Voter guide to the Aug. 5 Georgia primary runoff
July 29, 2008 at 9:05 pm by Ken Edelstein in NewsGeorgia’s primary runoffs are a week from today. And early voting takes place though this Friday at a handful of voting stations.
The stakes are high — higher maybe than they were in July 15 primary. The big three races inside the Perimeter — Democratic contests for U.S. Senate, DeKalb CEO and Fulton sheriff — all went into runoffs. And one of the runoffs (actually, most likely two) will determine who takes office in January.
A quick, comprehensive Loafer’s guide to the runoffs comes after the jump. We’ve endorsed in bold where we figured we knew enough about the race to offer good advice.
The three biggest ITP contests:
* U.S. Senate – This looks to be a competitive contest to carry the Democratic standard in November against incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss (nee Bush) and Libertarian Allen Buckley. In the primary, DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones placed first with 40 percent of the vote, while former state Rep. Jim Martin posted 34 percent. Although he came in second, Martin has more money and has picked up endorsements from the third and fourth place finishers. We recommend Martin. Here’s more information on the race.
* DeKalb County CEO — One of two Democrats — DeKalb Commissioner Burrell Ellis or state Rep. Stan Watson — will succeed Jones as CEO, because Republicans didn’t field a candidate. Ellis is well-positioned; he won 46 percent of the July 15 vote, has more money and ran stronger in upscale districts that tend to turn out better in runoffs. While both candidates are qualified, we believe Ellis would offer better executive leadership and is more likely to bridge divides within the county. More details in this story and these blog posts.
* Fulton County sheriff — Incumbent Democrat Myron Freeman came out on top with 30 percent of the vote, but he’s in trouble. Incumbents seldom win runoffs after two-thirds of primary voters voiced their desire for someone new. The other candidate, Theodore Jackson, is a highly qualified former FBI official and a more promising candidate. The winner will face Republican Michael Rary in November. Here’s a good article on the race (pre-primary) and Scott Henry’s posts.
Other races on the Democratic ballot in Fulton (where there are no Republican runoffs) will be:
* County Clerk of Superior Court — Voters need the boot to Cathelene “Tina” Robinson, an appointed incumbent who shamefully hired her former boss for a bogus contract job at taxpayer expense. Her foe, Lewis Pittman, has served as deputy clerk in juvenile court, and deserves a chance.
* House District 61 (parts of East Point, College Park and southwest Atlanta) — Ralph Long III won more votes but still must face Keisha Waites. The winner of the primary gets the seat because no Republican is running. We haven’t covered this race. Here’s more information.
There are no Republican runoffs in DeKalb either. But, in addition to the county-wide CEO’s race, there are three Democratic runoffs in parts of the county that will be uncontested in the fall:
* Commissioner District 4 (Stone Mountain and Clarkston areas)— Sharon Barnes-Sutton and Viola “Unhappy Taxpayer” Davis face off for the Democratic nomination — and the seat.
* State House — In District 91 (extreme south DeKalb and part of Henry County) Rahn Mayo and Rita Robinzine face each other. In District 93 (extreme southeast DeKalb and part of Rockdale), Dee Dawkins-Haigler still has to get past Malik Douglas.
We should also mention a slew of runoffs in Clayton County, where the choice is between sane leadership and an unsavory machine that has helped to deepen the county’s problems. Incumbent Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell, district attorney candidate Tracy Graham-Lawson and sheriff’s candidate Kem Kimbrough are all well qualified. Chairman candidate Lee Scott, incumbent DA Jewel Scott and crazed Sheriff Victor Hill simply shouldn’t be given positions of responsibility. Thomas Wheatley covered the county in last week’s CL cover story. Three school board districts will have runoffs, as will a commission seat, and in a Clayton County Democratic Senate runoff, former Rep. Gail Buckner and incumbent Sen. Gail Davenport.
Gwinnett County Republicans will have to choose between Commission Chairman Charles Bannister faces Commissioner Lorraine Green; Green seems more likely to put some energy into solving the county’s transportation woes. The commission’s District 1 (Duluth, Suwanee, I-85 corridor) runoff pits Duluth Mayor Shirley Lasseter against MARTA Board Member Bruce Level.
In Cobb, Republicans in Commission District 3 will choose between Joe Thompson and Bob Ott, while Democrats in District 4 will decide between Woody Thompson and Annette Kesting. In a GOP school board runoff, David Banks faces Vicki Griffin.
Send to a friend:
July 29th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Bruce’s last name is spelled LeVell, not Level.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:12 am
HD 61
Ralph Long, III is the best candidate in this race. He has a long history of service in his community and has great, original ideas for solving the problems facing the district and Georgia. Ralph is hardworking, has integrity, and will be able to work effectively as a legislator.
Keisha Waites’ only “service” to her community is running for every office that comes available. She has a combative personality and does not offer any original ideas for solving problems. She is nowhere to be found during election off seasons. Keisha has admitted to seeing the State House position as a stepping stone, she even filed paperwork earlier this year to challenge John Lewis!