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November 9, 1995 AUGUSTA FOCUS
DISTRICT 1
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Augusta City Councilman Lee Beard barely slipped by newcomer
Charles Freeman Jr. to win District 1 and become the only city
councilperson on the new government.
City Councilwoman Margaret Armstrong, despite being a veteran to
city politics, finished a distant last with only 19 percent of the votes
(707). Mr. Freeman captured 35 percent (1,318), and Mr. Beard won
with 46 percent (1,741).
Mr. Beard blamed a lack of countywide name recognition for city
councilpersons’ overall poor performance.
“Youreally didn’t have time in this election to get to know people and
for them to get to know you,” Mr. Beard said. “You can’t run an effective
campaign in such a short period of time.”
Only 3,766 of the district’s 11,451 registered voters cast ballots.
DISTRICT 2
Despite much criticism thrown at him by many in the black commu
nity, Richmond County Commissioner Freddie Handy easily won the
District 2 race with 1,543 votes (52 percent), dwarfing his closest
contender Augusta City Councilwoman Kathleen Beasley who gar
nered only 921 votes (31 percent).
Candidates David L. Johnson and Bill Law gathered only 17 percent
of the votes between them. Mr. Johnson got 289 (10 percent), and Mr.
Law got 209 (7 percent).
While some attribute a county versus city mentality to Ms. Beasley’s
big loss, Augusta Mayor Charles A. DeVaney cites other factors.
“Mr. Handy had a city opponent, but in many cases you have to look
at the caliber of the person running for office and their qualifications.
I think qualifications had a lot more to do with it than city versus
county,” Mr. DeVaney said.
Of the 9,457 registered voters in District 2,962 voted.
DISTRICT 3
Political newcomer Rob Zetterberg, who pushed for new faces on the
new government, forced the District 3 race to a Nov. 28 runoff.
Although he failed to get the necessary 45 percent margin to claim
the seat, Mr. Zetterberg won more votes than Richmond County
Commissioner Lee Neel and Augusta City Councilwoman Carolyn
Usry.
Mr. Zetterberg finished with 1,872 (37 percent); Mr. Neel, 1,744 (35
percent); and Ms. Usry, 1,394 (28 percent).
Mr. Zetterberg said he expected a very close race.
“The timing is right for a new candidate, and I'm an acceptable
candidate, and I knew we ran an extremely good campaign for a
newcomer,” Mr. Zetterberg said.
Promising not to serve more than two terms, Mr. Zetterberg said he
canadd vitality toa government that suffers from too many complacent
politicians.
District 3 precincts were visited by 5,010 of 12,598 registered voters.
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Local News
By Rhona Jones &
Rhonda Y. Maree
Districts 1,2,3,4,9 covered by Rhonda Y. Maree
Districts 5,6,7,8,10 covered by Rhonda Jones
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DISTRICT 4
Richmond County Commissioner Moses Todd dominated his field
of contenders for the District 4 seat.
With 1,414 votes (49 percent), Mr. Todd’s closest opposition was
political aspirant King M. Singleton Jr. who won 738 votes (25
percent). Challenger Brian Wilson finished with 526 votes (18
percent), and Minnie P. Davis came in last with only 235 votes (8
percent).
District 4 had a showing of 2,913 of its 9,830 voters.
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Dee Griffin and Bob Y.
Weeknights News ’
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Happy Veteran’s Day,
November 11, 1995
DISTRICT 5
When asked how he felt about the election results, District 5
winner Henry H. Brigham chuckled. “In my race? I'm happy.”
Relieved too, he said, because he was up against some “tough
people.” ;
Going to bat for people like the Wheeless Road flood victims gave
him a record with the community that he feels speaks for itself.
He said he doesn’t know if any particular implications arise from
the virtual absence of city councilmembers in the new government,
but he is glad that Augusta and Richmond County have finally
consolidated. “Well, you'll only have to make one decision without
having to go to another government,” he said, citing last summer’s
transportation crisis. “We pumped a whole bunch of money into (the
bus system),” he said, “and we’re not sure what happened to it.”
Oscar Baker, who received 35.24 percent of the vote, says his
goodbyes. “Ithink the election went well,” he said. “I knew that I was
running against great odds.” He cites the greater numbers of
registered voters in the county as the cause of the old county
commission members’ re-election.
“I certainly appreciated everyone who voted for me,” he said, and
thanks all who gave their support.
DISTRICT 6
Though he has only been on the Richmond County Board of
Commissioners for 10 months, J.B. Powell, winner of the District 6
commission-council seat, had veteran status, winning 65.38 percent
of the votes against three other candidates. Candidate Elmer R.
Singley, who received 8.76 percent, is “not satisfied” with the
results.
“I thought folks wanted a new government,” he said. “I hope it’s not
business as usual.” He foresees a “minute change” in the way local
government runs, but doesn’t expect any great change for years to
come.
Now that the election is over, he plans to “regroup” and to “try to
dowhat (he)can in’96in South Augusta.” He blames the lack of more
run-off elections on lack of voter turn-out, and blames Tuesday’s bad
weather for that.
Charles Utley, who captured 20.26 of the votes, plans “to make
sure government does what it’s supposed to do by being a citizen
watchdog,” but says he respects the people’s decisions “overall.” Mr.
Utley, whoisblack, said that black people need to come together, and
that at this point they are “still crabs in a basket.”
He suspects some “devious dealings,” in how the elections were
handled. “Let me put it this way,” he said when asked to clarify, and
said that these devious dealings occur when it is “intended to make
sure a seat becomes white or black by pulling candidates out at the
last minute.”
He does feel, however, that the government has changed. “They
(the voters) looked at the city as being a DeVaney dynasty,” he said.
“They wanted to clean house ...”
Neither Johnny L. Wilson, who received 5.60 percent of the vote,
nor Mr. Powell could be reached for comment.