Politics

Early voting starts for runoff election

It’s voting time again, as two statewide races are headed for the Nov. 30 runoff election.

Voters will be selecting a Supreme Court justice between incumbent David Nahmias, who took 48.2 percent of the vote, and Tammy Lynn Adkins, who got 35.3 percent.

The other race in question is for the Georgia Court of Appeals, as Antoinette “Toni” Davis faces Chris McFadden. Davis was the leading vote-getter in a six-person race with 25.5 percent of the vote, followed by McFadden with 22.6 percent. Read More»

Horgan tagged $200, censured by commission for pot arrest

Ending what has been a bizarre chapter in Fayette County political history, Robert Horgan’s fellow county commissioners fined him $200 and officially rebuked him in a resolution Thursday night for being arrested May 2009 with a misdemeanor amount of marijuana while driving with an expired tag on his personal truck.

Most likely this is the last we’ll hear of the matter until the 2012 election cycle in which Horgan will be up for re-election. Read More»

No surprises: Fayette goes for GOP candidates in Nov. 2 election

Fayetteville resident Charles Yaughn votes Tuesday at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church. Fayette County election Supervisor Tom Sawyer said that as of 2 p.m. Tuesday approximately 15,000 residents — or about 21 percent of the total — had completed early or advanced voting either in person or by mail. That number placed Fayette 11th in Georgia for the number of persons having participated in the early voting process. Photo/Carolyn Cary.

Fayette County voters on Nov. 2 voted almost straight party tickets. Unfortunately for the Democrats, by about a 2-to-1 ratio, local voters chose the Republican candidate Tuesday over any Democrat challenger.

In Fayette returns, Republican Nathan Deal overwhelmed former Democrat Governor Roy Barnes 64 percent to 31 percent. But the margins didn’t shift that much down ballot.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle beat Democrat Carol Porter by about the same ratio. Read More»

Fayette voter turnout for Nov. 2 tops 60%

One thing you can say about Fayette voters: Every two years, they swarm to the polls with percentages that put other counties to shame.

2010 was no exception, and Fayette may even have set a record for a non-presidential year. By the time polls closed Nov. 2, 42,378 Fayette men and women had cast their ballots.

That’s out of a total registration of 70,233, according to the Fayette County Elections Office online, representing a turnout of 60.34 percent. Read More»

Tolbert wins BOE Post 5

Challenger Burgess couldn't improve on early deficit

With all precincts in and only the paper absentee ballots left to count, Sam Tolbert is the new Post 5 member on the Fayette County Board of Education. Read More»

Consequences of voting ‘No’ on regional tax costly to Fayette?

There is a lot of talk these days about the regional one-cent transportation sales tax initiative known as the Transportation Investment Act of 2010 that will be voted up or down at the polls in mid-2012. But what happens if voters in any of the 12 “special districts” across Georgia turn down the proposal that was given birth earlier this year in House Bill 277? Read More»

Tolbert pledges to focus on BoE budget

The November election is almost here. And for those interested in local education there is one more vote that will matter. Voters Nov. 2 will decide if the Fayette County Board of Education Post 5 seat being vacated by Lee Wright will go to Democrat Laura Burgess or Republican Sam Tolbert. Read More»

Lt. Gov. Cagle to stump in F'ville Thursday

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who is seeking re-election, will pay a visit to Fayette County Thursday afternoon for a meet and greet election event.

Cagle will appear at the Fayette County Republican Headquarters on Glynn Street across from the original Fayette County Courthouse from 3:30-4:30.

Other community leaders are expected to attend the event.

Westmoreland to challenger: Get government out of the way

Incumbent U.S. Representative Lynn Westmoreland (R-Grantville) on the right and Democrat challenger Frank Saunders of Midland listen to a question posed at a Coweta County forum Monday night. Story on Page A3. Photo/Ben Nelms.

Incumbent District 3 Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-Grantville) and Democratic challenger and school teacher Frank Saunders (Midland, in northern Muscogee County) squared off Monday night at a forum sponsored by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce. The candidates responded to questions centering on issues such as the recession, job creation, stimulus spending, immigration and healthcare.

“There is a problem in Washington and I want to help solve it,” said Saunders in his opening remarks. “There’s a lack of common sense and leadership in Washington.” Read More»

Rehwaldt, Haddix to speak to Republican women about mass transit bill 

The Greater Fayette Republican Women's Club will hold a dinner meeting on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Broadway Diner, 535 South Glynn Street, Fayetteville. The guest speakers will be Don Rehwaldt, Mayor of Tyrone, and Don Haddix, Mayor of Peachtree City, who will discuss the impact of HB 277, the Transformation Investment Act of 2010, on Fayette County. Read More»