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July 13, 2004
Endorsements
As if anyone cares, here are my endorsements for races I'm voting in:
In the race to succeed retiring closet Republican Zell Miller, Cliff Oxford gets the edge. Oxford is promising on two fronts -- he's willing to kick considerable money into his campaign and he looks set to run a populist campaign, which is exactly what Democrats need to do to win in the South. State Sen. Mary Squires should be commended for stepping in when no one else would, and her grassroots army should prove worthy in a future campaign for a countywide or Congressional run.
In the race to succeed Rep. Denise Majette, I'll be voting for state Sen. Liane Levetan. Levetan has proved one thing again and again in her long career, she can bring home the bacon. And what I call the "other DeKalb" could really use a hands on Congresswoman with an emphasis on constituent services and bringing home needed resources. Levetan, who is not the most impressive campaigner of the bunch, will be devoted 100% to the needs of the district and her constituents. Cynthia McKinney and Cathy Woolard have proven themselves able public speakers, but in voting for Congress I'm not interested in sending someone who will either be fodder for or a regular guest for Bill O'Reilly.
In the race for DeKalb County CEO, I'll stick with Vernon Jones. Commissioner Judy Yates has a spotty record and may have picked the CEO's race because she already had opposition from Ken Jones for her commission seat. Ken Jones is running against neighborhood activist Kathie Gannon, who has a good handle on issues important to the Emory area. Unfortuantely for Gannon the super district she's running for stretches from Ellenwood to Dunwoody and their needs, especially in the Southern part of the district, don't align with the affluent and static Druid Hills area. In the Republican Primary for the commission district that stretches from Dunwoody to Stone Mountain, I would vote for Jarett Gorlin. Elaine Boyer's divisive politics have excluded her district from reciving HOST funds and her brand of combative politics won't solve any problems for the county.
In state legislative races, DeKalb voters would do well to pick Mike Jacobs in District 80, which stretches from Perimeter Mall to Toco Hills. In Senate District 40, former Deaniac Camille Kokozaki will face a tough general election fight but is ready to work the district from top to bottom. In Senate District 42, my sometimes boss David Adelman shouldn't have any problem dispatching a perennial candidate. Adelman's gotten things done in a Republican Senate without selling out his Democratic principles (or constituents).
Well that's how I'll be voting. I can't vote in these other races, but here goes nonetheless:
Republican US Senate: Mac Collins has been so inept so far I can only hope that by some miracle he wins this primary. Either Cain or Isakson would probably be formidable opponents in November.
6th Congressional District: Chuck Clay is the last of a dying breed of moderate Georgia Republicans. In this district, he's the best of a bad crop.
8th Congressional District: Lynn Westmoreland didn't think gay marriage would be his ticket to Washington, like the unheard from Mike Crotts. Voters should be confused by Dylan Glenn, whose only qualifications seem to be that he knows both President Bush and Sonny Perdue. By that test, I'm halfway to being the Congressman from the 8th district.
Posted by Chris at July 13, 2004 11:34 PM
Comments
Any possibility you'll endorse a candidate for "President of Beers"?
Posted by: Pappy at July 14, 2004 02:22 AM
Chris Chatwood Voices Concern over Senator Clay’s Appearance of Impropriety.
Press Release
June 21, 2004
The Common Sense U.S. House candidate calls for Chuck Clay to drop out of 6th District race.
Marietta, June 21, 2004- Upon discovering what looks to be a conflict of interest on State Senator Chuck Clay’s legal practice website, Chris Chatwood, common sense conservative Republican candidate for the U.S. Congress, 6th District, expressed his concern at the potential impropriety. “The citizens of Georgia’s 6th Congressional District expect better of their representative in Washington,” Chris said. “In Iran, Afghanistan and around the world, there are brave men and women in uniform who are expected to meet the highest standards of propriety. We should expect their leaders to uphold at least that same standard.”
According to the website for State Senator Clay’s law firm, Brock, Clay, Calhoun, Wilson & Rogers P.C., as head of their governmental affairs division, “Charles C. Clay facilitates changes to laws to benefit clients and industry and helps companies secure business relationships with government agencies”.
“This is exactly why I decided to become a candidate in the first place,” Chatwood said. “I call it politics as usual, and it is a classic example of what the citizens of the 6th District are tired of.
The website states that Senator Clay’s Firm, “facilitates changes in local, state and federal laws and regulations to benefit clients and industry.” Chatwood stated “When you are a government official and your firm touts you as a high profile political leader who can be found ‘at the White House, in the halls of Congress, and under Georgia’s Gold Dome’, and then it claims ‘the firm’s political strength and outstanding legal counsel has attracted a wide variety of high profile clients needing to secure business relationships with government agencies, seek regulatory relief, or to influence the legislative process’, that is politics as usual, and it is keeping the government from working the way the Founding Father’s expected.”
“The 6th District needs a leader who will go to Washington to work for regular people rather than high profile clients or special interest,” Chatwood said. “I would expect that the only honorable thing for Senator Clay to do is drop out of the race for the 6th District Congressional Seat.”
Posted by: Chris Chatwood at July 14, 2004 09:37 AM
Thanks for the update Chris! I'd also like to make a plug for Eric Ponder running in 81, he doesn't have a primary but faces incumbent Jill Chambers in November. I'm also very excited about Kevin Levitas taking on Paul Jennings in District 82 in November. I'm backing Camille Kokozaki in Senate 40, I would love to have a truely moderate, common-sense Democrat back in control of the Senate seat for North Dekalb and he would make his constituents very proud.
Posted by: Tim at July 14, 2004 10:17 AM
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