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Published Friday, February 10, 2012 in Local
It's going to be busy election year in Coweta
The Newnan Times-Herald
This year has the potential to be a very busy election season, indeed.
In addition to the presidential race and the July vote on a regional sales tax for transportation projects, nearly every Coweta County official is up for reelection this year -- as are three school board members, and Coweta's state and federal legislators.
The Coweta County Commission seats up for election this year are District One, currently held by Paul Poole; District Four, held by current Chairman Rodney Brooks; and District Five, held by Al Smith.
The three school board seats are District 2 at-large, held by Frank Farmer; District 2, held by Sue Brown; and District 5, held by Winston Dowdell.
All the county's constitutional officers are also up for election this year: sheriff, currently held by Mike Yeager; magistrate judge (Jim Stripling); probate judge (Mary Cranford); clerk of superior court (Cindy Brown); tax commissioner (Tommy Ferrell); solicitor general (Robert Stokely); coroner (Ray Yeager); and surveyor (John Christopher).
Also up this year are State Court Chief Judge John Herbert Cranford, and superior court judgeships, including the ones currently held by William "Billy" Lee and Allen Keeble. Keeble has announced his retirement, and two men have already announced their intentions to run for his seat: Emory Palmer and Kevin McMurry.
Georgia's state legislators serve two-year terms and are thus up for election every even-numbered year. The same goes for U.S. Congressmen. And all will be running based on the new districts drawn this year because of new Census numbers.
U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga. Third District, already has one primary opponent. Retired Lt. Col. Kent Kingsley of Milner has filed his paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission. Kingsley, a former college and high school teacher, is a former chairman of the Lamar County Commission.
Newly-elected State Sen. Mike Crane, R-Newnan, will have to run for reelection because he was elected in November to fill the one year left on the term of Mitch Seabaugh, who resigned to take a state government job.
Coweta's current state representatives are Lynn Smith, R-Newnan, and Billy Horne, R-Sharpsburg. But the House delegation grows to four with the new districts. The other two districts are currently represented by Carl Von Epps, D-LaGrange, and Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City.
Qualifying for all races will be Mary 23-May 25. The primary will be held July 31. The election for the non-partisan judgeships and school board seats will also be held on July 31.
For the past few years, the non-partisan races have been held in November. A new law passed in 2011 moved them back to the primary. The intent is to cut down on costly runoffs, such as the one a few years ago for seats on the Georgia Court of Appeals.
The first election of the season is the March 6 presidential primary. Also on the ballot locally will be the extension of Coweta's Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, and Sunday alcohol sales questions in Sharpsburg and Haralson.
Early voting for the March 6 election starts Monday at the Coweta County Voter Registration Office in the County Administration Building on East Broad Street in downtown Newnan.
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In GA if you write in a name and they are not qualified as a write in candidate, the write in vote is void. Look, you have a right to vote or not vote, or even vote on the ballot for some, and not others. Like not touching your plate or somethings on the plate. And you retain the right to free speech and complain even if you don't vote. But the right of free speech also means the right of others to not listen to what you have to say if you don't vote. Fair is fair, both sides of that get to choose their position.
Posted by Ed Murray at 12:01 PM
Show me in the Constitution where I have no right to speak/complain if I don't vote or choose not to vote and I will show you where you are wrong and ignorant. Besides, not voting has the same effect as write-in. I put my life on the line to vote or not vote.
Posted by Bonnie Blue at 12:40 PM
I agree with Tipsy in Senoia - if you don't exercise your right to vote then you have assumed the responsibility, no OBLIGATION, to keep quiet. Our system allows write-ins to vote for someone you believe in, even yourself, so if you don't vote, don't complain. You have surrendered the right to do so.
Posted by Hooker Hopkins at 1:16 AM
Frannie has every right to not vote and be heard. I have withheld my vote on several running for office because there was no one deserving my vote. I have even voted for a democrate over a leftwing Republican claiming to be a conservative.
Posted by Bonnie Blue at 4:34 PM
Lt. Col. Kent Kingsley said his voting record would be similar to Westmorelands...how is that a good thing? Dont get me wrong, I dont like Westmoreland but replacing him with the same does nothing. I need to hear more from Kingsley on foreign policy, the fed, immigration and drugs. Then we'll see if I write my own name in or not.
Posted by Joseph Breyne at 2:17 PM
No vote equals no complaints. If you can't find the time to vote for someone then we reserve our RIGHT to ignore your complaints.
Posted by Tipsy in Senoia at 1:47 PM
Thank goodness someone is running against Westmoreland, an embarassment to his District!
Posted by Frannie at 12:49 PM
Glad my time will be better served doing other vip things. Again to you people that have a problem with me using my RIGHT to NOT waste my time voting in any election, the majority of people elected never keep their promises and are often found violating some law etc.
Posted by Nunya at 12:43 PM
Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual — or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country. – Samuel Adams, in the Boston Gazette, April 16, 1781
Posted by Govt watcher at 12:17 PM
Yes for Westmoreland, Stokley and Ray Yeager. Big NO votes for all those who refuse to lower taxes, reduce the size of government or have been dishonest: All county commissioners, all school board members, tax commissioner, Sheriff(Blackburn supporter), Rep Smith, and special no vote for McMurry and all splost.
Posted by Bonnie Blue at 11:52 AM
Are you happy with the current state of our county, state, and nation? Do you think our elected officials are working for their constituents or themselves? Please think about that when you vote this year.
Posted by Dave at 9:35 AM
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Term Limits, avoid incumbency
2/15/2012
Link To This Comment
Career politicos are a canker on the backside of the voters. Let's put a stop to that... Term Limits would do so much for refreshing government and keep politicos grounded.
Posted by Ed Murray at 8:42 PM