Hall County GOP Chairman Blog

We had a good turnout at the 8-9-08 Conservative Forum where Rep. Doug Collins was the featured speaker. Doug is heading to Iraq as an Air Force Chaplin. Our prayers go out to him for taking The Lord to that country and coming back home safe. Doug gave a rousing talk about duty, honor, and County (my words not his). Doug also expressed the need for our party to constantly change to get better and move forward.

Sen. Hawkins, Rep. Mills, and Rep. Rogers all discussed legislative issues. Carl reported that Diversion Center will be converted to a “day reporting” facility not closed as previously reported. James talked aoubt the need for poof of citizenship to register to vote. Currently no birth certificate is required to register. No telling how many fraudulent voters we have recently registered in Georgia. You have to show you birth certificate to play soccer with other kids–I don’t think showing the certificate to vote is such a big deal (unless you are a fraud of course).  James also talked about the need to collect money from deadbeat homeowners who seem to have been able to keep $8M.

Calendar of Events:  Lee Hawkins Fundraiser 5:30 PM on August 21, 2008 at Milton Robson’s “Garage.”  James Mills Fundraiser on September 20, 2008 at the Ag Center.  Conservative Forum at 8:30 AM on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Ryan’s on Browns Bridge Road.

I wanted to say a special thanks to J-Net Viera.  J-Net was our McCain cordinator until her sister took ill and she had to step aside.  Our prayers for healing go out to her sister and I ask you to put her on your personal prayer list as well.  At the forum she came up to me and told me that she was proud of me and that I was doing a great job as Chairman.  J-Net is a special person to the party who has always been here for the party and has always served when asked.  Her compliment touched me very deeply.  Thanks J-Net!

Elected Official Present Were: Senator Lee Hawkins, State Rep. James Mills, State Rep Carl Rogers, School Board Member Craig Herrington, State Court Judge Charlie Wynne, and Gainesville City Councilman George Wangemann. Also present was Helen Powell (County Commissioner Billy Powell’s wife and chief-of-staff).

Former Hall GOP Chairman Present: Gordon Sawyer, P. Martin Ellard, Kerry Cook, and Joe Cwik. These are the men who helped make the Republican Party dominant in Hall County.

Other Officials Present: Don Walsh (Hall County Coordinator for Saxby Chambliss Campaign); Chris Yardley (Hall County Coordinator for McCain Campaign); Associate Magistrate Court Judge David Burroughs; and Chief Assistant Solicitor General Jennifer Scalia.

Candidates Present: Judge Charlie Wynne and his opponent William I. “Sonny” Sykes.

The Gainesville Diversion center is going to be summarily shut down to save some money.  Saving money is ALWAYS a good thing for government to do.  But do we save some money at the risk of our safety?  Not a good trade.  Like military, public safety is one area you don’t skimp on.

Diversion centers are the places that the probation department can send people to instead of prison when they are too high risk to just release on probation.  The inmates have to work to be there, and the length of stay is up to the behavior of the inmate, and if they misbehave they get sent to prison.  Diversion centers are a good (and cheaper) alternative to the prison system for non-violent felony offenders.

I can’t see how closing any of them would be cheaper AND saferat the same time.  Sure shutting down a facility would save money, but where do the inmates go?  I’m betting they will just be released on regular probation, not sent to another center or to prison.  Probation officers are already overworked and supervising probationers is like herding cats to start with.  So this sudden increase of inmates will just be released to YOUR neighborhood with much less supervision than they have now.

It would be cheaper to just shut down the whole Department of Corrections, but the prisoners need to be housed separately from the rest of society because they are DANGEROUS.  We can save money by shutting down the Sheriff’s Department and Police Departments too.  Hello?  Less is more, but not when it is less public safety.

Read The Times here–>Many lament loss of diversion center

From the story it seems like this is a hack job on North Georgia by the Atlanta crowd.

A moment of silence before looking at this picture—->Navy NewsStand - Eye on the Fleet  This is WAR brought into the streets of New York City by foreign soilders.  Your street WILL BE next if you do nothing.

July 31, 1981, U.S. Military MEPS Station, Jacksonville, Florida: 

“I, Paul Stanley, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

I have never been relieved of this oath.

This will be my only response to Mike and other Democrat fascists.  What service were they in?  Like the Dali Bama, none, I’m sure.  To liberals, soilders are just guys in funny hats with guns that take up money that could be used for social programs.  Like a good pickpocket, liberals want you to watch one hand while the other goes for your wallet.  As long as liberals or their friends profit from any government program, they are satisfied–no matter what the program does to you.  Liberals squeal like pigs about their rights, but they are ready to spit on yours for a dollar (or a fish or turtle).  To liberals, the Constitution is a “living changing document” that is “variable” based upon the “social norms” that 5 people in Washington impose upon you.  And Liberals, lead by the Dali Bama want to choose which 5 people make the decision.  (HINT:  You are not one of them.  Jesus would not be on their list either.)

The American Fighting Wo/Man is the only thing that stands between your quiet pursuit of happiness and death.  Vote Republican or prepare to surrender.  Surrender your rights.  Surrender your church.  Surrender your wallets.  Surrender your home and property.  Surrender the lives of your family.  Worse yet, surrender your heart and mind and soul to a bunch of heathens bent on self aggrandizement who are driving electric cars, wearing sandals, and smiling at you the whole time.

Of course not all Democrats are heathens–but almost all heathens are Democrats and their Democrat leaders are all heathens (OK, I’ll give you Jimmy, but even they ignore him unless he says something silly).  Believing in God is not the same thing as following Him.  Even Satan believes in God.  Your friendly next door neighbor Democrat you go to church with is not going to get appointed to the Supreme Court any more than you are.  Neither is Jimmy.

VOTE RIGHT, VOTE REPUBLICAN

VOTE MCCAIN: NO SURRENDER

You thought that gas prices were high, right?  Did you know the Federal gas tax is 18.4 cents of each gallon (almost 25 cents for diesel)?  Did you know that instead of lowering the Federal gas tax, the Democrats are going to RAISE the tax by 10 cents per gallon?  Yes, RAISE the tax.

Read the story here–>No gas tax holiday: Congress considers raising pump tax to help repair crumbling highways — Newsday.com

Anything that takes money out of our pockets and puts it into Government pockets is a “tax” to me.  That means all fees, surcharges, and hidden government costs (like business licenses, building permits, etc where the cost is passed along to us).  This gas tax is justified by building roads for us to drive on.  Look how great our roads are!

Other taxes seem to have no justification whatsoever.  Gainesville has one of the HIGHEST telecommunication tax per telephone line.  According to AT&T when I complained about my billing, Gainesville tax is higher than New York City (say it with me now—NEW YORK CITY?!)  Do you think our telephone lines cost more than New York City?  Does the Gainesville City government help with your telephone more than New York City?  No and no.  They are just gouging each of us $8 per month per line or so for no added value.  What else does the government add a few pennies to without any justification?

What do they do with all the money?  Waste most of it.  It is time for government to tighten its belt and provide services on an efficient basis.  Not where they pay their buddies hundreds of thousands of dollars and the rest next to nothing.  Too many employees for too little work (except in schools where we have just the opposite).  Contracts need to be scrutinized by citizens not bureaucrats who are paid no matter how well (or poorly) they do their job.  Everyone has to pull on the oars on this boat.  You work hard for your money, so should the government work hard to justify taking it from you.  That means if you don’t want to wind up getting the short end of the stick you need to get involved.  It will be too late after you have been robbed by the government.  They don’t give anything back.

According to an email I received today, William I. “Sonny” Sykes has qualified to run for State Court Judge against Charlie Wynne.  Look for a lot of interesting information to come out during the campaign.  If you are interested in helping any campaign then call the candidate up.  Their number is in the book.

UPDATE:  Per the request of P. Martin Ellard, I have removed Sonny Sykes phone number from this blog entry.  Even for those the believe that your voting history is between you and the Almighty, both candidates have spotless Republican voting records.  This is a NON-PARTISAN race for office so the Party rules do not apply.  I believe that all races (including judges, city council, etc.) need to be by party.

The “short” list of nominees for the 3rd State Court Judge were announced today.  Who the heck made up that list?  Only one person on the list is a member of the Hall County Republican Party:  LARRY BALDWIN.  Start sending your letters and email to the Governor today supporting Larry.  Don’t wait!

Read The Time story here–>Nominees for new judgeship named

I called yesterday afternoon to confirm that no challenger has qualified to run yet.

Read The Times here–>Incumbents for Hall County judgeships throw hat in ring

Qualification for all non-partisan candidates starts June 23, 2008 and ends at Noon on June 28, 2008.  In Hall County, the only non-partisan races for us are the two State Court Judge positions held by Judge Gene Roberts and Charlie Wynne.  The fee for qualifying is a whopping $4,734.64!  My guesstimate of the annual salary for the positions based upon the qualifying fee is $157,821.34 per year or about $13,000 per month.  That works out to about $73 per hour.

Word on the street has it that Judge Wynne will draw competition this time.  I don’t think anyone is planning on running against Judge Roberts.  I still have my fingers crossed for Judge Baldwin.  Letters supporting him need to be sent in before June 24, 2008 to the Judicial Nominating Committee.

Some of the issues likely to be raised if there is a contested election are:  the cost/benefits of the “DUI Court” program, the overtime required by the Sheriff and Chief of Police for officers to sit in State Court “on call” for trials that never happen, ways to expedite the plea process, and courtroom demeanor and treatment of attorneys and defendants in court.  Probably the biggest campaign issue will be the selection and payment of attorneys appointed to represent indigent defendants.  There are issues about who is considered “indigent,” how the attorneys are selected to be appointed, and how they will be paid for the services provided.  Currently the Public Defender does NOT handle cases in State Court, but Brad Morris has put in a bid to provide those services on a per-case basis.

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…and I want Larry to have it too!  In fact, I only supported the added 3rd State Court Judge because I felt that Larry would be a great addition to the bench.  Remember that I got started in party politics with a desire to run AGAINST Larry for the Solicitor position.  I decided that he would do such a great job that I did not run against him.  I was right.  He has done an outstanding job as solicitor.  I feel that he has the proper education, intelligence, personality, and temperament to make a fine judge in any Court.  Larry’s personality and dilligence will compliment Judge Gene Roberts’ style.

I encourage each of you to submit a letter supporting Larry to the Judicial Nominating Commission, Michael J. Bowers, Chairman, by mail to 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., NW, Suite 700, Atlanta, GA 30308, by fax to 1-866-547-3433 or by email to bwatson@balch.com.  If you would like, also send a copy of your letter to me.  Click on the link to the right to get my contact information.

Read the story in The Times here–>Larry Baldwin wants State Court judgeship.

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Apparently if you are a fireman and molest a child, you get 18 months of pay without having to work while your case gets ready for trial.  According to The Times story (Man pleads guilty to sex charge), the Defendant John Bond was put on administrative leave with pay in November 2006.  He was fired on May 23 [2008]?  So that is 18 months free money for nothing?  How can we get that money back?  Why put him on leave with pay?  Isn’t there some administrative procedure to fire someone that commits a felony offense?  Wasn’t there something that he could have done that would not have put him around children?  AND… get this… no jail time.  He almost got to keep his name off the sex offender registry too!  But for Judge Gosselin, he would not have been identified as a sex offender.

I know some cases are just about impossible to prosecute. Sex crimes are the hardest.  I have to believe that the Assistant District Attorney Juliet Aldridge had her back against the wall and got what she could out of the case despite having witness / evidence problems.  But no jail time, no sex offender registry, first offender treatment AND 18 months of pay without having to work!!!!  Its like we were rewarding him for molesting children.

Warning:  Legal Content Follows.  First Offender sentencing allows someone without a felony record to get convicted of a felony and after they complete their sentence they get their record wiped clean.  In all cases, it means that the offender can possess a firearm and vote.  In sex cases that means that after completing their sentence the offender can get their name removed from the sex offender list.  Their records are sealed.  So you might see a nurse that has a felony conviction for prescription drug forgery, a doctor with a conviction for drug possession, get prescriptions from a pharmacist that went to prison for selling illegal drugs, or have your hair cut by someone who committed a vehicular homicide.  Once their probation is over and the record is sealed, you won’t ever know about it… unless they offend again.  It is a good program to give someone a second chance, but it has been stretched beyond its initial reasons for being.