Hall County GOP Chairman Blog

By: Kevin Harris, 9th District GOP Chairman

9^th District Republican Party Adopts“8 in 08 Campaign”  This weekend, Chairman Larry Toney and the Pickens County GOP hosted the quarterly district committee meeting and annual 9^th District picnic. For the second consecutive year, it was one of the best attended and most enjoyable events in the history of the party. Prior to the food and fun, however, North Georgia Republicans on the district committee unanimously adopted the “8 in 08 Campaign”. To date, this will be the most comprehensive and concentrated effort at the district level to provide resources for Republican candidates in our local communities.  Earlier this year, the 9^th District Election Task Force was created to provide a comprehensive overview of each race in the fifteen counties across

North Georgia. From the report, the district committee unanimously approved the “8 in 08 Campaign”. The committee reviewed and identified eight local races in the fifteen counties where Democrats were elected in 2004. Due to a variety of reasons, however, the identified races should be competitive and the Republican nominee should have an excellent opportunity to present their case for change directly to the voters.

  In the last ten years, every county in North Georgia except one has increased the number ofRepublican elected officials. In fact, the number of Democrat elected officials in

North Georgia has been cut in half in the same period. The “8 in 08 Campaign” is a strategic effort by ourdistrict leadership to partner with our county parties to continue our recent success against good ole’ boy politics and the Democratic machine that plagued our state for decades.   It will be interesting to watch North Georgia Democratic party leaders in their attempt to brand their Presidential nominee, Barack Obama, as a new breed of politician. Meanwhile, Democrat incumbents and candidates on the ballot will attempt to distance themselves and pretend that they did not even choose to be on the Democratic ticket, while needing assistance from the same party and leaders to get elected. While this tactic has worked in past elections, voters are beginning to hold this type of politicians more accountable.  

The former Democratic Speaker of the United States Congress, Tip O’Neill, once stated: “all politics is local”. While so many things in life change and transition, his quote is as true today as it has ever been. When it comes down to our local officials, more people are concerned with the safety of their community, the quality of their schools, and the economic opportunities that are available to provide for their families. This year, the Presidential and Congressional races have received a lot of attention across the country. The caliber of local Republican candidates, in combination with the liberal agenda of Barack Obama, is why Republicans in North Georgia will have a good year in 2008.

Kevin Harris is the Chairman of the 9^th District Republican Party.

 Ninth District Quick Fact:  The 9^th District GOP successfully completed the most successful candidate recruitment effort in its history. Following the recent July primaries, there are 83 Republicans across the 9^th District that will be reelected in November without Democratic opposition. In contrast, there are only 21 Democrats that will automatically be reelected without opposition. 

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.

We had a packed house for the Conservative Forum on July 12, 2008, and the First Amendment was in full swing.  Although sponsored by the Hall County GOP, all are invited to hear conservative speakers at our Forum.

In attendance were the following elected officials:  Representative James Mills, Representative Carl Rogers, District Attorney Lee Darragh, State Court Judge Charlie Wynne, Hall County Commission Chairman Tom Oliver, Hall County Commissioner Bobby Banks, Probate Judge Patty Cornett, School Board Member Craig Harrington, and Hall County Commissioner Billy Powell’s wife Helen Powell.

The following non-elected officials were present.  U. S. Marshal Richard Mecum (also former Hall County Sheriff and Former Hall County GOP Chair), Associate Magistrate Court Judge David Burroughs and Chief Assistant Solicitor General Jennifer Scalia.

The following former officials were present: Former Sheriff Bob Vass, Former Hall GOP Chair P. Martin Ellard, Former Hall GOP Chair Joe Cwik, and former Hall GOP Chair Gordon Sawyer.

The following candidates for office were present:  Candidate for State Court Judge Sonny Sykes, Candidate for Elections Commissioner J.C. Smith, Candidate for Hall County Commissioner Chris Masters.

The speakers were the candidates for Hall County Clerk of Court: Charles Barker, Jennifer Gibs, and Bob Vass.  All three speakers started with a 5 minute opening statement.  Then they fielded about 10 questions.  All three candidates agreed that the passport money should be returned to Hall County and pleged to do so.  They all agreed to have clerks in the courtrooms during open court and to have clerks be in charge of the clerk’s files for court (something not done now one attorney had a client bring a clerks file in a felony case to her office one time).  They all agreed to provide certified copies of convictions for outside agencies (something the DA’s office does now).  They all agreed that the jury pool needed to be expanded. 

The differencees I heard were that Charles was most interested in the expanded jury pool and the technical issues surrounding that process and he has 30 years of experience working under Dwight; Jennifer wants to put her audit and computer experience to work to automate the clerk’s office to include electronic filing and she had concerns about employee overtime and specifing the amount of work each employee is required to do; and Bob has experience as a former elected official in Hall County, managing a large Hall County budget, and understanding the Hall County court system.  I was timing the speakers to I might have missed some interesting stuff, but so did Access North Georgia.

Of interest to the press was Charles Baker’s revelation that he had questiond Clerk Dwight Wood’s authority to keep the passport fees and that the Commission has requested that Dwight return $25,000 of that money to the budget.  Everyone keeps saying there is nothing “illegal” about keeping the passport money, however, for what it is worth, I have an unofficial opinion of the Attorney General that says the money must be returned to the County account.

After the forum, we had an informal meeting with the members of the Executive committee, James Mills, Marshal Mecum and others to discuss the Bob Vass matter.  No offical action (or reconsideation of any prior action) was taken at the meeting.  I will develop a written statement and present it on this blog (and through other media  outlets) when appropriate.  Since I have been criticized by many Democrats (who support Bob Vass) and personally threatened by Bob Vass’ Democrat campaign manager Alex Taylor, I guess I better be careful what I say. 

In an unprecedented move, the Hall GOP has publicly denounced a candidate as not qualifying as a Republican.  Republicans In Name Only (”RINOs”) are the biggest threat to our party today.  It is no longer enough that an elected official simply call themselves a “Republican,” but they must also actually BE a Republican.  In Hall County the GOP Executive Committee (and the voters) will decide who is a real Republican.  Past performance, voting history, campaign supporters, and those you support are factors used to determine whether someone is a Republican.  I hope the move the unanimous vote of the Executive Committee took is one we will not have to take again.

Others who have changed parties in the past, like Congressman Nathan Deal and State Representative Carl Rogers embody the principles of the Republican Party in their actions.    They have proven themselves to be true Republicans and great Americans.  Others, like soon-to-be-former-Clerk Dwight Wood, have not passed muster.  It is the responsibility of the local Republican Party to police its ranks and to ensure that only quality conservative Republican Candidates get to use our party brand.  You simply can’t vote for Hillary or Obama and fit that description.

Vote on July 15, 2008 for either Jennifer Gibbs or Charles Baker for Clerk of Court.

Read the story here–>GOP: Vass ‘does not qualify as Republican’  Look for the paid advertisement in The Times on Sunday and listen to WDUN for Republican Alerts.

I tried to make changes to our by-laws to limit RINOs from qualifying for elections under our rules at the last County Convention.  Joe Cwik tried before me as well.  I will continue to pursue this most important issue.  We can’t allow our Republican “brand” to be watered down by those who do not support our positions.  I’m fond of saying that our tent is big enough for just about everyone to come in, but you have to order off of our menu.  Voting for Hillary, Obama, or Edwards is not on our menu.  Donations to or from the Georgia Democratic Party are not on our menu.  Donations to or from Mark Taylor (the former “big guy”) are not on our menu.  As the Chinese philosopher/warlord-advisor Sun Tzu says, the friend of my enemy is my enemy.

This blog entry is not paid for by any candidate or any candidate’s committee.

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

Honestly, I haven’t analyzed the proposed budget yet.  Like unwinding a string tied in a knot, it seems a daunting task.  I understand that at least two board members are asking for more information (now).  I think we are all still awaiting answers to the “missing” money and the reason for the budget shortfall.

The short answer is that as long as the superintendent is still working there, the whole operation is suspect.  Everyone involved in the finance department needs to be fired and just start over (unless the “flip” on the bad actors and turn “state’s witness”).  Make the superintendent file suit to get his golden parachute.  Consider this my continued vote of “no confidence.”  The board has to earn the respect of the taxpayers.  The children and teachers deserve to have leaders they can trust and respect.

A failue to prepare on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.  This adage applies to the “emergency” with the school board budget.  Prior planning prevents poor performance, Sir!  I learned that at 17 years old with a crusty drill sergeant cussing in my face at boot camp.  Maybe more people need to go to boot camp?  Maybe we need to run a Republican Elected Official Book Camp here in Hall County to remind everyone what we Hall County Republicans stand for?  Let me know what you think about that.

Read The Time story here–>Gainesville school board approves $7.5 million loan

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

Just when you thought that $9M was a bad, now we are up to $33M in budget adjustments… but that is just through 2007.  It will take auditors another few weeks to fix the books for 2007!  Even the auditors don’t know if the school system is in a deficit or not.  Don’t they have last month’s bank statement?  That might provide a clue don’t you think?

Read the story in The Times here–>Audit of Gainesville schools results in $33M worth of adjustments.  

When you read news remember that good writers learn the importance of primacy and recency.  The reader tends to remember what you read/hear last (recency) followed by what you read/heard first (primacy).  Those presenting information to you will attempt to put the most important points in those two positions, with the rest of the stuff sandwiched in between.  That way the story looks like it tells both sides, but if one side is at the beginning and the end, you are more likely to just remember that side.  That last paragraph of the story was too silly for printing.  Who cares what the auditor thinks about what the people who are responsible for this mess think?  What else is the auditor going to say to the paper before they are finished with the audit?  They are accountants (I hope!)

I had appointed criminal case once where the Defendant though he wasn’t legally responsible for selling crack cocaine.  An undercover officer asked the defendant for the crack and he got some crack from a drug dealer and gave the crack to the cop who gave him the money and then gave all the money to the drug dealer.  Since he didn’t make a profit, and he was asked to get the crack by the cop, he reasoned in his own mind that he did not commit a criminal act of sale of cocaine.  He was wrong. 

People who commit malfeasance or misfeasance in public office often convince themselves they are in the right because they are owed what they took.  People who commit nonfeasance in public office are too lazy to know what they did wrong so they think they are in the right.  You often hear them cry out: “But I did the best job I could.”  When you are entrusted with public money and public trust and our children, the only job that is good enough is a flawless job that follows all the proper procedures and is completely reasonable under the circumstances.

In the Gainesville City School fiasco we KNOW that some money is missing.  We KNOW that the accounting practices are horrible.  We KNOW that expert financial auditors don’t know what is going on yet and they need WEEKS to figure it out.  We KNOW the school board is going to raise taxes to pay for the mess.  We KNOW that all the time the quarter-million-dollar-man and his staff have been getting money and writing checks and making the bad entries into the accounting system every day.  We KNOW the same people who caused the mess are still at work making almost $1,000 per day.  Wouldn’t you hang out and “cooperate” for $1,000 per day too?  Especially if you had a $.5M golden parachute?  Besides I never had a white collar criminal case where the Defendant didn’t have a well thought out story before he/she was arrested.  You can’t be a good “con man” unless you are a convincing and engaging actor.