Press Release
Release Date: October 30, 2006
Subject: AACOC PAC Endorses Candidates for Commission, Mayor, GA House & Senate
One of the missions of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee (AACOC PAC) is to encourage and support candidates who understand the importance of business to the local community. Prior to making endorsements, the PAC requested that local candidates for Commission and Mayor provide written answers to questions submitted by Chamber members. The questions and candidates’ answers can be found on the PAC’s web site: www.AthensBusiness.Com. The PAC also sponsored forums and debates for candidates. After careful consideration, the AACOC PAC endorses the following candidates in the upcoming election.
Commission District 1: The AACOC PAC endorses James Garland. This was a difficult decision for the PAC because both candidates are supportive of our concerns. However, we recommend that our members support Mr. Garland. In his answers to the PAC’s questions, Mr. Garland displays a strong belief in private property rights and the value of businesses to the community. Over the past several years Mr. Garland has been a strong advocate for the free-enterprise system and less government. The PAC believes that Mr. Garland will be an uncompromised voice for business, lower taxes, and prioritized spending on issues such as roads, sewer service, and water lines.
Commission District 2: The AACOC PAC endorses Alvin Sheats. Mr. Sheats has years of community involvement, serving previously as a Commissioner, the Executive Director of the Hancock Development Center, and as a soldier in the Army National Guard. Mr. Sheats’ service in the Hancock Development Center provides him with first-hand experience in understanding the needs of economic development and workforce development initiatives. Mr. Sheats thoroughly understands that Government working with education and business can make a difference in economic development for our community. The PAC believes that Mr. Sheats will bring that experience and advocacy to the Commission.
Mayor: The AACOC PAC endorses Charlie Maddox. The business community is pleased that Mr. Charlie Maddox and Mr. Tom Chasteen understand the importance of business and industry to the quality of life in Athens. However, we believe that Mr. Maddox is the best candidate for our members. Mr. Maddox is a former small businessperson, a veteran, and a retired employee of the State’s award-winning Labor Department. Mr. Maddox has worked with Chamber member businesses over the years, and he will bring an understanding of our fundamental concerns to the Mayor and Commission sessions. Mr. Maddox understands that business friendly is also community friendly. Most importantly, Mr. Maddox will bring a fresh perspective to Athens Clarke County Government and can bring together our sometimes disparate communities.
GA House District 113: The AACOC PAC endorses Bob Smith. Representative Smith is an uncompromised advocate for education and business in our community. He is a strong supporter of Athens businesses at the state level and chairs important House committees that support economic development for the Athens-Clarke area. Mr. Smith has earned our support.
GA House District 115: The AACOC PAC endorses E.H. Culpepper. Mr. Culpepper is a long-time advocate for Athens-Clarke County, and he understands why the redevelopment of the 316 Corridor can assist Athens in its pursuit of the bio-tech industry, cleaner jobs, and higher paying wages for its citizens.
GA Senate Seat 46: The AACOC PAC endorses Bill Cowsert. Mr. Cowsert’s is a local small businessperson who has bold ideas for our local problems, such as ways to help businesses provide employees with health insurance. Mr. Cowsert is also a supporter of responsible growth and private property rights. We believe that Mr. Cowsert will be a fair and balanced advocate for the Athens area at the State level.
In addition to supporting each of these endorsed candidates financially, the AACOC PAC also asks that you vote for each of these individuals on Tuesday, November 7th 2006.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Rainer, Chair
Athens Area Chamber of Commerce PAC, Inc.
706-353-8085
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46 comments:
Has anybody noticed how Bill Cowsert has clung to the "small business owner" label? Looking at his website and listening to his commercials you'd hardly know he was a practicing attorney. Has "lawyer" become such a bad label in Republican circles that it has to be avoided and shunned at all costs?
Serious Question: Does it do more harm or good to have the Chamber endorsement?
It only does more harm than good if you're the person endorsed. For the rest of us it does a great service :-)
A lawyer is a small business owner. Not only am I a lawyer, I am the sole proprietor of the Law Office of Charles A Jones Jr., LLC, which is a business, which is small.
I'm going to disagree with the Chamber's endorsement on one race.
How is a lawyer in private practice with his own firm (2-3 attorneys) not a small business owner? UGADemocrat doesn't know what the hell he/she/it is talking about. I'm a lawyer. I have a small business -- a law firm. I have staff I employ. I pay taxes, run payroll, etc., in addition to practicing law. Cowsert does the same. That's called running a business.
I think UGA Dem's comment was more about the semantics of self-description than anything -- the fact that he (Cowsert) is being (self-) identified as "a small business owner" rather than as "a lawyer" (when he clearly could fall into either category, if he does in fact have a small practice). What does that say about the way he is presenting himself and why?
Which would work fine if the GOP hadn't been on a jihad against lawyers for the past decade :-) When they go on a jihad against dry-cleaners then your point will be valid :-)
ugademocrat said, "A lawyer is not a small business owner...not in the way most Americans think of it." I place the emphasis there.
I agree with the anonymous poster: most Americans would think of a "small business owner" as someone running a mom&pop store, someone selling some cars from a small lot, someone selling coffee or pizzas they brew or bake themselves, someone mending shirts or sewing dresses, someone raking up leaves or pruning some bushes. 'Lawyer', on the other hand, does not usually map onto someone working for an LLC comprising themselves and a few other lawyers with some office staff, even though that is probably the more accurate, more common image. Instead, 'lawyer' is more associated with the "trial lawyer" picture than it is with patent law or real estate law pictures, regardless of actual numbers of those who practice any of these examples. I take ugademocrat's point to be that for all the negative publicity trial lawyers get, the status of being a lawyer just might be something you don't want to make well-known, as opposed to the kind of image strongly associated with being a small business owner. Everyone likes small business owners. Not everyone likes lawyers, no matter how necessary they are for life in the United States. It's not that outlandish a point to notice that the two images are not often compatible for most people.
Also, checking ugademocrat's blogger profile reveals he is a male.
I'm a Chamber member and answered their poll. I'm glad they asked because they didn't in 2004. It appears they endorsed everyone their members showed overwhelming support for. I see support for democrats, independents and republicans. Seems fair to me.
Which Democrats? They didn't endorse a Democrat. In fact they endorsed all Republicans with the exception of Culpepper. So they endorsed all Republicans. I wouldn't say that it's not fair b/c they didn't endorse anybody but Republicans but the Chamber shouldn't pretend like they were bipartisan.
Alvin Sheats is a Democrat.
Hmm... I thought county elections were "non-partisan."
Check this out, Tim just ran an ad promoting their election night coverage, and they're having Doc Eldridge and JIM PONSOLDT@!!!! on to cover results next Tuesday.
This is a hoot, Jim is nothing if not argumentative, and he and Doc are polar opposites if there ever were two...
this should be great fun.
Did anyone attend the Federation of Neighborhood candidate forum this week? Interesting when Doug McKillip said that he was not a developer. McKillip was the Plaintiff in a Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Equitable Relief which was filed in the Superior Court of Athens-Clarke County on September 21, 2005 in Case Number SU-05-CV-1757SW. These pleadings are about 36 pages.
Mr. McKillip stated under oath the following (which of course is just a small part of these pleadings):
“Plaintiffs Gasparilla Corporation, Paul Lancaster and Douglas McKillip are owners or owners in interest of certain tracts of land comprising a portion of the land to be developed as Oak Grove Subdivision in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia”
“Paul D. Hill, Ashley D. Hill, Paul D. Lancaster and Douglas C. McKillip formed a partnership for the future development of all of the Oak Grove Subdivision, in which each partnership was to have a 25% interest.”
“The parties discussed cooperative development plans, both residential and commercial, to include the construction of roads, sewer lines, utility lines, amenities (including pool, tennis court, club house and walking trails) and the development of lots in the Oak Grove Subdivision. The parties had three separate partnership meetings.........”
In a recent negative campaign flyer, Mr. McKillip asks us to Check the Facts about his statement about one of his opponents, Mr. E. H. Culpepper taking advice from Republicans and being backed by Republicans. Let's all check McKillip's statement. If a candidate will attempt to hid his involvement as a developer (no value judgment here, it is what it is), in an attempt to get votes, what else might there be?
BlackDogNow
I think that a law firm is a business. If a law firm is has less than a certain amount of employess, it is small. Therefore, it is a small business.
Correction: I think that a law firm is a business. If a law firm has less than a certain amount of employess, it is small. Therefore, it is a small business.
What station is the election night coverage going to be on? Is that FM1340?
That really sucks for Charlie. He buys huge ads to say he's not the Chamber boy and then the Chamber says yeah you are.
Charlie getting in this race really screwed over Tom. Tom would have had a decent shot with his whole middle of the road campaign.
So what do you think about the mayor's race then? Does Heidi win without a run-off, or if not, who is there with her, Charlie or Tom?
I think Tom is definitely going to be in it with her. Charlie's had a rough week.
it's gonna be a sad day for democrats if the current polls turn out the way they are looking. the mayor's race seems like it's gonna be between heidi and the "other candidate" (maddux) in a runoff. Chasteen is looking like the odd man out.
wgau am, 1340
I meant am 1340 - I'm just a moron.
How much does it help Heidi that Rusk is out? How much would have Rusk pulled?
It helps no one that Rusk is out - it would have helped no one if Rusk were in. He would have received such a small percent of the vote that it's silly to even discuss him. The ABH along with Al Davison are pandering to this kid for pathetic PR points.
Blackdawg: Thanks for the specific info. I'm checking it out. I have felt very leery of this McKillip candidate. There was all this controversy regarding his residency and moving into the district just to run for office. I was at the forum the other night. Culpepper seemed, well, a little old. Quick was impressive but I don't know that much about her. I was kinda surprised when Quick said d is for developer and Mckillip said he had never developed anything. Well, someone's not telling the truth. So, I'll check out your info. Ain't politics grand?
So here's the scenario, Heidi vs. Charlie in a run-off. Who wins? Charlie will have the chamber republican folks, Heidi gets the liberal contingent. How much does Charlie get from African Americans?
What do you guys think about this? Who would win?
Just to add on what I just said, what about Heidi and Tom? I know it seems less likely, but what are blogs for?
Tom gets the chamber folk, Heidi still has the liberal crowd, where do AA's go? In the end, who wins?
I think Charlie Maddox is going to get a lot of the liberal crowd vote and most of the African American vote. It's a lot of the liberals who are fed up with Heidi...or let's say disappointed at least.
Damn, somebody reads AthPo at 4:30am. I thought I was hardcore.
Yeah, 4:30 am is hardcore. Hey Publius, how about another posting about the mayor's race and the run-off possiblilities?
Last election (which did not have AA canidate) AA vote was 20%. If Charlie pulls a third of everybody else, this won't go to a runoff.
Heidi and Charlie in a runoff and Athens will have it's first AA mayor.
Tom vs. Charlie in a runoff will be a bloodbath.
By last election, do you mean 2004 or 2002?
Because while 2004 was the last election...2002 was the last relevant election as far as predicting turnout is concerned.
What do you think about the Chamber's endorsement of Charlie? Does this hurt him with AA's? Heidi has Shirley Franklin and the PPA to boast, so does she get enough AA votes to avoid a run-off?
AA's voting for Heidi is like Grow Green electing Larry Mckinney.
PPA is an election year stunt and they know it. Franklin needs to keep her business in ATL and they know that too.
The Chamber has had an AA committee for three years and they have been quietly building support under the radar. Thats why there is this Business/AA alliance to begin with. Chasteen could have gotten some business votes but his windsock campaign just picked up a wind burst with his Flagpole announcement that the Chamber is not business friendly. How dumb for the so called businessman on the commission. Now no one trusts him. Based on the poll on the Chambers website, Heidi doesn't even get in the runoff. She's pulling just 1 in 5 of the companies responsible for making the PPA succesful longterm and Charlie and Tom are splitting the rest. Even young Andy had 4%. And speaking of the PPA, it wasn't her idea, she just claimed it for the election. I remember there were five organizations that started it, the Chamber, the UGA, FC and the School System. Heidi is hemorraging and doesn't even know it. Athens may be apathetic sometimes, but voters here aren't dumb.
The chamber has issued their Fatwa. "Vote for Charlie or face annihilation at the hands of our glorious freedom fighters."
Heidi has issued her Fatwa. "Vote for Heidi or the poor people and the bussinesses and the non-radicals might actually have a voice".
Be forewarned, she's not afraid to stand up for a few people.
So, I made a trip to the ACC Courthouse today to check out BlackdogNow's info. re: McKillip. Not a developer...my ass. That really makes me angry that he would deny that when asked. It's quite obvious now that he was trying to mislead, but I don't understand why it's necessary to be dishonest about THAT.
In response to something written a few posts up, anyone thinking that Heidi won't win the most votes on tuesday is kidding themselves (no offense). Her base is still a sizeable contigent that will at the very least get her 45% of the vote.
Thoughts?
Thoughts...I think there will be a runoff between Heidi and Charlie. Tom's votes will go to Charlie. I also suspect a runoff in race for 115...just not sure yet who will be in it. McKillip's record is not impressive. EH is good on paper but in person...not so sure. Quick is sharp but don't know why she's running as a republican.
Did ya'll catch online athens editorial (ABH) today? Accused McKillip of lying in his radio spots to try and get elected. Don't usually see ABH taking such a stand. They must have been pissed. That and the "I'm not a ... developer" declaration has his campaign in major trouble. McKillip's off my ballot.
man I'm wishing I hadn't voted absentee.
Hey, ya'll -- Alvin Sheats is running in D9, not D2. He previously lost D3, which is where he lives -- in the Hancock corridor. Why would the Chamber make that mistake?
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