About The Braselton news. (Jefferson, Ga) 2006-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2022)
o o Serving Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau Elan, Traditions, Reunion, Deaton Creek and West Jackson $1.00 copy Wednesday, March 16, 2022 Vol. 15 No. 14 A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. www.BraseltonNewsTODAY.com 12 pages Elections Candidate qualifying wraps up at Georgia Capitol By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service Georgia Republicans and Democrats put positive spins on their 2022 election pros pects Friday as the weeklong candidate qualifying period concluded at the state Capitol. Both parties fielded can didates for every federal and statewide elective office. A record-breaking 310 Democrats signed up to ran up and down the congressio nal and legislative ballot, as the party looks to build upon its successes in 2020, when Democrats captured both of Georgia’s U.S. Senate seats. “When I became chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia in 2019, we made it a priority to ensure Democrats were competitive in more seats all across Georgia - and this year’s qualifying numbers are a testament to those ef forts.” U.S. Rep. Nikema Wil liams, D-Atlanta, said Friday. But Republicans, too, were encouraged by the results of Qualifying Week. “We qualified nearly twice as many candidates as the Democrats,” Georgia Repub lican Chairman David Shafer said Friday. “We have Re publicans running for every statewide office and in every congressional District. Our Republican ticket this fall will be strong, wide, and deep.” Republicans will have to overcome divisions in the par ty over the response to Presi dent Donald Trump’s loss to President Joe Biden in Geor gia in 2020. At the top of the ballot, a slate of Republican candidates endorsed by Trump is running in the May 24 GOP primary against fellow Republicans, some of whom refused to join Trump’s bid to reverse the out come of the election. University of Georgia foot ball icon Herschel Walker and former U.S. Sen. David Perdue top the Trump ticket. Walker is seeking the GOP nomination to oppose Demo cratic Sen. Raphael Wamock in November. Perdue has Trump’s en dorsement in his challenge to incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, whom Trump supported in 2018 but who would not go along with the then-president’s attempts to change the 2020 election re sults in Georgia. Another race the former president is weighing in on is for secretary of state. In cumbent Republican Brad Raffensperger, who famously See Qualifying, page 3A Braselton Fall art festival planned for downtown Braselton By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com While a date still must be confirmed, Braselton downtown leaders have an nounced plans for a fall art festival on the town green. Braselton Main Street coordinator Jessica Payne recently told the downtown development authority (DDA) said the town will have 8x8 cubes built for the festival and seek out artists to paint murals on each side. The event will include art vendors. “More information about that is to come as we solid ify a few things.” Payne said. In other business, the DDA still seeks sponsors and raffle items for its May 12 Toast of Braselton fund raiser. DDA member Mitch Chapman announced that a trip to Italy (covering ac commodations only) will be among the auction items at the event, which will be held at the Braselton Civic Center. This year’s Toast of Bra selton — called “the Boot legger’s Ball” is prohibi tion themed. Braving the cold for Paddy's Day Photo by Ben Munro Elizabeth Lysaught (left) and Beth Nelson wave from the back for their golf cart during Saturday’s (March 12) chilly sixth-annual Paddy’s Day PathFEST parade. The event featured over 100 decorated carts despite temperatures in the 30s and wind gusts. See Page 7Afor more photos. Braselton Braselton council members weigh in on charter school idea Photo by Ben Munro Members of the Braselton town council discuss the concept of charter schools with guests Spencer Thomas and Pam Estabrooke during the council’s Friday (March 11) retreat. By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews. com An idea being floated to start a charter school in Bra selton has now been floated to the town council. Town leaders discussed the topic as part of their an nual planning retreat Friday (March 11). The consensus among the council was general in terest in the idea with con siderable more discussion needed in order to gauge feasibility and community support. “I’m interested in learn ing more,” councilman James Murphy said. “That’s where I stand today.” “I just want to make sure that there’s the foundation there to support such a cause.” he added. A Braselton school char ter could be held by either the town or a non-profit (501(C)3) entity. Such a school could potentially serve to unify a town divid ed by four different school systems. The system would be publicly-funded but use its own curriculum, and en rollment would be based on a lottery system. See Charter, page 12A MAILING LABEL Braselton Braselton council approves package store license, but moratorium follows By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews. com Braselton leaders approved a license for a proposed package store on Hwy. 53 but quickly followed with a morato rium on future license applications. The council on Monday (March 14) OK’d the license request for applicant Ahmed Merchant with a 4-1 vote and then unanimously approved a morato rium on accepting new package store license applications. The moratorium, initiated by councilman Jim Joedecke, will run through June 14 (unless the or dinance is repealed earlier). Merchant’s store site is located adja cent to Dollar General at the intersec tion of Hwy. 53 and Jackson Ave. The council’s approval of his application — James Murphy cast the lone “no” vote — came as Braselton’s census numbers have allowed for additional package store licenses in town. “I do think we need to go back and look at this as we have a proliferation of these stores starting to pop up,” Jo edecke said. Councilman Richard Harper voiced his support for the moratorium. “In reading all the information that’s been made available to us, I think it’s a good decision for us to take these things seriously and make these steps to make the community more appealing,” he See Braselton, page 3A Hoschton Hoschton City Council member resigns Hoschton city councilman Shant- won Astin has resigned, according to council meeting agendas released by the city. Agendas for both the council’s work session and voting session on March 21 include an item to accept Astin’s resignation. Town clerk Jennifer Kidd-Harrison said the city is working with the board of elections to determine a special elec tion date to fill the council seat. Astin had served on the council for over two years after winning an at-large election seat in November of 2019. The city will also look to fill a seat on its downtown development author ity as member Tracey Carden has re signed. ‘0 4 8 7 9 1 4 5 4 0
