So I completely miss anything the candidates put on TV.

Fortunately, many are smart enough to realize that I’m . . . → Read More: Campaign Commercials: John Oxendine]]> I don’t know about y’all, but I use DVR when watching TV – I RARELY watch anything live anymore, instead tape delaying it at least an hour and skipping all commercials – including political ones.

So I completely miss anything the candidates put on TV.

Fortunately, many are smart enough to realize that I’m not the only voter that does this, and so they place them on youtube as well. Over the next couple of days, I will do my best to place every single campaign commercial from a Statewide candidate on this site for your viewing pleasure (or revulsion, as the case may be). I will place them in what youtube has as chronological order, from earliest to latest.

I begin with John Oxendine, mostly because a headline about a new one from him caught my eye as I began to search for them.

“Oxendine’s Contract With Georgia”

“Welcome to Georgia”

“Causes”

“Real Plan”

This story by AJC’s Aaron Gould Sheinin describes an interesting tale. Apparently Ox doesn’t have quite the active fan base he thought he did, and he felt he needed to spent $12,500 . . . → Read More: [UPDATED] Ox and Former Campaign Manager Now In Hot Water]]> John Oxendine and his former Campaign Manager (and current PSC District 2 Candidate) Tim Echols are now in hot water – AGAIN.

This story by AJC’s Aaron Gould Sheinin describes an interesting tale. Apparently Ox doesn’t have quite the active fan base he thought he did, and he felt he needed to spent $12,500 to hire 150 teenagers to go knocking on doors.

That alone, not such a big deal, so long as it shows up on his disclosure.

What makes it an interesting tale is that the 150 teens in question were in Georgia because of Tim Echols, who is currently running for Public Service Commission District 2 and is Ox’s former Campaign Manager. But Echols also founded an organization called TeenPact roughly a decade and a half ago – and those 150 teens are all associated with that nonprofit organization.

Non-profit organizations, as a general rule, are barred from actively supporting or opposing any particular political candidate, yet these 150 TeenPact kids were going door to door actively campaigning for both Ox and Echols. Apparently this has raised some eyebrows at IRS already, though no official investigation has yet begun.

Furthermore, at least one former official with the State Ethics Commission said that while he doesn’t believe any ethics rules have been violated yet, both Ox and Echols should tread carefully.

Apparently Echols has offered similar services to other candidates, including Eric Johnson and at least one other Ga candidate. He has also used similar deals to campaign for Bobby Jindal and Ralph Reed, as well as at least some National Republican Congressional Committee candidates.

I urge you to read the AJC article to get the best picture here, but the above are the highlights.

For a man who point blank told me that his and Ox’s campaigns were separate, this doesn’t look so good.

[UPDATE] Echols has already filed his June 30 Disclosure (the deadline is tomorrow evening), and he did, in fact, list Gold Dome Consulting as an in-kind contributor for the maximum individual contribution – $6,100. There are also expenditures from Echols’ campaign to Gold Dome listed as $1,638.34, $764.55, $501.76, $1,001 (for a “Student Project Campaign Coordinator” from Louisiana), and $1,358.04. This totals out to 11,364.09, within $700 of the $12K he is reported as charging his former boss.

First, he got a hearing that had been planned regarding that $120K in potentially illegal funds he was caught accepting last summer put on hold until after the Primary.

Then, Jim Galloway’s latest post on his site (which may well be a print . . . → Read More: That’s Some REALLY Bad Timing, John]]> John Oxendine has been having a pretty dang good week.

First, he got a hearing that had been planned regarding that $120K in potentially illegal funds he was caught accepting last summer put on hold until after the Primary.

Then, Jim Galloway’s latest post on his site (which may well be a print edition article, from the style of it) was about how John’s campaign has done SO GOOD recently about avoiding all the screwups that had plagued it until around March, when he got his 3rd campaign manager in 12 months.

But then this video came out, literally within a couple of hours of me seeing Galloway’s post:

That’s right. John Oxendine, like Nathan Deal (who also has quite a bit of corruption allegations swirling around him), is a BIRTHER.

Talk about bad timing! Right when things were starting to turn around, right when people were actually somewhat beginning to forget about the $120K, the shooting of his friend (on yet another hunting trip involving people associated with the $120K), and his active support of bullying of a 15 yo kid…

He goes off and announces his birtherism.

Doh!

If any of you actually go, can you get some audio and/or video and get it to us please? Thanks!

Since I’m trying to be somewhat nice with this announcement, I’ll . . . → Read More: Oxendine in Albany for Fair Tax Town Hall Today]]> John Oxendine will be in town at the Southwest Ga Regional Airport today from 4:30p to 6p for a Fair Tax Town Hall.

If any of you actually go, can you get some audio and/or video and get it to us please? Thanks!

Since I’m trying to be somewhat nice with this announcement, I’ll shut up now.

You see, per an email I got about 30 minutes ago, OCGA 16-7-58(a)(2) states (emphasis mine)

It shall be unlawful for any . . . → Read More: Lee County Sign Ordinance Violates State Law]]> Per an email I just got, it appears that the Lee County Sign Ordinance that snagged two Governor candidates and the sitting Governor recently is actually in violation of State Law itself.

You see, per an email I got about 30 minutes ago, OCGA 16-7-58(a)(2) states (emphasis mine)

It shall be unlawful for any person to place posters, signs, or advertisements: On any private property unless the owner thereof or the occupier as authorized by such owner has given permission to place such posters, signs, or advertisements on such property; and, provided, further that no municipal, county, or consolidated government may restrict by regulation or other means the length of time a political campaign sign may be displayed or the number of signs which may be displayed on private property for which permission has been granted;

This means that three clauses in particular of the Lee County Sign Ordinance are in direct violation of this State law. The relevant portion of the Lee County Sign Ordinance in question is contained in Section 70-645, which states (bold emphasis mine):

(b) Signs not requiring a permit. Except as otherwise provided, the following on-site signs may be erected without securing a sign permit, subject however, to meeting all other applicable county codes and regulations.
…
(13) Political signs provided as follows:
a. The sign shall not be displayed earlier than 60 days prior to the primary election, general election or referendum it concerns.
b. The sign must be removed no later than seven days following the date of the primary election, general election or referendum it concerns. The owner of the property on which the sign is located will be responsible for removing the sign; provided, however, that a property owner shall have no responsibility where the sign has been placed on his property without his consent.
c. The sign shall not be lighted, either directly or indirectly.
d. The sign shall be located entirely on private property. It shall not be located, in whole or in part, on any public lands or public right-of-way and shall not be located on any trees, rocks or like objects.
e. The number of signs displayed shall be restricted to one sign per premise per candidate or issue.
f. Political signs shall not exceed four square feet in area in residential districts. In all other zoning districts, political signs shall not exceed nine square feet.
g. The planning director, code enforcement administrator, or other designated county employee shall, without notice, immediately remove or cause to be removed any and all political signs in violation of this section. The removal will be at the expense of the property owner.

I have requested that the entire Lee County Sign Ordinance be suspended in its entirety pending further review, in an email which I sent to Lee County Clerk Christi Dockery, Lee County Administrator Alan Ours, and each member of the Lee County Commission. Also in this email, I requested that this subject be added to the Agenda for next week’s meeting, and that I be allowed to present a modified Sign Ordinance to the Commissioners. That email is below the fold.

Now, how does this affect John Oxendine, Ray McBerry, and Sonny Perdue (as well as all other candidates)? As it stands right now, any signs they put up are STILL in violation of the Lee County Sign Ordinance until I can get it suspended. Meaning that they are STILL breaking the law, even though the law in question is violating State law. This is not a matter the individuals in question can simply choose to ignore, however, as there are right and just procedures in effect for correcting this issue – namely, going before the Commissioners to have them amend the Ordinance, and failing that, a legal case before court of competent jurisdiction.

No, Ray, you can’t throw the Commissioners in jail on felony charges.

I will continue to update on this developing story.

Here’s the email I sent:

To: Christi Dockery
CC: Alan Ours, Ed Duffy, Rick Muggridge, Bill Williams, Dennis Roland, Betty Johnson
Christi,

Given #2 below, the Lee County Sign Ordinance as it currently stands thus violates State law and should be completely suspended pending complete review, which I request be put before the Commissioners at their meeting next week.

Sec 70-645 (13) governs political signs under this ordinance, and states:

a. The sign shall not be displayed earlier than 60 days prior to the primary election, general election or referendum it concerns.
b. The sign must be removed no later than seven days following the date of the primary election, general election or referendum it concerns. The owner of the property on which the sign is located will be responsible for removing the sign; provided, however, that a property owner shall have no responsibility where the sign has been placed on his property without his consent.
e. The number of signs displayed shall be restricted to one sign per premise per candidate or issue.

These three clauses in particular violate the particular section of OCGA (16-7-58(a)(2)) that you just referenced.

If you will place this on the Agenda for next week’s meeting, I would like to address the Commissioners on this matter, where I will present my proposal for said revisions.

Thank you for your time,

Jeff

Driving around town over the past few days, I’ve noticed three rather large signs for two Governor candidates that have already had personal run-ins with the law: John Oxendine and Ray McBerry. There is also a similar sized sign from current Governor Sonny Perdue’s 2006 campaign.

Ox’s is . . . → Read More: [UPDATED] Two Governor Candidates (and a Governor) Snagged]]> by the Lee County Sign Ordinance.

Driving around town over the past few days, I’ve noticed three rather large signs for two Governor candidates that have already had personal run-ins with the law: John Oxendine and Ray McBerry. There is also a similar sized sign from current Governor Sonny Perdue’s 2006 campaign.

Ox’s is in downtown Leesburg, roughly 50′ off the railroad tracks and within 5′ or so of Walnut Ave at the redlight in front of the Lee County Courthouse. It was erected within the past 48 hours, as it was not there when I was in town Weds, but was there when I came through town last night. McBerry’s is on a dilapidated billboard maybe 30-50′ off Hwy 82 in southern Lee County, near the Oakland Plantation area, and has been there for at least a few weeks now. It is on top of a 2006 sign from Governor Perdue.

Here’s the problem: all four signs violate the law, the Lee County Sign Ordinance.

Section 70-645(b)(13) regulates political signs, and paragraph (a) states

The sign shall not be displayed earlier than 60 days prior to the primary election, general election or referendum it concerns.

60 days prior to the July 20, 2010 primary election is May 21, 2010 – meaning that political signs are prohibited in Lee County prior to that date.

Furthermore, paragraph (d) of the same Section states

The sign shall be located entirely on private property. It shall not be located, in whole or in part, on any public lands or public right-of-way and shall not be located on any trees, rocks or like objects.

One of Oxendine’s signs is within the right of way of both Walnut Avenue AND the railroad tracks through downtown Leesburg, and the other may or may not be in the right of way of Main Street.

Finally, the Ordinance, in section (b) of the same section, says that

The sign must be removed no later than seven days following the date of the primary election, general election or referendum it concerns.

Mr. Governor, isn’t 3.5 years PLENTY enough time to take down your sign?

Now, these are very minor issues relative to Oxendine’s $120K in illegal contributions he accepted from a man he claimed not to know, but with whom he has gone on international hunting trips or the allegations of McBerry’s molestation of young girls. But they are still yet ANOTHER instance of these two men, who both seek to be the top enforcer of Georgia Law, BREAKING the law.

But these signs typically cost anywhere from $50-$100, sometimes more. Meaning that it is likely that the campaigns in question (particularly the one with very little money) at least knows who they gave the signs to, and quite possibly put them up directly. Of course, I’m also hearing one rumor on twitter that if true, is a colossal waste of money and not a good indication of true fiscal conservatism from one of the candidates in question.

My own feelings about the Lee County Sign Ordinance are somewhat well known, depending on how often you read this site. Quite frankly, I think it sucks and needs to be completely redone to allow both politicians and businesses to do more of what they wish with fewer, if any, restrictions.

But just as I tell people to not smoke pot even while advocating for an end to the Drug War, here I must hold candidates accountable for following the law, even as I – and maybe even they – seek to have it changed.

Closing, here’s a couple of pics of the signs in question, just for verifiable proof that they were there at the time I wrote this:

[UPDATE]: Found another Ox sign which I believe was posted AFTER this post was online. This one is on the Leesburg Bypass near the intersection with Ga-32. Pic of it below the others.

Ox Illegal Sign on Walnut Ave in Leesburg

Ox's Illegal Sign on Main St in Leesburg

McBerry and Perdue Illegal Sign on US 82 near Oakland Plantation in Lee County

Illegal John Oxendine Sign on US 19 at Ga 32

Here’s what has happened:

Apparently, John Oxendine told the Rome . . . → Read More: [UPDATED] Rome News-Tribune: Karen Handel a Conspiracy Theorist]]> I knew about this issue from twitter, but admittedly I’m a bit late on getting all the details. But trust the boys from Peach Pundit to avoid this one like the plague – it makes their girl look like… well, a paranoid conspiracy theorist.

Here’s what has happened:

Apparently, John Oxendine told the Rome Chamber of Commerce that he “fully supports” a highway most people here in South Ga have never heard of and probably never would hear of, but is a major agenda item of this group. It is the proposed “411 Connector” that basically extends US 411 from US 41 to connect to I-75 at Ga-20. (Roughly 5-10 miles or so across northern Cartersville.) Ox said “I am going to build that road if I am elected governor”. (Which brings up an interesting side question: How is Ox going to have time to personally build a road if he is trying to manage a State and go on fancy hunting and awards show trips every year?)

About a week later -and timed to coincide with a major ad campaign against this road from a maxed-out contributor to her campaign – Karen Handel questioned this road’s value and route, in language very similar to the ad from the major contributor.

Much has been said about the conflict between Lynn Westmoreland and John Oxendine, but this issue is showing some fracture lines between US Rep Phil Gingrey and Karen, with Gingrey telling the Rome News-Tribune this:

I’m just so surprised that a candidate for governor would weigh in so strongly for something with such a sparsity of knowledge of the history of the project and its importance to the people of Bartow and Floyd County. I can’t imagine where this is coming from. This has nothing to do with the Northern Arc. … They vetted this to a fare-thee-well. (Handel) is way off-base on this, and I’m disappointed because it’s hurtful to my congressional district.

Even new DOT Commissioner and former House Transportation Chairman Vance Smith has expressed support for this proposal, potentially signaling a rift between Handel and the House GOP caucus.

Then Nathan Deal weighed in, issuing a formal statement saying “I have said many times that I will be the first governor to drive on a completed U.S. 411 from I-75 to Rome. The people of Northwest Georgia have waited too long for this connection that will have economic development benefits for the region.”

Now, unlike Karen, I’ve actually lived most of my life within a mile or two of the proposed route of this highway. I’ve lived most of my life (and my parents and younger brothers still live) just off the main highway used by the people of Rome and Floyd County to get from I-75 (their primary route to their jobs in the metro Atlanta area) back to Rome. I have personally witnessed the traffic along Joe Frank Harris Parkway (US 41 through Cartersville) day in and day out, up until the time I moved down here to South Ga nearly 4 years ago. I have worked and played along many of the roads it crosses, and the other three men in my immediate family graduated from a high school that is barely a half mile away from this proposed route.

This highway will have SIGNIFICANT traffic reduction benefit to the entire area, and it will further enhance the economic development of at least two counties – Bartow and Floyd.

But Karen Handel doesn’t see that. She sees $12,200 in her bank account from early supporters that are against this much needed highway.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I can tell you without hesitation that this particular stretch of road will mean little to South Ga. An Outer Perimeter around Atlanta may or may not help South Ga move through the congestion that is Atlanta faster – after all, it would be much longer, and the added length over a straight shot may add far more travel time than sitting in Atlanta traffic along the straight shot.

With that said, this project is absolutely vital to Bartow County and Floyd County, and I can also tell you that without hesitation.

We’ve had enough politicians looking to their pocketbooks rather than the needs of Georgians, and we’ve already got at least two Governor candidates that believe insane conspiracy theories.

Do we really need to add another to each of those lists?

I’ll let the Rome News-Tribune have the last word here though, as they really said it best in this editorial:

As for Karen Handel, the former secretary of state running for governor as the clear favorite of Gov. Sonny Perdue and almost nobody else, when she jumped in to support the “connector is evil” forces it was like the wicked witch warning Dorothy must be surrendered in order for Oz/Rome to survive. Remember, when in charge of elections she’s the one who saw a vote-stealing conspiracy everywhere. Heck, the fact that Democrats were still pulling some votes proved that!

Now we’ve got laws that assume all Georgians are illegal immigrants bent on putting Pancho Villa into power until they can prove otherwise. Her paranoia appears to be a core trait.

…

FOR SOME “connect-the-dots” doodlers to now come up with the U.S. 411 Connector as the key link in a plot to build a superhighway with money that doesn’t even exist may, for a while, keep them from seeing UFOs.

That’s not to say a good conspiracy isn’t needed, as this clearly shows. It’s time for citizens and voters to start plotting to return sanity and common sense to state leadership and politics.

Anybody care to join us?

[UPDATE] Karen has now posted a response on her website, where she blames GDOT for her mess instead of accepting the fact that she has no clue what she is speaking of on this project. She also fails to acknowledge that she has two donors who have maxed out there contributions to her who are active opponents of this project – including paying for a MASSIVE newspaper ad buy against it that coincidentally was in newspapers the same day as her comments opposing the project.

For those that don’t . . . → Read More: You’re Right About One Thing, Ox]]> We do see it coming – which is why you continue to fall in polls. 90% of the people of this state know who you are, and yet the latest polling indicates that only 25% of them would vote for you – and last summer, you were bragging about 35%!

For those that don’t know, Austin Scott dropped a nuclear bomb on The Ox yesterday during a hearing on his bill that would make some of Ox’s known actions a felony – specifically his taking donations from insurance executives while Commissioner of Insurance. (That $120K in allegedly illegal donations he accepted last year would be included here.)

Galloway has the details here and here, but here are Ox’s direct words:

“Because [elected insurance commissioners] are different. We are a pain in the butt. We are very high maintenance. We’re politicians. I am not a professional regulator, I am a politician.”

“I don’t care about the governor.”

“I am going to do what I think is going to get me reelected”

“I am not one of these Socialists never ever going to give out a rate increase or anything, But also you need to realize that you
have to find a way to always make me look good in front of the voters.”

“And if we can accomplish that, to make you make a profit and let the voters like me, everyone’s happy. That’s really the way it works.”

“yes, it is a little bit of a pain. And yes, we are a little high maintenance.”

“I’m the judge.”

“I’m the incumbent, you all are going to give me money because you’re afraid not to.”

“you can have some poor slob getting a 50% rate increase. Guess what, if you do that I am going to lose his vote.”

and finally, the single most honest and accurate quote of them all:

“If I am going to stick a knife in you I am going to do it up front in your chest, I am never going to do it in your back. You will always see it coming.”

You think we are “poor slobs” and you are more concerned about your own hide than the people you serve. You flat out admitted that you would do whatever it took to get elected, and you’ve proven that when you tried to bully bloggers, mothers, 15yo kids, and even Congressmen – just in the past 10 months!

You’re absolutely right, John. We do see that knife coming. Like any sane person, we’re going to make sure we take necessary steps to make sure it doesn’t actually stab us.

That means making sure you never never win another public election again. Never again will we allow ourselves to be victimized by you. Never again will we allow our mothers, sisters, and wives to be victimized by you. Never again will we allow our children to be victimized by you.

Never again will we allow our State to be sold to the person who donates the most to your campaign.

Never. Again.