Politics

Rep. Ramsey: Legislature to focus on pro-business issues

State Rep. Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City). File photo.

It’s getting closer to January, when the Georgia Legislature convenes for its annual session of adding, subtracting, amending and deleting Georgia law.

The upcoming session will of course be dominated by the budget again, but Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City, is hopeful that after the past several years of significant cuts the state has reached a point where the revenue and expenses are more stable. Read More»

Candidates for Dist. 28 seat answer questions

The time for voters in Senate Dist. 28 to have their say is fast approaching. And leading up to the Dec. 6 vote The Citizen thought it would be good if voters could hear from the two candidates vying for the seat previously held by Mitch Seabaugh. Candidates Duke Blackburn (R) and Mike Crane (R) were the top vote-getters in the Nov. 8 special election. Both responded to three general questions pertaining to the qualities they possess, their suggestions on the economy and their take on the federal government’s interaction with the states. Read More»

19% turnout produces historic F’ville election

Jo Muratti joined numerous other Fayetteville residents at the library on Tuesday, Nov. 8, casting her ballot in three city council races and one alcoholic beverage sales question. Photo/Ben Nelms.

The Nov. 8 city election signaled a sweeping change for the City Council, producing a new mayor and two new council members, including the first black person ever elected to a governing post in Fayetteville.

Voters at the end of the day had replaced long-time Mayor Ken Steele and Councilman Wilson Price. In their places will be Mayor-elect Greg Clifton and, on the City Council, Edward Johnson in the Post 1 seat and Mickey Edwards in the Post 2 seat.
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Senoia council seats retained, Palmetto sees regime change

The Nov. 8 elections in Senoia and Palmetto represented opposite ends of the political spectrum when it came to the fate of incumbents and challengers. In the two Senoia at-large City Council races incumbents Maurice Grover and Bobby Graham were re-elected. And in Palmetto Mayor John Miller was defeated by former Mayor Clark Boddie, while in the at-large races for three council seats the outcome saw incumbent Leon Sumlin retaining his seat and challengers Patty O’Hara Willey and Larry Parrott picking up the other two. Read More»

Blackburn, Crane to face-off in Dec. 6 Senate runoff election

The numbers in the nine-way race to fill the unexpired term of state Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (Dist. 28) are in and the top two vote-getters on Nov. 8 were Newnan residents Duke Blackburn and Mike Crane. The two will face off in a runoff election on Dec. 6.

Blackburn received 2,718 votes, or 26.28 percent of the total while Crane ended the night with 2,095 votes, or 20.25 percent. Both men qualified on the Republican ticket. Read More»

PTC voters give Imker a 4-year term, approve Sunday retail alcohol sales

Peachtree City Council Post 1 winner Eric Imker. Photo/File.

Incumbent Post 1 Councilman Eric Imker Tuesday easily turned back a challenge from political first-timer Steve Allen to win a four-year term on the Peachtree City Council.

Imker’s tally was 2,039 votes (58 percent) to Allen’s 1,468 (42 percent).

Imker was running for a full term after having won a special election two years ago to fill the unexpired term of then-Councilman Don Haddix, who resigned to run for mayor.

George Dienhart locked up the unopposed Post 2 slot on council. Read More»

Tyrone elects new mayor, 2 council members, OKs Sunday alcohol sales

Tyrone Mayor-elect Eric Dial. Photo/Ben Nelms.

Energized Tyrone voters in a 39 percent turnout for an off-year election Tuesday promoted Councilman Eric Dial to the open slot of mayor and installed two newcomers on the Town Council Dial overwhelmed first-time challenger Derrick Jackson by more than 2-to-1 to step into the mayor’s office being vacated by Don Rehwaldt, who chose not to run for reelection. Dial received 1,204 votes (70 percent) to Jackson’s 523 (30 percent). First-timer Linda M. Howard defeated Tammy Proctor 892 (55 percent) to 726 (45 percent) for the open Post 1 spot. Read More»

NEWS ANALYSIS — Challengers sweep F’ville races; longtime Mayor Steele loses to political newcomer

Fayetteville Mayor-elect Greg Clifton. Photo/Ben Nelms.

NEWS ANALYSIS — A continuing wave of voter unrest Tuesday night brought a sea change to previously placid Fayetteville politics as three challengers swept two incumbents out of office and defeated an establishment-anointed first-timer for an open slot on the City Council.

In the process, voters ended the political career of veteran Fayetteville Mayor Kenneth Steele, ousted incumbent Wilson Price and thwarted Mainstreet Fayetteville board member Cathy Cochran’s effort to win an open seat on the council. Read More»

Election results

UPDATE 9:24 p.m. Fayetteville results are FINAL; Mayor Steele out -- newcomer Clifton in; incumbent Price defeated by Johnson in Post 1 brings new majority to council
UPDATE 9:09 p.m Tyrone results are FINAL; one precinct outstanding for Fayetteville.
8:53 p.m. all Peachtree City precincts have reported, results are FINAL: Imker wins, so does Sunday alcohol sales; Fayetteville first precinct is in, Spring Hill

These are the total returns from all precincts but the results will not be made official until Monday:

Peachtree City Post 1 Read More»

Candidates for Seabaugh’s seat have their say at forum

A candidates forum held Nov. 2 at the old Coweta County Courthouse in Newnan for the unexpired term held by Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (Dist. 28) gave a packed house of residents a closer look at the nine candidates vying for the seat. Voters will have their say on Nov. 8 and, odds are, again on Dec. 6 when the top two vote-getters will face each other in a runoff election.

The forum was conducted by the Newnan-Coweta County Chamber of Commerce.

Eight of the nine candidates reside in Coweta County, with the other a resident of Carroll County. Read More»