transportation funding.

Health: Handel favors health technology and market solutions that will cut costs while preserving quality. She opposes single-payer health systems.

Life: Handel believes in the sanctity of life. She opposes embryonic stem cell research and abortion. She is the only major Republican candidate not receive an endorsement from Georgia Right to Life because she supports an exception that would allow abortion in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is threatened.

Marriage: Handel believes that marriage is between a man and a woman only.

Gun Rights: Handel is a supporter of individual second amendment rights. She opposes further bans on “assault weapons” and supports the right of law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed weapon.

Taxes: Handel believes that high tax rates, whether on citizens or businesses, inhibit job creation and economic growth. She would like to review Georgia’s entire tax code and enact comprehensive reform (to include income, property, business and corporate taxes). Handel is a supporter of the Fair Tax.

Immigration: Handel believes that we should welcome legal immigrants. She believes that it is the federal government’s job to protect the borders, but that due to federal inaction the states must “fill the void.” As Secretary of State, she enacted a program to verify immigration status of applicants for professional licenses.

If she is elected, Karen Handel would be Georgia’s first female governor.

Sources:
www.karenhandel.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Handel
http://www.reformelections.org/feature.asp?menuid={6DF33DE1-9946-4D3F-B57E-01FB1FB59FBD}
http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/04/21/georgia-voter-id-law-upheld-again/
http://www.lifenews.com/state5154.html
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2009/07/03/karen-handel-yes-i-have-a-high-school-diploma/
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/05/01/karen-handel-no-more-appearances-with-ray-mcberry/
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/05/04/karen-handel-gets-a-ray-mcberry-less-debate/?cxntfid=blogs_political_insider_jim_galloway


Photo credit:
Simon Howden
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=404

Is there an alternative to oil?

In the wake of BP’s disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, many politicians and environmentalists are renewing calls for alternate energy and electric cars to relieve the United States from our dependence on foreign oil. Energy independence would have many advantages, from decreasing pollution to depriving terrorist-supporting Arab states of revenue. Even without environmental considerations, the high price of gasoline, especially for summer road trips, gives many car owners the urge for a cheaper alternative, but is a short-term transition to other sources of energy realistic?

The journey away from oil began in earnest a few years ago with the introduction of the Toyota Prius, the first popular hybrid auto. The Prius combines a gasoline-powered engine and two electric motors. The gasoline engine powers the car for highway driving and the electric motors. The car often runs on battery power with the gasoline engine switched off.

Another popular alternative auto is the Smart Car. This two-seater is a product of Daimler and is known for its fuel economy. The tiny car is unique on American streets. Its small size and distinctive round shape make it stand out. One red Smart Car seen around my home town of Villa Rica, Georgia has a vanity license plate that reads “TMATER.” The Smart Car is powered by a traditional gasoline engine.

There are problems with these new cars. One problem is that although they do offer high gas mileage, fuel economy is only marginally better than traditional compact cars. The Prius advertises a fuel economy of 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway (http://bit.ly/9Luzbf ). The Smart Car reports 33 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway (http://bit.ly/c0FRsJ ). In contrast, a new traditional compact car such as the Ford Fiesta measures in 29 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway (http://bit.ly/bY0kNs ).

For this marginally better fuel economy, the car buyer must pay a premium. MSRP for the Prius is between $21,000 and $28,000 (http://bit.ly/cOs1Qn ). The Ford Fiesta, a car of equivalent size to the Prius, has an MSRP of $13,000 to $17,000 (http://bit.ly/cjOnQI ), almost $10,000 less. The Smart Car has approximately the same price as the Fiesta (http://bit.ly/ctZ3YR ), but at half the size. It would take years or thousands of miles to pay for the increased cost of the car in fuel savings. Of course, if gas prices increase sharply, the math would shift in favor of the Prius and Smart Car.

These new cars are also clearly not designed with large families in mind. The Prius and the Smart Car are practical for commuters, but not people who travel with children and the assorted paraphernalia necessary for a family trip. There are a variety of hybrid SUVs on the market, but again there is a tradeoff. A premium in price is added to an already expensive vehicle in exchange for modest increases in fuel economy.

The prospect of completely electric cars would face the same problems as well as additional ones. When Chevrolet’s corporate officers came to congress for a bailout, they touted the upcoming release of the Chevy Volt, a totally electric car. One obvious problem with the Volt is that its battery power will only take you 40 miles (http://bit.ly/bPC2l2 ). If you need to go further, a gasoline engine takes over.

For many commuters, such as those driving to Atlanta from outlying suburbs, forty miles is close to a one-way commute. To take full advantage of the Volt, they would have to charge the car at night at home before driving to work. Once at the office, they would have to find an outlet to plug in the car to let it charge for the trip home.

Additionally, people without a garage may have trouble finding a place to plug in their Volt. Although it is capable of charging from a common household 120-volt outlet, outside outlets are not common at many apartments. Even at a house without a garage, it might be difficult to find an outlet that won’t require the use of very long extension cord. The exact price of a Chevy Volt hasn’t been released, but Chevrolet has indicated that the car will cost over $30,000 (http://bit.ly/9AilVS ). This is even after tax credits are taken into account.

Another electric car with better performance is the Tesla Model S. Tesla Motors is partnering with Toyota to produce a high performance electric roadster. The Tesla is a two seat open top sports car that accelerates from 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds (http://bit.ly/9AnZ2d ). Its estimated 245 mile range is six times that of the Volt. Nevertheless, after 245 miles, plan on a long lunch. It takes three and a half hours to recharge. This is much more inconvenient than pulling into a gas station for a quick fill-up. The Tesla’s price tag is also impressive at $100,000. For those on a budget, you can also lease a Tesla for just over $1,500 per month. (For more information, see www.teslamotors.com.)

The Volt and the Tesla share common disadvantages in price and range, but what makes them really impractical is their small size. Like the Prius and the Smart Car, the Volt and Tesla are meant for commuters. A successful family electric car will must have room for a family. To be widely accepted, electric vehicles will not only have to have the range to run errands around town, they will have to have the seating and cargo capacity of a minivan or an SUV.

Even if such an electric vehicle were available today, it would be years before we could transition completely away from gasoline powered cars. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimates that there are more than 135 million passenger autos in the US (http://bit.ly/9fL3uR ). Many, if not most, of the owners of these cars would not want to incur a mortgage-sized car payment for a new electric car. The market for used electric cars is thus far nonexistent.

Consumer demands aren’t the only limits for the growth of the electric car market. At this point, the electrical infrastructure of the US is not prepared to handle the power demands of a transition to electric cars. While electricity is cheaper than oil at this point, increased demand for electricity would drive up its price. This is especially true if congress passes a cap-and-trade energy tax since much of our current electricity is generated by coal, one of the cheapest sources of electricity.

New and alternative sources of electricity such as solar and ocean wave capture are expensive when compared to coal, natural gas, and nuclear generated electricity. The cost of wind energy has decreased in recent years, but these alternative sources of energy face the problem of intermittent wind and sunshine. To be practical, alternative energy sources would have to include a back-up storage system for when the wind is calm or clouds block the sun. At this point, massive batteries or some other technology that can back up large scale alternative energy sources have not been developed.

A final alternative to oil is to use ethanol in gasoline powered autos. There are several problems associated with ethanol use however. For example, when the government increased the mandated amount of ethanol production in 2007, it caused a worldwide spike in food prices the next year (http://n.pr/bbJPHL ). Even if the total US corn crop was used for ethanol production, it would only account for 12% of American gasoline requirements (http://bit.ly/9zhJIE ). Additionally, ethanol can damage engines.

Another newly cost-effective technology converts coal into gasoline. The Germans developed a process to transform coal into gasoline in response to fuel shortages in WWII. Since then, low oil prices have made the process too expensive to compete with oil-based gasoline until recently. Coal-based gasoline does not resolve concerns about pollution and carbon emissions. Similarly, as oil and gasoline prices rise, new advances in biofuels and biomass-based gasoline may become more practical.

Although there is already progress with new technology and even more advances are on the horizon, the United States, along with the rest of the world, remains firmly in the grasp of oil. For the foreseeable future, we will need oil rigs to provide the fuel for our national economy.

Sources:

http://www.toyota.com/compare/?modelCode=prius#h_overview
http://www.greencar.com/articles/smart-car-offers-drivers-new-high-mpg-option-top-crash-rating.php
http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-allnew-ford-fiesta-delivers-40-mpg-32663
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2010-toyota-prius.htm
http://www.hybridsuv.com/
http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/future/volt.do?seo=goo_|_2009_Chevy_Awareness_|_IMG_Chevy_Volt_Phase_2_Branded_|_Chevy_Volt_|_chevy_volt
http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1041733_update-low-thirties-2011-chevrolet-volt-price-is-after-tax-credit
http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_11.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_cost_of_electricity_generated_by_different_sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation
http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2170
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93293391
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-10-ethanol-study_x.htm
http://environmental-engineering.suite101.com/article.cfm/coal_gasification
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogasoline

Fort Myers, FL
June 19, 2010

Photo Credit:
In the wake of BP’s disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, many politicians and environmentalists are renewing calls for alternate energy and electric cars to relieve the United States from our dependence on foreign oil. Energy independence would have many advantages, from decreasing pollution to depriving terrorist-supporting Arab states of revenue. Even without environmental considerations, the high price of gasoline, especially for summer road trips, gives many car owners the urge for a cheaper alternative, but is a short-term transition to other sources of energy realistic?

The journey away from oil began in earnest a few years ago with the introduction of the Toyota Prius, the first popular hybrid auto. The Prius combines a gasoline-powered engine and two electric motors. The gasoline engine powers the car for highway driving and the electric motors. The car often runs on battery power with the gasoline engine switched off.

Another popular alternative auto is the Smart Car. This two-seater is a product of Daimler and is known for its fuel economy. The tiny car is unique on American streets. Its small size and distinctive round shape make it stand out. One red Smart Car seen around my home town of Villa Rica, Georgia has a vanity license plate that reads “TMATER.” The Smart Car is powered by a traditional gasoline engine.

There are problems with these new cars. One problem is that although they do offer high gas mileage, fuel economy is only marginally better than traditional compact cars. The Prius advertises a fuel economy of 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway (http://bit.ly/9Luzbf ). The Smart Car reports 33 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway (http://bit.ly/c0FRsJ ). In contrast, a new traditional compact car such as the Ford Fiesta measures in 29 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway (http://bit.ly/bY0kNs ).

For this marginally better fuel economy, the car buyer must pay a premium. MSRP for the Prius is between $21,000 and $28,000 (http://bit.ly/cOs1Qn ). The Ford Fiesta, a car of equivalent size to the Prius, has an MSRP of $13,000 to $17,000 (http://bit.ly/cjOnQI ), almost $10,000 less. The Smart Car has approximately the same price as the Fiesta (http://bit.ly/ctZ3YR ), but at half the size. It would take years or thousands of miles to pay for the increased cost of the car in fuel savings. Of course, if gas prices increase sharply, the math would shift in favor of the Prius and Smart Car.

These new cars are also clearly not designed with large families in mind. The Prius and the Smart Car are practical for commuters, but not people who travel with children and the assorted paraphernalia necessary for a family trip. There are a variety of hybrid SUVs on the market, but again there is a tradeoff. A premium in price is added to an already expensive vehicle in exchange for modest increases in fuel economy.

The prospect of completely electric cars would face the same problems as well as additional ones. When Chevrolet’s corporate officers came to congress for a bailout, they touted the upcoming release of the Chevy Volt, a totally electric car. One obvious problem with the Volt is that its battery power will only take you 40 miles (http://bit.ly/bPC2l2 ). If you need to go further, a gasoline engine takes over.

For many commuters, such as those driving to Atlanta from outlying suburbs, forty miles is close to a one-way commute. To take full advantage of the Volt, they would have to charge the car at night at home before driving to work. Once at the office, they would have to find an outlet to plug in the car to let it charge for the trip home.

Additionally, people without a garage may have trouble finding a place to plug in their Volt. Although it is capable of charging from a common household 120-volt outlet, outside outlets are not common at many apartments. Even at a house without a garage, it might be difficult to find an outlet that won’t require the use of very long extension cord. The exact price of a Chevy Volt hasn’t been released, but Chevrolet has indicated that the car will cost over $30,000 (http://bit.ly/9AilVS ). This is even after tax credits are taken into account.

Another electric car with better performance is the Tesla Model S. Tesla Motors is partnering with Toyota to produce a high performance electric roadster. The Tesla is a two seat open top sports car that accelerates from 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds (http://bit.ly/9AnZ2d ). Its estimated 245 mile range is six times that of the Volt. Nevertheless, after 245 miles, plan on a long lunch. It takes three and a half hours to recharge. This is much more inconvenient than pulling into a gas station for a quick fill-up. The Tesla’s price tag is also impressive at $100,000. For those on a budget, you can also lease a Tesla for just over $1,500 per month. (For more information, see www.teslamotors.com.)

The Volt and the Tesla share common disadvantages in price and range, but what makes them really impractical is their small size. Like the Prius and the Smart Car, the Volt and Tesla are meant for commuters. A successful family electric car will must have room for a family. To be widely accepted, electric vehicles will not only have to have the range to run errands around town, they will have to have the seating and cargo capacity of a minivan or an SUV.

Even if such an electric vehicle were available today, it would be years before we could transition completely away from gasoline powered cars. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimates that there are more than 135 million passenger autos in the US (http://bit.ly/9fL3uR ). Many, if not most, of the owners of these cars would not want to incur a mortgage-sized car payment for a new electric car. The market for used electric cars is thus far nonexistent.

Consumer demands aren’t the only limits for the growth of the electric car market. At this point, the electrical infrastructure of the US is not prepared to handle the power demands of a transition to electric cars. While electricity is cheaper than oil at this point, increased demand for electricity would drive up its price. This is especially true if congress passes a cap-and-trade energy tax since much of our current electricity is generated by coal, one of the cheapest sources of electricity.

New and alternative sources of electricity such as solar and ocean wave capture are expensive when compared to coal, natural gas, and nuclear generated electricity. The cost of wind energy has decreased in recent years, but these alternative sources of energy face the problem of intermittent wind and sunshine. To be practical, alternative energy sources would have to include a back-up storage system for when the wind is calm or clouds block the sun. At this point, massive batteries or some other technology that can back up large scale alternative energy sources have not been developed.

A final alternative to oil is to use ethanol in gasoline powered autos. There are several problems associated with ethanol use however. For example, when the government increased the mandated amount of ethanol production in 2007, it caused a worldwide spike in food prices the next year (http://n.pr/bbJPHL ). Even if the total US corn crop was used for ethanol production, it would only account for 12% of American gasoline requirements (http://bit.ly/9zhJIE ). Additionally, ethanol can damage engines.

Another newly cost-effective technology converts coal into gasoline. The Germans developed a process to transform coal into gasoline in response to fuel shortages in WWII. Since then, low oil prices have made the process too expensive to compete with oil-based gasoline until recently. Coal-based gasoline does not resolve concerns about pollution and carbon emissions. Similarly, as oil and gasoline prices rise, new advances in biofuels and biomass-based gasoline may become more practical.

Although there is already progress with new technology and even more advances are on the horizon, the United States, along with the rest of the world, remains firmly in the grasp of oil. For the foreseeable future, we will need oil rigs to provide the fuel for our national economy.

Sources:

http://www.toyota.com/compare/?modelCode=prius#h_overview
http://www.greencar.com/articles/smart-car-offers-drivers-new-high-mpg-option-top-crash-rating.php
http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-allnew-ford-fiesta-delivers-40-mpg-32663
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2010-toyota-prius.htm
http://www.hybridsuv.com/
http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/future/volt.do?seo=goo_|_2009_Chevy_Awareness_|_IMG_Chevy_Volt_Phase_2_Branded_|_Chevy_Volt_|_chevy_volt
http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1041733_update-low-thirties-2011-chevrolet-volt-price-is-after-tax-credit
http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_11.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_cost_of_electricity_generated_by_different_sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation
http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2170
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93293391
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-10-ethanol-study_x.htm
http://environmental-engineering.suite101.com/article.cfm/coal_gasification
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogasoline

Fort Myers, FL
June 19,

Photo Credit:
m_bartosch
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=681

Candidate profile: Otis Putnam for governor

Otis Putnam is a native of Brunswick and attended North Georgia College in Dahlonega. Putnam is a Walmart employee and has been with the company for thirteen years. He served in the Army National Guard as PFC. He is descendent of Israel Putnam, a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution and a hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Putnam is a political outsider who has never held elected office. In 2006, he did serve as the Second Vice Chair of the Glynn County Republican Party. He was inspired to enter the gubernatorial race through a combination of his Christian beliefs and his desire to help put Georgians back to work and revive the economy. He bills himself as the “regular guy” in the governor race.

Following are Mr. Putnam’s positions on a variety of issues facing Georgia:

Jobs: Putnam would like to remove the unnecessary obstacles and fees that block small businesses from creating jobs.

Taxes: Putnam opposes all increases in taxes and fees. He believes that government should live within its means. When revenue falls, spending should be cut. Putnam believes that revenue will increase as the economy recovers. He believes that essential state services should not be cut.

Education: Putnam would like to put prayer back in schools. He would like to simplify regulation and reduce standardized testing. He supports programs to attract and keep quality teachers.

Transportation: Putnam would like to root out corruption in the DOT and focus on long term planning. He would ensure that DOT projects are completed on time. He would reduce congestion in Atlanta by finding an alternate route for large trucks.

Health Care: Putnam supports tort reform as a method to reduce health care costs. He opposes the government takeover of health care. Putnam believes in free market reforms and preventive medicine.

Life: Putnam is Pro-Life.

Gun Rights: Putnam supports the right to keep and bear arms.

Sources:
http://otisputnamga.tripod.com/
http://israelputnam.com/
http://peachesinregalia.com/2010/04/08/otis-putnam-r-joins-gop-primary-race-for-governor/
http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-06-20/gop-hopefuls-fight-spotlight

Photo Credit: Otis Putnam

Candidate profile: DuBose Porter for governor

DuBose Porter is a native of Dublin, Georgia. He received an undergraduate degree in English from Davidson College in North Carolina. After graduation, Porter interned in Washington, DC for Senator Sam Nunn. This inspired him to get a law degree and enter public service. He earned a juris doctor degree from Cumberland Law School at Birmingham’s Samford University in 1979.

After earning his law degree, Porter practiced law in Dublin before purchasing and becoming editor of a newspaper, the Dublin Courier Herald in 1987. Since then, the Courier Herald’s publishing company, of which Porter is Chairman of the Board, has purchased nine other small town newspapers. Porter is business manager for the newspapers as well as serving on the board of the Bank of Dudley.

Porter’s political career began with a run for the Georgia House of Representatives in 1982 at the age of 28. Porter served as Floor Leader for Gov. Zell Miller from 1991-1992. He was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the house in 2003 and leader of the House Democratic Caucus in 2005. He currently serves on the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Appropriations, and Ethics Committees. In the past, he chaired both the Education and Higher Education committees. Presently, Porter is minority leader in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Following are Representative Porter’s positions on some important issues facing our state:

Education: Porter believes that a well-educated work force is vital for Georgia’s future economy. He supports using technology to facilitate teaching and giving more power to teachers. He would strengthen Georgia’s colleges and universities. Porter wants teachers and the state to work with parents. He opposes school vouchers.

Taxes: Porter believes that revenues can be increased without raising taxes. One method of doing so would be passage of the Point of Sales bill (HB 356) which would allow local governments to collect sales taxes themselves or contract out to private firms instead of relying on the Department of Revenue. Porter believes that this would increase efficiency and lower costs. Porter believes that his proposal would also allow the state to collect more money from tax cheats.

Transportation: Porter would like to use some sales tax revenues to leverage federal transportation money. Porter believes that a multi-nodal mass transit (high speed rail) system would be a solution to gridlock. He also wants to upgrade and repair Georgia’s roads.

Crime: Porter believes that education is an answer to the crime problem.

Life: Porter says that he is pro-life, but believes that abortion should be legal in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at stake. He believes that the abortion issue should be decided by the courts.

Gun Rights: Porter is a gun owner and supporter of the second amendment. His publishing company also publishes hunting magazines.

DuBose Porter is also an Eagle Scout.

Sources:
http://www.porterforgeorgia.com/
http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=7948
http://www.courier-herald.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuBose_Porter
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2010/06/11/agreement-among-dems-for-governor-no-vouchers-concerns-over-over-reaching-charter-laws-and-under-reaching-tax-collections/?cxntfid=blogs_get_schooled_blog
http://www.georgiademocrat.org/node/1122
http://www.rockdalecitizen.com/newtonhome/headlines/86734157.html
http://porterforgeorgia.blogspot.com/2010/02/55-dubose-porter-transportation-will.html
http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/05/24/dubose-porter-slips-up-admits-to-being-pro-life/comment-page-1/
http://porterforgeorgia.uber.matchbin.net/printer_friendly/7882626
http://daltondailycitizen.com/local/x657337992/Profile-Dublin-gubernatorial-hopeful-Porter-running-a-grass-roots-campaign

Photo credit: Juan Gnecco
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=135

Candidate profile: Eric Johnson for governor

Eric Johnson is a native of Savannah. He attended college at Tulane University in New Orleans, majoring in architecture. Professionally, he was a managing partner for the architecture and engineering firm Hussey, Gay, Bell, and DeYoung in Savannah until 2004. He worked for North Point Realty, a Savannah developer, until his resignation from the senate in 2009. He then returned to HGBD where he is currently director of business development.

Johnson got his start in politics campaigning for Mack Mattingly and served as Senator Mattingly’s Regional Director from 1981 to 1983. From 1987 to 1989, Johnson served as the Chairman of Chatham County’s Republican Party. In 1992, he was elected to Georgia’s House of Representatives where he served one term. In 1994, he was elected to the Georgia state Senate. Johnson served in the senate until 2009 when he resigned to run for governor. During his time in the senate, he also chaired the state Ethics Commission.

During his time in the senate, Johnson served in several leadership positions. He became Minority Whip, the second-in-command of the minority party, in 1997. In 1999, he assumed the role of Minority Leader. When the Republicans took control of the senate, he became President Pro Tempore of the senate in 2003, a position he held until his resignation.

In 2010, when Johnson released his tax returns amid his campaign for governor (he and Roy Barnes are the only candidates to do so), it was revealed that he had failed to report more than $280,000 that his firm had earned from state contracts. Under Georgia law, he was required to report any business conducted with the state valued at more than $20,000 since he held more than 10% interest in his architecture firm at the time (http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-05-26/eric-johnson-ethics-fix).

In total, Johnson’s firm earned more than $850,000 from nine separate state contracts between 1999 and 2004. $578,953 of these revenues was reported on hi financial disclosures. One job, valued at just over $400,000 was underreported. Johnson’s disclosures show earnings of only $111,188. This was $289,375 short of the actual amount. The contract in question was for the renovation of a library at Dalton State College and was commissioned by the Georgia Financing and Investment Commission. Johnson calls the omission “inadvertent” (http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-05-26/eric-johnson-ethics-fix).




Here are Eric Johnson’s positions on some important issues of the campaign:

Taxes: Johnson would cut taxes for property owners, teachers, retirees, veterans, military personnel, farmers and small businesses. He would eliminate the sales tax on energy used in manufacturing, and favors a consumption tax such as the Fair Tax. He favors legislation to require a 2/3 majority to raise taxes and zero based budgeting. Johnson wants government to get back to the basics and privatize unnecessary services.

Jobs: Johnson favors a complete rewrite of all regulations for every state agency to eliminate needlessly burdensome and “silly” regulations. He opposes legislation like the Democratic “card check” bill that would make it easier to unionize. He would like to consolidate and streamline Georgia’s programs for business loans, grants, and tax credits to make them easier to get. He would also streamline professional licensing and expand Georgia’s Work Ready program with a Workbook internet site (modeled on Facebook) to match workers with jobs. Johnson also favors tax credits for job creation and promoting Georgia’s tourist industry. He also wants to allow a small percentage of the Employees Retirement System to be utilized for alternative investments to help provide capital to lure businesses to our state (Georgia is currently the only state to prohibit this).

Immigration: Johnson will require state agencies to enforce current Georgia law and verify citizenship status of applicants for state benefits. He would increase the per diem paid to counties to house illegal alien prisoners and require all law enforcement agencies to establish citizenship status of prisoners. He would collect citizenship data in schools, colleges, and emergency rooms, as well as holding employers responsible when they repeatedly hire illegal aliens.

Energy: Calling Georgia “the Saudi Arabia of pine trees,” Johnson supports research to use Georgia pines to replace coal in power plants and as a source of ethanol. He also supports expansion of the nuclear Plant Vogtle to help meet Georgia’s electricity needs in coming decades. He would like to open Georgia’s coastal waters to environmentally safe drilling and oil exploration.

Transportation: Johnson would like to make transportation a priority for funding from state bond revenues. He would like to build a western bypass around Atlanta (through LaGrange) to relieve congestion. He favors public-private partnerships to provide additional money for transportation. He also supports county or regional taxes that stay in that region for transportation projects. Johnson would like to expand Georgia’s rail network for freight. He supports tolls for out-of-state vehicles and tax credits for companies that encourage telecommuting.

Life: Johnson is endorsed by Georgia Right to Life.

Gun Rights: Johnson supports the second amendment.

Ethics: Johnson strongly supports transparency in government and says that there is no ethics bill to strong for him to sign. He has a record in the senate of supporting ethics reform legislation.

Property rights: Johnson helped amend Georgia’s constitution to uphold private property rights.

Marriage: Johnson helped amend Georgia’s constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Johnson was Georgia’s first Republican senate majority leader since Reconstruction.






Sources:
http://www.johnsonforgeorgians.com/
http://www.ballotpedia.info/wiki/index.php/Eric_Johnson,_Georgia_Senator
http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-05-26/eric-johnson-ethics-fix

photo credit: Eric Johnson

How to Decode Job Ads

With unemployment rates remaining at their highest rates in decades, as a public service to job seekers, I am offering list of explanations on what commonly used terms in job postings really mean.

Unlimited income potential – pays straight commission

Flex time – prepare to work crazy hours and weekends

Seniority based – you start at the bottom, regardless of experience

Telecommute – you’ll have to work at home too!

The successful applicant will… - if this isn’t on your resume, don’t bother

Some travel required – prepare to live out of your suitcase

Marketing – sales

Pay commensurate with experience – we’ll pay you as little as we can get away with

Some benefits – not many

Health plan – band-aids and Tylenol are available in the employee lounge

Inside marketing – telephone sales


Opportunities for advancement – high employee turnover

Retirement plan – we pay into Social Security for you

Independent contractor – no benefits, not even Social Security

Entry level – low pay

Internship – no pay

Rapidly growing company – prepare to work long hours and do more than you get paid for

Established company – not growing and nearly bankrupt

Good customer service skills – someone who doesn’t scream at the customers

Great customer service skills – someone who doesn’t ignore the customers

Outstanding customer service skills – someone who actually is nice to the customers

People person - flirt

Outside marketing – door-to-door sales

Investment opportunity – you pay us to work for us

Bilingual – Hablas espanol?

Work at home – rip off

Producer – sales

Computer skills – you need to know more than how to get on Facebook and play World of Warcraft

Account manager – sales

Part-time – partial paycheck

Full-time – 60+ hour weeks

Receptionist – answer phones, type, file, make coffee, make copies, pick up dry cleaning, watch the boss’s kids, set up tee times, and make excuses for the boss (among other things)

Field representative – sales

Experienced – laid off by our competitors

Must have reliable transportation. – Don’t even think about missing work.

Management experience – good at telling people where to go

Nursing assistant – change bedpans

Pilot – able to sit for long periods and push buttons

Agent – sales

Motivated – able to look busy

Send resume. Do not apply in person. – Don’t call us. We’ll call you.

Now get out there and jump into the job market! Good luck with your job search and if feel free to post your own tips at reading employment ads here.

Please follow, comment, and pass along!

Fort Myers FL

June 19, 2010

Photo Credit:
Graeme Weatherston
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=330

Candidate Profile: Carl Camon for Governor

Carl Camon was born in Nashville, Georgia and grew up in Ray City, Georgia. Ray City is located in south Georgia, just north of Moody Air Force Base, which in turn is located near Valdosta. Camon served over ten years in the US Air Force and Air Force Reserve. He received a “below the zone” promotion and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-5). His service in the military convinced him of the need to maintain a strong national defense.

The military also helped Camon advance his education. He received Associate degrees from Georgia Military College and the Community College of the Air Force. He also earned Bachelor, Masters, and Specialist degrees in education from Valdosta State University. His concentrations were in Mental Retardation and Severe Disabilities.

His political career began in 1993 as a member of Ray City’s city council where he served two terms. Later, he became the first African-American mayor of Ray City, eventually serving five terms from 1996 through 1997 and 2000 through 2009. As Ray City mayor, he helped to start Georgia’s first municipal pre-k program. He also founded the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute and the Mayor and Council’s Education Initiative Scholarship. Camon worked to obtain grants to modernize Ray City’s fire and police departments, and declared war on drugs in his city. While mayor, he was listed as one of “40 under 40” Rising Stars in Georgia.

In 2002, he was appointed by Governor Roy Barnes to a four year term as chairman of the County and Municipal Probation Advisory Council. The role of the council is to provide orientation and standardization for probation officers, as well as private providers of probation services. Other civic roles for Camon include membership in the Budget and Executive Committees of the Georgia Municipal Association and chairman of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee.

Camon has also served in a variety of teaching roles. His resume boasts fifteen years of experience in education in jobs as varied as Assistant Professor of Education, Pre-k Director, and high school teacher. He was listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers four separate times and was awarded Teacher of the Month.

It was in his role as teacher that Camon received the only blemish on his record. While teaching at a school in Valdosta in 2007, Camon was accused by several students of making sexual remarks, staring at the breasts of female students, and looking up their skirts. The NY Times reports that Camon denied the allegations, saying that the girls were angry at him for calls to the parents about bad grades ( http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/us/19georgia.html ). The Times also reported that Camon had been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student on a previous occasion in which no probable cause had been found.

In the 2007 case, Camon was suspended for one week. Rather than accept the suspension, he resigned, saying that he refused to accept punishment for something that he did not do. His complete statement on the matter can be read here: https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AfKEK8-LWmzhZGNmZDk0bTNfMjZjdjlwNnJkOQ&hl=en. After resigning, Camon was rehired by the same school system the following year, where he taught the same students in the same school. He maintains that he was falsely accused and unjustly suspended. He continued to teach in Valdosta until 2009 when he resigned to start a business, Teacher Advocacy and Protection (TAP) with his wife.

Here are Camon’s positions on some important issues:

Education: Camon believes that many of Georgia’s problems are linked to education, and commits to teach one class in each county during his term as governor. He also pledges $5,000 per year from his governor’s salary to scholarships for deserving high school students. Camon would like to return authority to teachers and increase their pay to the national average. He would also encourage teachers to retire after 25 years to reduce costs. Over time, he would phase out alternative schools and work to reduce the number of students who repeat grades. He is a strong supporter of pre-k, HOPE, and Quality Based Education.

Jobs: Camon would invest in the infrastructure of Georgia’s cities, which he believes would help to continue to develop economically. He would prioritize state spending and cut wasteful programs. He would offer incentives for the creation of small business and for hiring new employees. Camon would restructure Georgia’s welfare system to provide more job training. He would also expand opportunities for higher education to all citizens and encourage people to take personal finance training and counseling. He also believes that expansion of wind, solar and other green technologies will help Georgia. Mr. Camon would empower the Department of Commerce to market Georgia for tourism and industry.

Taxes: Camon would keep taxes low and believes that this will help to stimulate the economy.

Transportation: Mr. Camon would explore the possibility of building a high speed rail system to connect Georgia cities. He would also support regional mass transit systems. He would restore the Local Assistance Road Program (LARP) for cities and counties and increase regional representation in the Department of Transportation. He would work to increase the installation of electric power stations along interstate highways to facilitate the use of electric autos. Mr. Camon would support legislation to prohibit auto insurance companies from charging higher rates solely on the basis of poor credit scores. He would direct federal stimulus money to regions of greatest need. He would expand video surveillance of Georgia roads in an effort to ease congestion. He would also expand and secure Georgia’s ports.

Life: Camon’s website does not address life or abortion issues. In an email, he did state that he opposes abortion.

Gun Rights: Camon’s website does not address second amendment issues. In an email, he did state that he supports the second amendment.




Sources:
http://www.camonforgovernor.com/
http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=80274&catid=175
http://www.cmpac.gaaoc.us/
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/us/19georgia.html
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AfKEK8-LWmzhZGNmZDk0bTNfMjRkc3p3N2ZkNA&hl=en
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/03/18/responses-from-ray-mcberry-and-carl-camon/?cxntfid=blogs_political_insider_jim_galloway
http://www.mayorsyouthinstitute.com/
http://georgia.com/2010/03/12/election-series-interview-with-d-carl-camon/
http://peanutpolitics-keith.blogspot.com/2009/12/carl-camons-campaign-platform-for.html
http://www.thevoterguide.org/v/ajc10/race-detail.do?id=194890249&party=D

Candidate Profile: Thurbert Baker for Governor

Thurbert Baker was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He received and undergraduate degree in political science from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill before coming to Georgia to attend law school at Emory University. After graduating from Emory, Baker worked as a lawyer in Atlanta on both civil and criminal cases at the state and federal level.

In 1988, Baker was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. After Zell Miller was elected governor in 1990, he became Miller’s floor leader in the house. As floor leader, he was instrumental in passing much of the legislation of the Miller administration. He was known for his role in passing legislation that reduced death row appeals, reformed welfare, and curbed drunk driving. A major legislative accomplishment was Georgia’s “two strikes law.”

In 1997, Zell Miller appointed Baker to fill an unexpired term as Attorney General. Baker’s stated priorities included domestic violence, Medicaid fraud, and consumer fraud. He has been re-elected several times as Georgia’s Attorney General since 1997. Baker is Georgia’s first black Attorney General.

As Attorney General, Baker had Georgia join the historic lawsuit against the tobacco companies. He also began prosecution of fraudulent telemarketers operating in Georgia. He also proposed the denial of parole to certain classes of criminals, which at first was a controversial idea.

In recent months, Baker has been the subject of criticism, and an attempt at impeachment, for his refusal to file a legal challenge to President Obama’s federal health care reform law. Baker stated that he believed the lawsuit had little chance of success and would not be a wise use of the state’s meager resources [https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B_KEK8-LWmzhYTE2NjJiZDUtNmYxZi00YTk1LWIzYTktYzk4OTljOTIwMTRh&hl=en&pli=1 ]. Governor Sonny Perdue appointed a special attorney to handle the lawsuit. Both the lawsuit and the impeachment are still pending.

From his website, here are some of Baker’s positions on prominent issues:

Jobs: Baker would like to attract biotech companies to Georgia with a $175 million dollar investment in facilities, grants, and tax credits. Baker would also create scholarship and student loan forgiveness program to encourage more people to become nurses and help to relieve a looming shortage in Georgia. Baker also wants to create a $50 million deal closing fund to help attract new business to Georgia.

Taxes: Baker would allow new businesses to defer paying taxes for their first two years. After that time, back taxes must be paid.

Education: Other than the scholarship and loan forgiveness program for nurses, Baker’s website makes no mention of education.

Life: Baker’s website makes no mention of life issues or abortion.

Gun Rights: Baker’s website makes no mention of second amendment issues.

Sources:
www.thurbertbaker.com
http://www.answers.com/topic/thurbert-baker
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/03/30/house-gop-lawmakers-file-bill-of-impeachment-against-thurbert-baker/
http://www.gpb.org/news/2010/03/25/perdue-to-sue-obama-administration
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B_KEK8-LWmzhYTE2NjJiZDUtNmYxZi00YTk1LWIzYTktYzk4OTljOTIwMTRh&hl=en&pli=1

Candidate profile: John Oxendine for Governor

John Oxendine is from Tucker, Georgia and lived in DeKalb County while growing up. He is currently a resident of Gwinnett County and has lived there since college. He is a graduate of Mercer University, where he majored in Christianity, Greek, and political science. He also received a Juris Doctorate from Mercer’s law school. After college, he joined the family law practice in Gwinnett County.

His political career began as a student assistant to Governor George Busbee (Democrat, 1975-1983). He campaigned for Joe Frank Harris (Democrat, 1983-1991) and was appointed by Harris as chairman of the State Personnel Board. Since 1994, Oxendine has served as the state Insurance Commissioner. In his most recent re-election campaign, he carried 153 of Georgia’s 159 counties. Oxendine was the first Republican to control a state agency.

As Insurance Commissioner, Oxendine expanded office hours to be more responsive to citizens and consistently kept the Insurance Commission under budget. One of Oxendine’s first acts was to reform Georgia’s worker’s compensation insurance rules to reduce insurance costs for small businesses.

Oxendine made a national name for himself by becoming a leader in reining in HMOs. Georgia passed a prompt-pay law in 1994. The law required insurance companies to pay claims within 15 working days. Oxendine levied millions of dollars in fines against insurance companies who violated the law, more than any other Insurance Commissioner. He received the Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service from the American Medical Association in 2002.

In 2009, Oxendine faced claims that he accepted travel to the Oscars from a political contributor. Indianapolis Life Insurance claimed that Oxendine took a trip that was paid for by Dr. Jeffrey Gallups, who was involved in a case with Indianapolis. Oxendine claimed that he had reimbursed Gallups and that the insurer had been involved in wrongdoing. Others say that Oxendine had a personal interest in the case [http://www.allbusiness.com/government/elections-politics-campaigns-elections/13881535-1.html ].

Also in 2009, Oxendine was criticized by the Atlanta Journal for taking $120,000 in campaign contributions which were traced by to two insurance companies owned by the same man. Georgia law prohibits officials from taking money from companies they regulate. The money was given by ten separate political action committees. The AJC traced the PACs to two common addresses. Georgia law also prohibits individuals from donating more than $12,200 to a candidate in one election cycle. The use of multiple PACs to circumvent the limit is also prohibited. Oxendine stated that he and his campaign were unaware that the money came from an insurance company. According to Oxendine, the law specifies that the donors are punishable under law, but recipients are not at fault “as long as it appears to be an appropriate contribution on its face. All we can go by is what the giver tells us.” [http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2009/05/10/oxendine_campaign_funding_governor.html%3Fcxtype%3Drss&cxsvc%3D7&cxcat%3D13 ].

Finally, Oxendine’s son made news in January 2010 when he was involved in hunting accident. While bird hunting, Oxendine’s son fired a shotgun and some of the shot struck a man observing the hunt. The younger Oxendine did not have a hunting license, but the hunt was on a preserve where none was needed. Incidentally, the preserve belongs to Delos Yancey III, the same man who is accused of funneling the $120,000 in campaign contributions to Oxendine last year. The complete report on the incident can be found here: http://www1.romenews-tribune.com/Files/Documents/January2010/HuntinIncidentReport.pdf.

The centerpiece of Oxendine’s campaign is his twelve-point Contract with Georgia. The contract covers a range of reform issues and can be seen in its entirety here: http://www.johnoxendine.com/contract-with-ga.html.

Here is a summary of Mr. Oxendine’s stance on some representative issues:

Taxes: Oxendine supports the Fair Tax. He proposes scrapping the state tax code and replacing it with a modern tax code that does not include an income tax.

Life: Oxendine is endorsed by Georgia Right to Life. He supports a life amendment to Georgia constitution, as well as an Advanced Directive Law, the Georgia Abortion Complication Reporting Act, and a Human Cloning Ban. He would like to put Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers “out of business in Georgia.”

Gun Rights: Oxendine is a supporter of the second amendment and would like to expand the right to carry concealed weapons in Georgia. He is a member of the NRA, Georgia Carry, the Georgia Sports Shooting Association, and the Gun Owners of America.

Education: Oxendine would eliminate state level micromanagement of the educational system. He wants to return to local control and accountability. He also supports school vouchers.

Transportation: Oxendine plans to implement a comprehensive statewide transportation system.

John Oxendine is widely considered to be the Republican front-runner in the gubernatorial race.

Sources:
www.johnoxendine.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Oxendine
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2002/05/27/daily12.html
www.donself.com/documents/prompt-pay.doc
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/awards/nathan-davis-awards-outstanding-government-service/past-recipients-nathan-davis-awards.shtml
http://www.politicalscandalnews.com/article/Scandals%27%20domino%20effect%20shakes%20Ga.%20GOP%20leaders/?k=j83s12y12h94s27k02
http://www.allbusiness.com/government/elections-politics-campaigns-elections/13881535-1.html
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/oxendines-stepson-accidentally-shot-279433.html
http://www1.romenews-tribune.com/Files/Documents/January2010/HuntinIncidentReport.pdf

Candidate Profile: David Poythress for governor

David Poythress is a native of Macon. He attended school in Bibb County and later earned a college degree and US Air Force commission from Emory law school. After graduation, he volunteered for duty in Vietnam, where he served as defense counsel and Chief of Military Justice at Da Nang Airbase.

After four years of active duty, Poythress started a civilian law practice in Atlanta and held a variety of positions in the Georgia state government. The offices that he has held include Assistant Attorney General, Deputy State Revenue Commissioner, and Secretary of State. Elected in 1992 and 1994, he served as State Labor Commissioner. He resigned from that office in 1998 to mount an unsuccessful campaign for governor. Poythress’ private law practice dealt primarily with taxation and public finance.

After leaving active military service, Poythress continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve. He eventually attained the rank of Brigadier General. In 1999, Governor Roy Barnes named Poythress as Georgia’s Adjutant General, the officer in command of Georgia’s Army and Air National Guard. Barnes also promoted him to Major General. Governor Sonny Perdue renewed his appointment as Adjutant General and promoted him to Lieutenant General. He also served in Operation Desert Storm.

Here are Poythress’ positions on prominent issues:

Jobs: Poythress will not take a paycheck as governor until Georgia’s unemployment rate falls below 7%. He would also create tax incentives for high tech manufacturing, life sciences, alternative energy, and film production. He would immediately begin projects to enhance and upgrade Georgia’s infrastructure (roads, bridges, dams). Finally, Poythress would create tax credits for energy efficiency and water conservation.

Taxes: Poythress proposes tax credits to encourage water conservation and energy efficiency. He also would like to pass business tax incentives for high tech manufacturing, life sciences, alternative energy, and film production.

Education: Poythress opposes budget cuts for education. He also opposes school vouchers. He would like to recruit more teachers, especially in math and science, while preserving the current defined benefit pension plan for teachers. Poythress would like to preserve or expand popular programs, such as the HOPE scholarship and Pre-K classes. He would expand parent participation and institute a program to decrease the number of drop-outs. He would preserve the role of arts in education as well as health classes featuring nutrition and exercise. He would provide increased opportunities for vocational education and tutoring. He opposes No Child Left Behind.

Transportation: Poythress would encourage telecommuting and flex time for state workers to alleviate Atlanta traffic. He would expand Georgia’s ports, rail lines, and heavy truck routes. He would prioritize state transportation projections based on need, rather than politics. He would begin long term planning for a mass transit commuter system linking Atlanta with Georgia’s major cities as well as those of neighboring states. He would give citizens the option of passing a sales tax to fund transportation projects.

Gun Rights: Poythress’ website makes no mention of second amendment issues.

Life: Poythress’ website makes no mention of abortion or life issues. He is reportedly pro-choice. He does favor sex-education to reduce the number of abortions.

Sources:
http://www.poythressforgovernor.com/home
http://www.ghla.net/External/WCPages/WCNews/NewsArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=12
http://www.ghla.net/External/WCPages/WCNews/NewsArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=12

Candidate Profile: Nathan Deal for Governor

John Nathan Deal is a native of Millen, Georgia. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Mercer University in Macon, before joining the US Army. He served as a Democratic Georgia state senator from 1981 to 1993, before being elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1992.

After the landslide Republican victory in 1994, Deal says that he became uncomfortable being the most conservative Democrat in the Georgia congressional delegation. In April 1995, four months after beginning his second congressional term, Deal changed parties and became a Republican. He served continually as a congressional Republican until he resigned to run for governor. Deal announced his resignation on March 1, 2010, but delayed leaving office in order to vote against President Obama’s health care reform bill.

At the time of his resignation, Deal was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for using his influence as a congressman to preserve a no-bid contract for his salvage business. Deal was accused of using his congressional email account to discuss personal business with officials of the Georgia senate and Department of Revenue. Deal was concerned with changes that Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham had proposed to a program that earned Deal’s company an estimated $300,000 per year. Deal’s company had worked with the state for twenty years (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Scandal-surrounding-Rep-Nathan-Deal-R-Ga-79319837.html ). After his resignation, the Office of Congressional Ethics released a report that said Deal may have exceeded congressional limits on outside income and used his US House office and staff to preserve a private stream of money coming from a no bid state contract (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/35154.html).

Deal has said that the deal was not improper and that he had reported it each year to the House Ethics Committee. Deal also says that the report is incomplete because neither Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle nor Revenue Commissioner Graham cooperated with investigators. Cagle refused to cooperate and Graham said that he could not provide the information requested by the investigators without a subpoena. Since Deal resigned, the matter never went to the next level, which would have been the House’s Committee on Standards.

Here are some of Deal’s positions on prominent issues:

Life: Deal is endorsed by Georgia Right to Life. He is rated 100% by National Right to Life and 0% by NARAL. He also earned a 93% rating from the Christian Coalition.

Gun Rights: Deal has an A rating from the National Rifle Association.

Jobs and Economy: Deal is rated 93% by the US Chamber of Commerce. This indicates a pro-business voting record. His rating by the AFL-CIO was 20%. He would like to fuel growth in biotech and medical services through private lending and state capital investment company. He would also like the UGA’s Small Business Development Centers to offer technical and advisory assistance to complement venture capital investment.

Education: Deal is rated 17% by the NEA. This indicates a voting record against the education establishment.

Taxes: Deal was rated 69% by the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), which they consider a satisfactory rating. He would like to cut Georgia’s corporate tax rate, the corporate “net worth” tax, and allow exemptions for business inventory. He would also exempt businesses from taxes in their first ten years. For individuals, Deal would enact a 6% flat tax, exempting those who earn $7,000 or less. He would also eliminate the marriage penalty. Finally, Deal has signed the Americans for Tax Reform’s pledge to not raise taxes.

Immigration: Deal has said that he would work to pass legislation in Georgia similar to Arizona’s immigration law. On the federal level, Deal would like to close the “anchor baby” loophole, in which children born in the US are automatically granted citizenship, even if they are here illegally.

Sources:
http://www.dealforgovernor.com/index.aspx
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Nathan_Deal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Deal
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Scandal-surrounding-Rep-Nathan-Deal-R-Ga-79319837.html
http://blogs.ajc.com/gold-dome-live/2010/03/29/ajc-investigation-report-finds-deal-violated-ethics-rules/
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/35154.html
http://www.ontheissues.org/GA/Nathan_Deal.htm
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/04/27/nathan-deal-says-hed-implement-arizona-style-immigration-laws/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/26/nathan-deal-georgia-lawma_n_207485.html

Candidate Profile: Roy Barnes for Governor

Roy Barnes is a Mableton native and a life-long resident of Cobb County, where his family owned and operated a general store. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia law school. He became the youngest member of the Georgia state senate at 26 years old when he was elected in 1974. He served eight terms in the senate, before leaving to run for governor in 1990. He was defeated by Zell Miller in the Democratic primary.

In 1992, he returned to politics when he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. He served there until 1998, when he ran again for governor. This time he was elected.

A major achievement of Barnes’ term as governor was the removal of the Confederate battle emblem from Georgia’s state flag. In 2001, the flag was changed to a field of blue with a large state seal in the center, above five flags representing Georgia’s history and the words “In God We Trust.” This was an unpopular move that many believe was instrumental in his re-election defeat. Nevertheless, the move earned him a Profile in Courage award from the John F. Kennedy Library in 2003.

Education reform was also a hallmark of Barnes' tenure as governor. His administration resulted in more centralized control of Georgia schools. He also ended tenure for new teachers and required students to pass a graduation test to advance to the next grade, effectively ending social promotion. His website also notes that he reduced classroom sizes and increased pay for teachers. Many of these reforms were also unpopular.

Additionally, Barnes passed tax cuts for family farms and homes. He also created a sales tax holiday for Georgia. Additionally, he passed patient’s rights and anti-predatory lending laws. While he was governor, Barnes was known as “King Roy.”

After losing his re-election bid in 2002, Barnes devoted six months to pro-bono legal work for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society. He also established a consumer rights website, before founding a new family law firm, Barnes Legal Group.

More recently, Barnes argued before the Georgia Supreme Court against Georgia’s voter ID law. The law, passed in 2005, required that Georgia voters show a photo ID to vote. Barnes claimed the law was unconstitutional because some voters did not have driver’s licenses and paying for an ID would cause a burden on the poor. The case was dismissed by Georgia’s Supreme Court since the only plaintiff in the case had a photo ID and therefore had no standing to sue. The United States Supreme Court upheld the law in 2008 (http://www.answers.com/topic/roy-barnes#Governor_of_Georgia ).

Also, Barnes was recently appointed co-chairman of a nonpartisan commission on No Child Left Behind. The commission, sponsored by the Aspen Institute, is designed to seek improvements in federal education policy.

Some of Gov. Barnes’ stances on key issues are noted below:

Jobs: Barnes would issue an executive order to retrofit state and public buildings for energy efficiency. He would also create incentives for medical research in Georgia. Barnes believes that agriculture remains an important part of Georgia’s future and wants to increase the number of finished agricultural products, as opposed to raw materials, that Georgia exports. He believes that Georgia’s agriculture could make the state a leader in green jobs and the production of biofuels.

Taxes: Barnes supports property tax relief.

Education: Barnes is critical of recent cuts in the education budget, cuts in teacher salaries, and teacher furloughs. He would focus on math, science, language and special education and work to reduce class size. Barnes would have two classroom teachers on his staff as governor to ensure that all policy discussions stay grounded in classroom reality. He would also convene teacher panels provide communications between teachers and policymakers. Barnes wants to minimize the number of class days devoted to standardized testing. Finally, he would like to integrate Georgia’s high schools and technical colleges to promote more vocational training.

Transportation: Barnes would like to implement an elevated light-rail system to move commuters from Atlanta to outlying suburbs, much farther than the existing MARTA system. He would also connect Georgia’s major cities with light-rail systems, while working to improve Georgia’s roads.

Life: Barnes’ website makes no mention of his position on life or abortion.

Gun Rights: Barnes’ website makes no mention of his position on second amendment rights.

Sources:
http://www.roy2010.com/
http://www.answers.com/topic/roy-barnes#Governor_of_Georgia
http://myconsumerrights.com

Candidate Profile: Ray McBerry for Governor

Ray McBerry is a native of Atlanta. He is an avowed Christian who considers himself to be a constitutionalist. According to his website, he is a life-long Republican, but that he does not support “the globalist, socialist policies of either the Democrat or Republican parties at the national level.”

McBerry is a former youth minister at a Stockbridge church as well as a teacher in the Henry County school system at Patrick Henry High School. Currently, Ray McBerry is the president of Ray McBerry Enterprises in Atlanta. He produces radio and television commercials for the Atlanta market.

A brief search of Mr. McBerry’s history did turn up two hints of scandal. In one, McBerry’s teaching certificate was briefly suspended (for one week in 2004) for counseling a girl who was not a student at his school. The girl’s father attempted to bring charges against McBerry, but, according to the campaign, the local judge refused to even allow charges to be filed [http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_171542.asp ]. The report notes that McBerry has a valid teaching certificate to this day.

In the second case, an Atlanta woman claimed in May 2010 that she had an affair with McBerry when he was a youth minister. The woman, who is now twenty-four, claims that the affair took place eight years ago when she was sixteen. She claims that they had sex one time. McBerry denies the affair and says that the charges “came out of nowhere” [http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/woman-admits-relationship-with-mcberry-050410 ].

Here are McBerry’s stances on several prominent issues:

Taxes: McBerry proposes to abolish income and property taxes and replace them with a sales tax. He opposes any linkage of taxes to income, and would decrease the size of government.

Jobs: In addition to tax reform, McBerry would place renewed emphasis on vocational skills in Georgia schools to provide a ready work force for employers. Additionally, he would resist federal encroachment of intrastate commerce. He is one of the authors of the “State Authority and Intrastate Commerce Act” [http://www.statesurge.com/bills/hb-879-georgia-732992 ] which has been filed in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Gun Rights: McBerry opposes any effort to infringe on the right to keep and bear arms. He also supports legal immunity for firearms manufacturers in Georgia.

Life: McBerry is staunchly pro-life and is endorsed by Georgia Right to Life.

Education: McBerry is a former teacher with ten years teaching experience. First, he would move away from centralized federal and state control of schools, and return control to the local level. Second, he supports tax credits for school tuition as a means of increasing school competition. Finally, he would like Georgia schools to focus more on vocational skills.

Immigration: McBerry would use all state resources available to secure Georgia’s borders and apprehend illegal immigrants already here. He would bill the federal government for their detention. He would increase fines for employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens and would limit their ability to file nuisance lawsuits against the state.

Mr. McBerry also states that he will take a strong stand against federal encroachment into areas that the constitution preserved as the rights of the states. He notes that the federal government should be subservient to the states, not the other way around, and would use the tenth amendment to resist unconstitutional federal mandates, whether they are by federal legislation, court rulings, or executive orders.

Sources:
www.Georgiafirst.org
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_171542.asp
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/woman-admits-relationship-with-mcberry-050410

Candidate profile: Jeff Chapman for Governor

Jeff Chapman is a three-term state senator representing Georgia’s coastal third district. He is from Brunswick, where he started his career working in a paper mill. He later left the mill to start his own waste disposal business, which was purchased by Waste Management in the 1990s. After selling his business, he became a division president for Waste Management.

He began his career in public service on the Glynn County commission before being elected to the state senate. He also works with the Boy Scouts, the Exchange Club, and the Georgia Air National Guard. He was first elected to the senate in 2004.

Chapman is probably best known for his opposition to a Jekyll Island deal in which the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) proposed to grant Atlanta development company Linger Longer be granted the right to build private condominiums on Jekyll Island, the right of first refusal for all Jekyll Island projects for 25 years, and millions of dollars in incentives. In his opposition to the deal, Chapman cited the lack of competitive bidding as disrespectful of the free enterprise system and an abuse of public trust [http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/120609/opi_532438790.shtml]. Shortly after Chapman wrote an editorial criticizing the deal, the Jekyll Island Authority canceled it.

Senator Chapman bills himself as a social and fiscal conservative. Here is a summary of his positions on some prominent issues:

Taxes: Chapman supports a federal Fair Tax and the transition to state sales tax in lieu of a state income tax. He also supports property tax relief.

Gun Rights: Chapman is rated A+ by the National Rifle Association. He supports the right to keep and bear arms for self-defense, sports, and hunting.

Jobs: Chapman supports pro-business policies that will help to attract more businesses to our state. He supports lower taxes and a pork-free government budget. He also believes that improving Georgia’s education system will help to attract businesses to Georgia.

Education: Chapman would improve Georgia schools by working to improve student discipline in the classroom. He also reports returning more local control to school systems. He would establish a “clearinghouse” for teaching methods that work, as well encouraging experienced teachers to mentor new ones. Finally, he would like to make school budgets more efficient to make the best use of taxpayer dollars.

Life: Chapman has a 100% Pro-Life voting record and is endorsed by Georgia Right to Life.

Property Rights: Chapman opposes the misuse of eminent domain to take property for private development. He would work to close a constitutional loophole that allows the General Assembly to define “public use.”

Transportation: Chapman would like to increase efficiency and accountability in state transportation planning. He would also keep the entire proceeds of Georgia’s gas tax in the transportation fund (currently 1% out of the 4% tax goes to the general fund). Chapman also points out that of the 18.4 cents per gallon that Georgia collects for the Federal Highway Trust Fund, only 90% returns to Georgia. He would work to keep Georgia’s entire contribution.

In summary, Jeff Chapman is an experienced politician who is grounded in real-world business. He has a history of standing up against the political interests, including those of his own party.

Sources:
http://jeffchapmanforgovernor.com
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/120609/opi_532438790.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Chapman_%28Georgia_politician%29
http://www.atlantaunfiltered.com/2009/12/08/jekyll-authority-backs-out-of-island-development-deal-with-linger-longer/
http://www.lifenews.com/state5154.html

Herman Cain featured at Douglas County Tea Party

The weather favored the Douglas County Tea Party on June 4, 2010. A band of rain swept through earlier in the afternoon, but by the event’s start at 6:00 p.m., the weather was cool and dry. Residents of Douglas and Carroll counties met at Clinton Preserve in Villa Rica for a Tea Party celebration featuring conservative radio talk show host, Herman Cain.

The Tea Party also featured a number of political candidates or their representatives. Three gubernatorial candidates were attendance: Republicans Jeff Chapman and Ray McBerry and Libertarian John Monds. Supporters of John Oxendine, Nathan Deal, and Karen Handel also had booths.

Candidates for the 13th congressional district were out in force. This predominantly Democratic district, currently represented by David Scott, may be in play this year due to voter anger over stimulus, bailouts, Obamacare, and the economy in general. The Republican primary there has attracted a strong crop of candidates. Chip Flanegan, Deborah Honeycutt, Dave Orr, Mike Crane, Mike Murphy, and Hank Dudek were in attendance at the Tea Party.

Other candidates attending included Richard Woods and Kira Willis, candidates for State School Superintendent; Max Wood, candidate for Attorney General; Gerry Purcell, candidate for Insurance Commissioner; Gary Black, candidate for Agriculture Commissioner; Chuck Donovan, US Senate candidate; John Douglas, candidate for Public Service Commission; and Dennis House, Blane Vick and Ann Jones Guider, candidates for Douglas County Commission. No Democratic Party candidates were in attendance, although they would have been welcome. However, the crowd may have had some tough questions that Democrats might not have wanted to answer.

Grass roots activist groups also had booths. Georgia Carry, a state group supporting second amendment rights, recruited members. A group called GOOOH (Get Out of Our House) advocated a single campaign to replace all 435 incumbents in the House of Representatives. The North Georgia 912 Project, an off shoot of Glenn Beck’s 912 Project, was also present to promote traditional American values.

The event was supported by State Representative Bill Hembree, Able Tool, the Douglas Co. Republican Party, the Douglas Co. Republican Women’s Club, secularstupidest.com, P&N Manufacturing, and Ott Gun Works. The Patriot Depot sold conservative themed shirts and stickers, while Villa Rica’s famed Iron Horse BBQ supplied tea party goers with barbecue sandwiches. Edible Arrangements of Douglasville offered samples of one their fruit arrangements as well. The rock band, the Constitutionalists Perform, provided musical entertainment.

The evening’s main attraction was conservative talk show host, Herman Cain. Mr. Cain currently has an evening talk show on Atlanta’s WSB (AM 750). He began his career working for Pillsbury, where he became the company’s youngest vice president in 1977. He later left to become an executive with the company’s Burger King division and the president of Godfather’s Pizza. He was also the first black president of the National Restaurant Association. He has also recorded a CD of gospel hymns (http://www.answers.com/topic/herman-cain). He has founded Herman’s Intelligent Thinkers Movement (HITM) as a nonpartisan group to resist the growth of big government (http://www.hitm.brookswebsolutions.com/home.html).



Mr. Cain had planned to broadcast live from the Tea Party, but technical difficulties dictated that the Tea Party be recorded with plans to broadcast it sometime during the week of June 7-11. Much of the Tea Party recording session consisted of the “rapid fire” segment of Mr. Cain’s show in which callers get one minute to pose a question or make a point, and then Mr. Cain gets one minute to respond. Anyone with a question was invited to ask it. All that was required was to wait in line. Questions did not have to be submitted in advance or approved in any way.

One question that was asked repeatedly was whether Mr. Cain plans to run for president in 2012. He was noncommittal, but said that he is praying for guidance on the subject. His sound crew did indicate that recent appearances on the Sean Hannity show have stoked nationwide interest in Mr. Cain’s possible candidacy.

The most memorable part of the tea party occurred near the end. A white-haired gentleman let a young woman go ahead of him in the rapid fire line so he could be last. When he reached the microphone, he introduced himself as Louis, a former Marine, and announced that he had recently heard the second, seldom played, verse of the Star Spangled Banner and then began to sing:

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, "In God is our trust"
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


As Louis sang (actually the fourth and last verse; find the complete lyrics here), the surprised crowd began to stand to their feet, remove their hats, and cover their hearts with their hands. As he reached the more familiar last lines, members of the crowd joined in, and the entire crowd erupted into cheers at the finale. Upon completion of the song, Louis turned and hurried away, shaking a few hands that were thrust toward him as he walked. He quickly blended into the crowd, not to be seen again, but a photographer from secularstupidest.com recorded his performance and posted it on youtube for posterity.

There were no attendance figures available for the Tea Party, but Clinton Preserve’s parking area was full. The crowd was totally peaceful, polite, and diverse in spite of media claims that Tea Parties are racist, violent, and/or for the wealthy. All races were well represented, as was the full economic spectrum. (It is worthy to note that several of the conservative candidates were black and/or female.) The fact that so many citizens were motivated to come out to meet candidates and learn about the issues facing the United States bodes well for the future of our republic.





Sources:
http://fun.familyeducation.com/independence-day/music/35068.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9_bP219ehQ
Candidates:
Governor:
http://www.jeffchapmanforgovernor.com/home.html
http://www.dealforgovernor.com/index.aspx
http://www.johnoxendine.com/
http://georgiafirst.org/candidate/index.shtml
http://www.votemonds.com/
School Superintendent:
http://www.woodsforgeorgiaed.com/
http://willisforstatesuper.webs.com/
Attorney General:
http://www.woodforattorneygeneral.com/
Insurance Commissioner:
http://www.gerrypurcell.com/
Agriculture Commissioner:
http://www.votegaryblack.com/
Public Service Commission:
http://www.senatorjohndouglas.com/index.php
US Senate:
http://www.donovanforsenate.com/
13th District Congress:
http://www.honeycuttforcongress.com/
http://www.daveorrforcongress.com/
http://www.craneforcongress.com/
http://www.mikemurphycongress.com/pagesroot/pages/index.aspx
http://chipflanegan.com/
http://hankfordistrict13.com/
Douglas County:
http://vick2010.com/index.html
http://annjonesguider.com/Home_Page.html
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/house/bios/hembreeBill/hembreeBillBio.htm
Groups:
http://www.douglascountyteaparty.com/
http://www.douglasgop.com/
http://www.dcrw.org/
http://www.northgeorgia912.com/
http://goooh.com/home.aspx
http://www.georgiacarry.org/
Businesses:
http://www.abletoolrental.com/
http://stores.ebay.com/secularstupidest
http://www.theironhorsebbq.com/
http://www.ottgunworks.com/
http://www.patriotdepot.com/
http://www.ediblearrangements.com/