Fresh Loaf

When DeKalb County Commissioner Burrell Ellis drops his title next year and assumes his newly elected role of County CEO, he’ll take office without some of the powers enjoyed by his predecessors.

On Nov. 4, more than 64 percent of DeKalb County voters approved an amendment that reins in some powers of CEO — the only office of its kind in metro Atlanta in which a single person oversees the day-to-day functions of government and sets the agenda for county commission meetings.

Once Ellis takes office, that agenda-setting power will belong to the commission according to rules it adopts. (Commissioner Jeff Rader says staff is currently at work on the rules.) If the CEO wants to introduce legislation, he would have to do so through a commissioner who would then send it to the appropriate committee. Rader says legislation could be expedited if it’s an urgent matter.

The CEO would still submit the budget, make staff decisions, and appoint department heads, among other powers. If a tiebreaker vote is needed, the CEO would cast it if each member of the commission requested he or she do so.

Introduced by state Sen. Emanuel Jones, D-Ellenwood, the amendment has an understandable critic: Vernon Jones, the soon-to-be former CEO.

(more…)

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It’s ironic that a ballot question to limit the authority of the county CEO is being posed to voters just as the power-hungry Vernon Jones prepares to leave office. Still, it’s a sensible measure that can help prevent future friction between the county’s board of commissioners and its chief executive.

For the past five years, incoming CEO Burrell Ellis had been the commission’s presiding officer, but that was largely an empty title because Jones has presided at board meetings. The referendum would correct this backwards situation by authorizing the commission to, in essence, run its own meetings. Likewise, the measure would allow the commission to draw up its own meeting agenda, taking that power away from the CEO. (more…)

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JIM MARTIN: Soundly defeats Vernon Jones to win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate; will face Saxby Chambliss in November.

TED JACKSON: There’s a new (Democratic nominee for) sheriff in town.

CLAYTON: Kem Kimbrough beats controversy-prone Sheriff Victor Hill for the Democratic nomination.

DEKALB CEO: Burrell Ellis beats Stan Watson and, with no Republican contender in the race, is the new CEO.

EX-BIN LADEN DRIVER: Found guilty today in the first Guantanamo war crimes trial.

SEA TURTLE NESTS: A record number have been found in Georgia this year.

ARBORING A GRUDGE: The New York Times reports on former Atlanta senior arborist Tom Coffin, who was fired July 29 for pointing out to his bosses the under- or nonenforcement of the tree ordinance in certain parts of the city.

WILLIE B.: The subject of a new documentary produced by Andrew Young.

UGA: Named by Sports Illustrated as the magazine’s preseason No. 1 and featured on one of five regional covers this week.

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Who here likes to party? I can’t hear you, Myrtle Beach! I said, Who here likes to PARTY?!?

Eh. Scott’s right. It may be difficult to get amped about these runoffs, but it’s really important you vote. And after you do that, it’s important you celebrate.

And tonight’s campaign parties for the U.S. Senate Democratic runoff are sure to have all the hallmarks of a classic political fete — awkward toasts, inappropriate drunks, and a guaranteed mediocre cover version of “Don’t Stop.” Or at least some finger food upon which ye can munch. Both campaign’s parties are open to the public and sure to be interesting.

Details are as follows:

• Vernon Jones: 7 p.m. The Vernon Jones for U.S. Senate Campaign Headquarters, 3230 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30305.

• Jim Martin: 7 p.m. Park Tavern, Piedmont Room, 10th Street and Monroe Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Don’t tell ‘em we sent ya, because then they’ll probably charge us for the damages. If you’re not itching to attend one of the above shindigs, good times are sure to be had by all at Manuel’s Tavern beginning around 7 p.m. If you know of any other gatherings, add ‘em in the comments.

Enjoy!

(Photo courtesy of repmanblog.com)

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VOTE: No one else is going to, so your vote will count that much more. Click here for CL’s voter guide.

DON’T DRINK THE WATER: A toxin found in Mars’ water dims scientists’ hopes of finding life there.

DOCK BLOCK: More than 2,300 private docks were built in coastal Georgia between 1996 and 2006, and each one can reduce biomass production by 30 percent below it due to blocked sunlight. Researchers are thus studying four types of docks that allow sunlight through.

NEW GRADY CEO: Says changing “the aura” will be the difference at Grady; plans to buy upgraded medical equipment, identify the top 10 financial issues and streamline processes in an effort to attract more insured patients to the beleaguered hospital.

WI-FI IN THE SKY: Delta plans to start offering Wi-Fi on all its domestic flights by next summer, but it’ll cost $10 for three hours or less and $13 for longer flights.

FIELD TRIPS: Georgia schools considering canceling them to save fuel.

TAILS WAGGING DAWGS: Mark Richt discusses the slew of arrested and penalized players this offseason; he and top players echo the line that they won’t be a distraction for long.

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Tomorrow we’ll find out the answer to the most pressing issue of the Jim Martin and Vernon Jones runoff: Who is the least like George W. Bush and who loves Barack Obama more?

Sounds pretty irrelevant, right? Tell that to the reserved former state lawmaker and his opponent, the flamboyant two-term CEO of DeKalb County. Since the two found out on July 15 they’d be facing each other in tomorrow’s runoff, there’s been little more than talk about each other’s past voting records. (Just to refresh your memory: Jones has slammed Martin for casting a vote on Super Tuesday for John Edwards, who had already ended his campaign, and not Barack Obama. Martin has slammed Jones for his back-to-back votes for George W. Bush. I’ll go out on a limb here and say that voting for Bush is not something that will endear you to Democrats, CEO Jones. Plus, what’s up with all the contributions to the state Republican party?)

Perhaps the reason they’re focusing so much on the past is because they share a similar vision for the future. Both want clean energy, both want out of Iraq, and both think No Child Left Behind is an unfair and unsuccessful program. Those are all laudable goals, but the last three weeks have been a rather boring ping pong match of accusations and ambitions rather than ideas.

(more…)

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MARS DROUGHT DOWNGRADED: Scientists find and sample water from the Martian surface, and will spend the next several weeks studying whether it could support life.

TED STEVENS: Not giving up without a slow, creaky fight.

COLBERT: Offers a “rare apology” to Canton, Ga., for calling the town “crappy,” adding that he meant to call Canton, Kan., crappy: “How many Canton, Kan. residents does it take to screw in a lightbulb? None. They don’t use lights because they don’t want to see where they live.”

RUNOFF: Congressional Quarterly summarizes the uphill battle ahead of whoever wins Tuesday’s Democratic primary runoff in the U.S. Senate race to unseat Saxby Chambliss.

316: Won’t toll for thee.

HEADLINE NUDES: Lavonia buys the town’s only strip club with $1 million of taxpayer money, closes it and burns down its billboards.

LINGERIE: Included, along with bras, garter belts and hosiery, among the items exempt from sales taxes in this weekend’s statewide tax holiday. WSB-TV makes the distinction, however, that only sexy lingerie is exempt:

UNEMPLOYMENT: U.S. rate hits a four-year high in July as employers cut 51,000 jobs. But who’s going to operate the giant computer-chip-gear machine that makes red lightning bolts?

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Georgia’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. (more…)

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U.S. Senate hopeful Vernon Jones will announce several endorsements at 2 p.m. outside the Old DeKalb County courthouse in downtown Decatur.

PRESS RELEASE

For more information contact:
Camille Kesler
Phone: [redacted
Email: [redacted]

Vernon Jones to Announce Endorsements Today at 2pm

Vernon Jones, Democratic candidate for the United States Senate, will hold a press conference today, July 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. E.D.T. on the steps of the Old DeKalb County Courthouse in downtown Decatur. Jones will announce the endorsement of elected officials. “No one becomes successful alone; that is why I am so grateful to the community leaders who have endorsed me and my message of hope and positive change for Georgia,” said Vernon Jones.

The Old DeKalb County Courthouse is located at 100 East Court Square, Decatur, GA 30030 near the intersection of East Court Square and East Ponce de Leon Ave.

Just a heads up, Jones campaign: It helps to get the word out about such events a little earlier than an hour or two beforehand.

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Are you eager to voice your thoughts about Jim Martin and Vernon Jones in a family-friendly forum? Maybe you’re angry about U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss? Fear not, fellow Georgians, you’re among friends here on Fresh Loaf.

I’ll be liveblogging tonight’s Georgia Public Broadcasting debate at 7 p.m. between the two Democrats vying to take a shot at incumbent Chambliss in November. There’ll be quips, comments, updates, tidbits and lots of super-scientific polls.

Drinking game rules are as follows:

• Each time Martin mentions one of his endorsements, take a shot. If he mentions one of his non-endorsements from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, former opponent Josh Lanier, or state Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin, take two shots.

• Each time Vernon Jones mentions his work as DeKalb County CEO, take a swig of a strawberry daiquiri. You get bonus points if you’re eating smores.

• If Martin mentions Jones’ past two votes for President George W. Bush, funnel a Busch Light. If Jones says Martin voted for John Edwards, drink a National Enquirer. Don’t ask questions, just do it.

That’s all I have right now. There might be more. Regardless, skip your weekly capoiera practice early and stop by just before 7 p.m. If you don’t, I’ll be lonely and frightened, all alone in the Internet.

(Photo courtesy of Megatonik.com)

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— Daily newspapers are struggling to keep readers and to find ways to make money via the Internet. Travis Fain at Lucid Idiocy speaks to all the people who no longer subscribe to the paper and, instead, read it for free on the Net.

— At Tondee’s Tavern,  it’s noted that Vernon Jones has little or no union support. And that must not bother him too much because he didn’t show for the AFL-CIO candidate screening.

— Meanwhile, Georgia Women Vote! talks about the old-fashioned fish fry Jim Martin is going to have in Macon this weekend to garner grassroots support.

— It’s obvious on the blogosphere that we are entering the dog days of summer. For you non-Southerners, that’s the time of year when it’s so hot that even dogs don’t want to be outdoors. That fact must account for all the personal issues that have surfaced this week. At Mingaling, Lori talks about her bouts with anxiety-driven depression, and gives a pep talk to everyone who suffers from it.

— Hopefully she’ll share that pep talk with Maigh, who writes eloquently about the passing of Amber the cat. Rest in peace.

— And ETK has her own pep talk to her friends at I’m Just Sayin, Life Observed.

— Sara never got around to renewing her car registration, and it turned into a long and expensive ordeal that she writes about on Going Through The Motions. Don’t worry, gang, the dog days will be over soon.

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Vernon Jones and Jim Martin will take their battle royal for the Democratic slot in the U.S. Senate race on Tuesday (July 29) at 7 p.m. in a debate carried by Georgia Public Broadcasting. WSB Radio’s Scott Slade will serve as moderator, while the panel will be filled by GPB’s Nwandi Lawson, the Macon Telegraph’s Charles Richardson and Dick Pettys of Insider Advantage. The event is co-sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club, and can be seen on www.gpb.org or heard on local GPB radio affiliates.

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— Ah, GriftDrift’s “Morning Wooten” means all is right with the world. Especially when he gets on a roll. Delicious.

— Vernon Jones and Jim Martin, who are in an increasingly combative run-off in the Democratic run-off for U.S. Senate, had an Internet debate Sunday. Listen to it here.

— Speaking of Mr. CEO, Amy Morton at Tondee’s Tavern reveals that Jones, a Democrat, gave $3,000 in 2004 to the Republican campaign of Mitchell Kaye in his run for a state House seat.

— The fine ladies over at Pecanne Log, find a gem on eBay and evidence that Andre 3000 aspires to be the Michael Stipe of Atlanta.

— Live Apartment Fire takes a break from television news to vent about upcoming changes at the AJC as revealed in the exclusive interview AJC editor Julia Wallace gave to CL editor Ken Edelstein last week.

— On Confessions of a Political Junkie, Eric shares a widely-circulated email that purports to be a report on Barack Obama blowing off regular troops during his trip to Iraq.

— What’s the point of having a blog if you can’t announce your upcoming nuptials? Jason Pye and his significant other are headed to Vegas. But they won’t be married by Elvis, which seems to defeat the purpose. Just sayin’.

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