11.06
Tuesday’s electoral “Republican Sweep” in headline news didn’t just impact national politics, but filtered down to state and local races – even those that where party affiliation has absolutely no bearing on job performance or governing philosophy.
Incumbent Republican Governor Nathan Deal, despite his ethical shortcomings, soundly defeated strong challenger Jason Carter, 52.8% to 44.82%, with a victory margin slightly over 200,000 votes. Libertarian candidate Andrew Hunt, whose support APPEARED to be on the uptick during the last few weeks, took less than 3% of the total vote.
Deal claimed all but about three dozen of the state’s 159 counties, including everything in Northwest Georgia. Carter’s support was concentrated in Atlanta, coastal Georgia, and portions of South Georgia where his family originates.
The only competitive local race, GA House District 1, was also a disaster for those opposed to the status quo. Incumbent Republican John Deffenbaugh again whipped Democrat challenger Tom McMahan, 72.56% to 27.44% with only 9,762 total votes cast. Deffenbaugh claimed every single voting precinct in his district across both counties it covers.
| PRECINCT | DEFFENBAUGH (I) | MCMAHAN | TOTAL |
| CENTER POST | 175 (80.65%) | 42 (19.35%) | 217 |
| CHATT VALLEY | 1,360 (74.73%) | 460 (25.27%) | 1,820 |
| CHICKAMAUGA | 540 (78.83%) | 145 (21.17% | 685 |
| DAVIS (Dade) | 399 (69.63%) | 174 (30.37% | 573 |
| FAIRVIEW | 567 (74.12%) | 198 (25.88%) | 765 |
| FAIRYLAND | 440 (77.88%) | 125 (22.12%) | 150 |
| KENSINGTON | 294 (70.84%) | 121 (29.16%) | 135 |
| MOUNTAIN | 291 (75.78%) | 93 (24.22%) | 384 |
| NEW HOME (Dade) | 164 (73.87%) | 58 (26.13%) | 222 |
| N SALEM (Dade) | 293 (64.82%) | 159 (35.18%) | 452 |
| NO DADE (Dade) | 377 (65%) | 203 (35%) | 580 |
| ROSSVILLE | 1,113 (72.37%) | 425 (27.63%) | 1,538 |
| SO DADE (Dade) | 195 (61.13%) | 124 (38.87%) | 319 |
| TRENTON (Dade) | 546 (67.66%) | 261 (32.34%) | 807 |
| WS BROW (Dade) | 329 (78.33%) | 91 (21.67%) | 420 |
| TOTAL VOTES | 7,083 (72.56%) | 2,679 (27.44%) | 9,762 |
Voters who held their noses and ignored Deal’s ethical excrement also held their noses to ignore Deffenbaugh’s complete lack of doing anything (including not listening to constituents and making conflicting, wishy-washy statements on a number of issues) during his one term in office. Much of that nose holding was less about the men themselves but about the party they claim.
You’re not dumb if you voted for someone in a specific party, but if you voted for a candidate SOLELY because of the party they claim, without any other research or knowledge, you’re approaching stupid.
Gov. Deal thanks you though. So does John Deffenbaugh.
Many said they chose Deal despite his problems because of his party. Others said he was the only viable choice, and no candidate they really liked was on the ballot. A good number of the same people admit to not voting during the May primary (where both parties had multiple candidates), and reject the idea of a third-party candidate like Andrew Hunt because “he can’t win” even though he could win easily if people didn’t have the idiotic perception he couldn’t win. The very definition of self-fulfilling prophecy.
Would people have voted the same, and would Tuesday’s election results been the same, if voters couldn’t see the candidates’ party affiliations, or if parties didn’t exist at all? Likely not.
Party politics (which are the problem, not the cure) are summed up best here: an analogy of being forced to eat PB&J sandwiches or ham and cheese, no matter what you actually prefer to eat. “You should find like-minded people who like the same sandwich that you do… It all tastes the same anyway. Just pick one of the two sandwich parties.”
At least, finally, we’re done with elections until July or August of next year when city offices come up for a vote again.
The current election cycle locally started over a year ago with the resignation of GA Rep. Jay Neal. The race to replace him turned into a runoff and a January vote, followed by primaries in May, another runoff in July, and finally this vote in November. While some campaign every day of every year, and politics are always with us, actual elections and candidate challenges should stay out of the news for a while.
Should.
Don’t hold your breath. 
One thing Walker County voters DID reject was a proposal potentially allowing Sunday alcohol sales in the county’s unincorporated areas.
A small majority of voters in in every precinct except Rossville and Fairyland said Walker County isn’t yet ready for alcohol sales, of any kind, on church day.
| PRECINCT | SUNDAY ALCOHOL NO | TOTAL |
| ARMUCHEE | 230 (53.99%) | 426 |
| CENTER POST | 359 (59.93%) | 599 |
| CHATT VALLEY | 975 (52.96%) | 1,841 |
| CHICKAMAUGA | 1,145 (53.16%) | 2,154 |
| FAIRVIEW | 438 (57.25%) | 765 |
| FAIRYLAND | 139 (24.51%) | 567 |
| KENSINGTON | 244 (58.1%) | 420 |
| LAFAYETTE | 974 (54.9%) | 1,774 |
| MOUNTAIN | 213 (54.62%) | 390 |
| ROCK SPRING | 1,137 (58.13%) | 1,956 |
| ROSSVILLE | 772 (49.46%) | 1,561 |
| TOTAL VOTES | 6,626 (53.2%) | 12,453 |
LU has taken a neutral position on the issue of expanded alcohol sales for the last five years, beginning with LaFayette’s 2009 by-the-drink vote. As stated then, increased availability of alcohol isn’t a gateway to hell OR an economic savior, it’s just a thing.
In this case specifically, not allowing stores to sell beer and wine on weekends (or Holidays or election days) doesn’t prevent people from drinking on those days – it just makes doing so inconvenient. Stores, likewise, don’t lose much money from this law; those who wish to drink alcohol at home on a Sunday generally buy it for that purpose ahead of time in the same place it would be purchased that day.
If the ballot measure DID pass, it might not have changed anything. Back in May, Walker voters approved allowing businesses in unincorporated areas to sell liquor – but six months later Commissioner Heiskell hasn’t lifted a finger to change the laws and let that occur. The will of the people means little when the person charged with updating rules isn’t responsive.
A bit more detail on Catoosa/Rock Spring child molestation case.
Suspect David Eubanks was arrested on Halloween and is still held without bond. Victim is described as a “young” girl who was allegedly molested over a period of several days. Child was hospitalized for resulting injuries.
- WQCH Radio, 11/05/14: “LAFAYETTE POLICE AND THE GBI ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A 3 WEEK OLD INFANT BOY, REPORTED JUST BEFORE 9 O’CLOCK TUESDAY MORNING. DFACS AND THE CHILD DEATH TASK FORCE ARE ALSO INVOLVED.
- “POLICE AND THE LAFAYETTE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S EMT’S WERE CALLED TO THE HOME ON MCLEMORE STREET, WHERE THEY FOUND THAT THE CHILD HAD BEEN IN BED WITH THE MOTHER. SHE TOLD THEM SHE AWOKE TO FIND THE BABY UNRESPONSIVE.
- “THE GBI HAS ORDERED AN AUTOPSY ON THE BABY, AND MORE WILL BE KNOWN WHEN THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED. LAFAYETTE POLICE CAPTAIN STACEY MEEKS SAID THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION INDICATED THE DEATH WAS EITHER AN ACCIDENT, OR DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES.”
An autopsy and investigation are standard practice for the death of a child. Results will likely find nothing suspicious, outside of perfectly legal “co-sleeping.”
The family is seeking financial assistance with the baby’s final arrangements; Wilson funeral home has donated services and a local church has donated a burial plot, the primary need remaining is for a monument or marker. Donations for that purpose can be made to AAA Monuments in LaFayette, in the name of Zameron Arizmendi.
Last Saturday’s house fire is still under investigation. Inspectors think the second fire was started from remains of the first, which was probably electrical.
A vehicle spotted near the house, initially thought to be a thief (and leading to rumors of an arson), was later ID’d as a neighbor’s truck.
Woodlands Village II on West North Main recently completed an expansion, adding 40 new “senior living” apartments to LaFayette.
Senior apartments have special amenities for older folks, like bathroom safety rails, emergency call buttons in various rooms, planned social activities, and no loud younger neighbors. Some senior apartment also specialize in handling paperwork for those older folks who get rent assistance.
A jury has ordered Ringgold Doctor Robert Burkich to pay a former patient $250,000 for putting him on a wildly inappropriate medication that nearly killed him and ruined his health.
Dr. Burkich claims to specialize in “anti-aging” treatments and opened an office for that purpose in 1996. His clinic, located near Costco, is called “Preventive Treatment.” (He also has an office in Atlanta).
Per the Internet Burkich offers anti-aging, weight loss, laser plastic surgery, and “chelation” which is removal of metals from the blood and body.
For several years Georgia has dedicated more farmland to growing blueberries than any other state. This year that acreage paid off, producing 96 million pounds of fruit – 4.5 million lb more than 2nd place grower Michigan. (A generation ago GA grew less than 10 million pounds of the fruit per year.)
The “Peach State” is now first in blueberries, pecans, and cucumbers – but third in peach production. (How does “Blueberry State” sound to you?)
Georgia is also entering the pomegranate market. The state could soon be competitive with California for that trendy fruit.
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