Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

The True Citizen, Wednesday, August 25, 2021 — Page 5 Michael N. Searles THE LITTLE TABLE There used to be a tradition in some families of having two tables for holiday meals. There was the big table for adults and a little table for chil dren. There was a presumption adult conversation was not for the ears of children and chil dren should have their own conversations. Once a young person reached a certain age, he or she graduated to the big table. In some large families, the need for additional seating prompted setting up several children’s tables. There are little tables in vari ous aspects of society where those who sit have a small and sometimes insignificant voice. Politically speaking, until 1919, women in federal elections sat at the little table. They could talk with their fathers, husbands, and broth ers, but politically they could not express their independent thought. Native Americans only became citizens of the United States in 1924. Their right to vote in U.S. elections was rec ognized in 1948 with the land mark cases Harrison v. Laveen and Trujillo v. Garley, but not until 1962 did Utah formally remove the barriers to Indian enfranchisement. It was not until 1990 that Americans with disabilities were federally protected from discrimination. One of the areas of discrimination was access to the ballot box. Increasingly, various groups have challenged the idea that they should be restricted to the little table. This was evident in the 2020 election and 2021 runoff. A large segment of Georgia voters decided to par ticipate in the general and run off elections. Many of those voters said emphatically that they no longer wanted to sit at the little table and that they had graduated to the big table of full political participation. Republicans in previous elections usually won runoff elections because only 40- 60% of those who voted in the general election turned out. However, Georgia saw a 90% runoff turnout that catapulted Democratic Senators Jon Os- soff and Raphael Wamock into office. The folks at the little table had awakened and dem onstrated the role they wanted to play in electoral politics. There used to be a pride in seeing those graduating to the big table and take their place among responsible adults. Prior to the 2021 Election Integrity Act, nine weeks sepa rated the general election from the runoff. Now the runoff is required to be held 28 days after the general election. Re strictions also were placed on early voting basically requiring it to be held on weekdays. Early voting regulations make it difficult or in some cases impossible for counties to offer weekend early voting during a runoff especially if additional time is needed to finish work from the previous election. Because of the shorter period before a runoff election, military and overseas voters will have ranked-choice vot ing on their general election or primary ballots. These actions purportedly were enacted to ensure “elec tion integrity,” but it does not take a legal expert to see its purpose. The Republican legislature was disappointed in the results of the 2020 and 2021 elections, and the solu tion was to keep it from hap pening again. The Republican voter base is diminishing while people of color, youth, and suburban voters lean toward or heavily support Democrats. The Republican Party faces a choice of expanding the Re publican base or decreasing the number of those unlikely to vote for them. Republicans nationwide have adopted a short-term strategy that will in time fail, but a plan many Republicans are willing to implement. In 2012, after the loss to President Obama, the Repub lican National Committee authorized the “Growth and Opportunity Project.” It tied future party victories to an extensive outreach to women, African-Americans, Asian, Hispanic and gay voters. This path to victory no longer has resonance among Republicans and has been replaced with heads we win; tails you lose. This is not only a losing strat egy for the Republican Party; it is disastrous for our democ racy. Winning at all costs is not winning at all. Bird dog up on nine years. As a county employee, you can’t beat those kinds of benefits. But as a tax payer, I’ll say it’s unsustainable long-term, even at the risk of taking a beating from some of my fellow county workers. The millions in property taxes generated by Plant Vogtle and a willing and well-meaning county commission make all this possible. Well, that and an apathetic public that fails to pay attention Continued from 4 to what’s going on in their local government. For more Burke County political news, follow Bird Dog Politics on Facebook REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES Burke County is seeking an architectural firm or individual architect to provide architectural and design services for its Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) application. The award of the architectural contract for this project is contingent upon the grant being funded by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Responding firms should be technically qualified and licensed to provide the design and inspection services for local state and federally funded projects including architectural services and programs. Procedures for selection of an individual/firm will be in accordance with the RFQ package and local procurement requirements, as well as the requirements of the Uniform Administration Requirements (“the common rule”) 24 CFR Part 85.36 and the Georgia Community Develop ment Block Grant Program Recipients Manual. This is a Section 3 contract opportunity. The County reserves the right to request additional information from any consultant submit ting under this RFQ if the County deems such information necessary to further evaluate the consultant’s qualifications. The County reserves the right to interview any consultant submitting under this RFQ. The County reserves the right to waive informalities and minor irregularities in submittals and reserves the sole right to determine what constitutes informalities or minor irregularities. Consultants shall be responsible for all costs associated with consultant’s submittal. The County reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject all submissions,reissue a subse quent RFQ, terminate, restructure or amend this procurement process at any time. Evaluation criteria contained herein shall be used in evaluating qualifications. The County may contact any consultant after receiving its submittal to seek clarification of any portion thereof. The County reserves the right to request additional information from any consultant if the County deems such information necessary to further evaluate the consultant’s qualifications. In the event the County elects to negotiate a contract with a selected consultant, the County reserves the right to negotiate such terms and conditions of the contract, including, but not limited to scope, role, price, and staffing which may be in the best interests of the County. All qualifications will be evaluated in terms of project approach, timing, experience, quality of work, and capacity of performance. Past performances on local government construction projects will be assessed in terms of timeliness, completing work within budget, and quality of work. Interested parties are invited to secure a Request for Qualifications package by calling Nicee D. Fong, Planning and Development Specialist, 706-651-7301 or emailing nlong@csrarc.ga.gov. Request for Qualifications are due no later than 4:30 PM, Monday, September 27,2021. Pro posals submitted by mail should be addressed: Nicee D. Fong, CSRA Regional Commission, 3626 Walton Way Ext. Suite 300, Augusta, GA 30909. Request for Qualifications received after 4:30 p.m. on September 27,2021, will not be considered. Burke County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals. Burke County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Terri Fodge Kelly Chairman 6.db BIKE COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY These local professionals are here to serve you! Air Conditioning TRUST. ITS MORE THAN A WORD TO US. ITS OUR WORD TO YOU. #N0W A NNMg t CooU»9 toMow c»■>■«» 706-554-7341 / 706-830-4516 COMPLETE SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS ONLY *49 TRANS Iti Hard lb Stop A Thane! Electrical & Generator 502 West 6th Street Waynesboro, GA 30830 PHONE (706) 554-2861 GENERAC AUTHORIZED DEALER R6WELL ELECTRIC CO. Air Conditioning Sales & Service 1040 Bethesda Church Road Girard, GA Mobile: 706-339-9343 lli Hard 7k Slop ATYonJ Reliable Durable Clean Air Comfort Control Efficient First-Rate Warranties Contractor HIGHSMITH BUILDING SERVICES, INC. constructing custom homes since 1991 JOHN A. HIGHSMITH 706-551-0248 Insurance Stacey L, Herrmann, LUTCF ■ Agency Mgr. FARM BUREAU GEORGIA Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Services Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company Office 706-554-2017 FAX: 706-554-7482 Email: slherrmann@gfbins.com CLAIMS # 1-855-432-2567 P.O. Box 329 Waynesboro, GA 30830 Pet Grooming p*$pringviood Boarding & Grooming 706-592-0444 3209 Old Waynesboro Road Hephzibah, GA 30815 "Caring hands for your precious pet" Wrecker Service 706-551-3998 706-551-0876 TAYLOR BROTHERS Wrecker Service 206 West 12th Street Cleaning Services NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL You me it we deanil! Homes, Offices, Commercial, Churches Before & after party services, seasonal services too Special Events Call for free estimates - Klewisservices 762-212-2901 or 706-5514098 Handyman and Lawn Services pwn HANDYMAN SERVICES AND LAWN CARE, UC AU YOUR HANDYMAN AND LAWN CARE NEEDS NO JOB TOO SMALL! INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR HOME REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT LAWN CARE AND LANDSCAPING FULLY INSURED 706-526-8303 call or text Heating & Air DFAIJ* Turn cu the Expert, “Trust, Honor & Pride - Our Commitment To You” 346 Old Millen Hwy., Waynesboro, GA 30830 706-554-2665 Burke Memorial Funeral Home www.burkememorial.com “A Horn of Dependable Service’ 842 Liberty Street, Waynesboro, GA Family owned 8, operated Jane and George DeLoach 706-833-9867 or 706-551-5100 Dustin Rowell, Owner/President # A* Rowell LHEATinkJG.&^AlR,