About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 2018)
LOCA^STATE The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Monday, October 29, 2018 7A STATESBORO White male Dem. touts diversity in seeking votes JOHN BAZEMORE I Associated Press Democratic candidate for Georgia Secretary of State John Barrow greets people outside Sanford Stadium on the University of Georgia campus before an NCAA college football game between Georgia and Middle Tennessee in Athens, Ga., Sept. 15. BY BILL BARROW Associated Press At the annual fundraising gala for Bulloch County Democrats, one orator after another roused the crowd with criticism of Presi dent Donald Trump and tributes to the most diverse, liberal ticket the Georgia Democratic Party has ever assembled for a statewide election. “We’re going to make history,” proclaimed Janice Laws, a Jamai can immigrant and black woman whose candidacy for state insur ance commissioner might draw more notice if it weren’t overshad owed by Stacey Abrams’ bid to become the first black female gov ernor in American history. Former state NAACP leader Francys Johnson, the local con gressional candidate, demanded “moral clarity” in opposition to Trump’s treatment of “poor peo ple and immigrants and people of color.” But John Barrow, the last Demo crat to hold the House seat John son seeks, struck a different tone as he talked about why he entered politics. “I thought there was a need for a little bipartisanship .. some need for moderation,” recalled Barrow. Now running for Georgia secre tary of state, Barrow told his fellow Democrats he values the “common- sense politics of compromise” over “the politics of confrontation.” While Abrams runs as an unabashed liberal and gains national attention for her historic potential, Barrow’s campaign is notable for a different reason. He’s the most prominent white man running as a Democrat in Georgia this year, navigating the politics of a state undergoing rapid demo graphic shifts and a party that is putting a premium on gender and racial diversity. The 62-year-old Barrow’s electoral fortunes could offer clues for how voters might receive potential White House hopefuls like former Vice President Joe Biden, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Govs. Jay Inslee of Washington and Steve Bullock of Montana. Barrow is an increasingly rare figure in Deep South Democratic politics, where many white men of his generation became Repub licans over the past two decades. He’s one of two white male Demo crats on Georgia’s statewide ticket this year. Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation are African-American. For his part, Barrow sees him self as part of Democrats’ diversity, arguing the party is refashion ing itself as a big tent, including philosophically. “What I’m trying to remind folks is there was a time when the parties were more diverse, and that was good for them,” Barrow said in an interview. “The only hope for our country is for both of these parties to be healed from within.” Abrams, meanwhile, welcomes Barrow even if their politics and path to victory don’t always overlap. “Every candidate on the Demo cratic ticket holds strong to their core values and seeks to lift up every Georgian,” she said. Barrow is not openly critical of his fellow Democrats, including Abrams, noting she defined her ten ure as minority leader in the state legislature by striking big-ticket compromises with Republicans. “That’s a high mark in her favor,” Barrow said, “but we all have to earn our stripes every day on that score, and I’ve done it more days, year in and year out, than anybody else on the statewide ticket on either side.” He eagerly applies his trade mark approach to the hottest topic in his otherwise low-profile race: how the secretary of state manages elections. That issue has sharply defined the closing weeks of the governor’s race pitting Abrams against Repub lican Brian Kemp, the current sec retary of state. Democrats and civil rights groups accuse Kemp’s office of nefariously holding up tens of thousands of new voter registra tions. Kemp insists that he’s follow ing the law and that any of those would-be voters can cast ballots as long as they produce valid identifi cation like any other Georgian. Barrow has largely kept to his script. He notes the broader contours of the debate: Republicans arguing for preventing voter fraud while Dem ocrats accuse them of trying to sup press votes. “There are legitimate concerns on both sides,” he told The Associated Press. “We ought to be able to make it easier to vote with out making it easier for someone to cheat.” At the south Georgia party gath ering, Barrow emphasized ballot access. “A part of election integrity is protecting the right to vote,” he said, taking a few implicit digs at Kemp. At a VFW hall a few days later in the Republican-leaning suburbs of Atlanta, Barrow underscored his push for scanned paper ballots statewide in lieu of touch-screen machines that leave no paper trail. At that venue, he made no men tion of Kemp or of his own Repub lican opponent, state Rep. Brad Raffensperger. The same kind of high-wire rou tine defined Barrow’s 12 years on Capitol Hill. It’s a tenure that began in 2004, after a stint as a local elected official in Athens. Barrow defeated an incumbent GOP Republican even as President George W. Bush was re-elected, and Barrow lasted five terms through two moves — GOP lawmakers redrew his district boundaries — and multiple tough campaigns until he finally succumbed to the GOP’s midterm sweep in 2014. Along the way, he was an early endorser of Barack Obama’s presi dential bid and backed Nancy Pelosi for speaker. But he opposed Obama’s health care overhaul in 2010 and from that year forward cast a symbolic vote for his fellow Georgian, civil rights icon John Lewis, as speaker. He backed hate crimes legislation and allowing gay military service members to serve openly, but he opposed Democrats’ cap-and-trade tax plans to combat climate change. He won endorsements from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Rifle Associa tion, featuring the latter group in a memorable 2012 ad in which he brandished firearms he said were family heirlooms. OBITUARIES William “Billy” Mark Burnette Died Oct. 25, 2018 William “Billy” Mark Burnette, age 88 of Southside, Ala., passed away Thursday, Oct. 25,2018, at his residence. He was born in Union County, Ga., to the late Monroe and Dessie Collins Burnett. Billy worked as a federal poultry inspector. He was very creative and enjoyed woodworking. Billy was a musician. In addition to his par ents he was preceded in death by his wife, Frankie Burnette; she passed away April 19, 2018. Billy and Frankie were married 63 years; two brothers, Durane Burnett and Monroe Burnett, Jr.; and one sister, Cor- rine Beaver. He is survived by his daugh ter, Letricia McDaniel; two grandchildren, Charles “Mike” Roland McDaniel III and Jordan Elizabeth McDaniel. Funeral service was held at 3 p.m., Sun day, Oct. 28, 2018, at the Townson-Rose Funeral Home Chapel in Murphy. Rev. Aud Brown officiated. Special music provided by Vivian Brown. Burial will be in the Ivy Log Baptist Church Cemetery in Blairsville, Ga. Pallbearers were Charles McDaniel III, Robert Truett, Cody Truett, Jonah Truett, Ronald Harris and Brady Harris. The family received friends from 2-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 28,2018, at the Townson- Rose Funeral Home. You may send tributes to the Burnette family at www.townson-rose.com Townson-Rose Funeral Home, Murphy, N.C. Sign the online guest book at gainesville- times.com. The Times, Gainesville, Ga. Oct. 29, 2018 Clifford Bond Tyner Sept. 21, 1941-Oct. 23, 2018 Clifford Bond Tyner, 77, of Gainesville passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, at his residence following an extended illness. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in the Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home with the Rev. Jason Mincey and the Rev. Jimmy Wehunt officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, Oct. 29,2018, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Born on Sept. 21, 1941, in Madison County, Ga., he was the son of the late C.J. and Louise Bond Tyner. He was retired from Lib erty National where he was an insurance agent. Mr. Tyner was a veteran of the United States Navy. He was of the Methodist faith. In addition to his parents, Mr. Tyner is preceded in death by his brother, William Tyner. Mr. Tyner is survived by his wife, Judy Elizabeth Tyner of Gainesville; son, Greg ory Bond Tyner (Nikki) of Dacula; grand son, Henry and granddaughter, Virginia; daughter, Stacy Lynn Martin of Flowery Branch; grandson, Maxwell Martin; daugh ter, Christy Dawn Hulsey (Ben) of Oakwood; granddaughter, Carleigh, and grandson, Cade. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make contributions to the Hall County American Red Cross, 675 White Sulphur Rd Suite 230, Gainesville, GA 30501 or to the American Cancer Society 2565 Thompson Bridge Rd # 114, Gainesville, GA 30501 Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville Sign the online guest book at gainesville- times.com. The Times, Gainesville, Ga. Oct. 29, 2018 DEATH NOTICES Kevin Reed Davidson April 1, 1976-Oct. 27, 2018 Kevin Reed Davidson, 42, of Demorest died Saturday. Memorial service, 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, funeral home chapel. Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, Baldwin Charlotte Gleeson Parrish June 22, 1929-Oct. 27, 2018 Charlotte “Patsy” Gleeson Parrish, 89, of Clarkesville died Saturday. Memorial ser vice, 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, funeral home chapel. Whitfield Funeral Home, Demorest. INTRODUCING Mi eoc# and Saved You 2011-201? Mr. Nibble iSgSfc “OK-SO,, Little & Davenport Funeral Home To inquire about pricing packages available to memorialize a pet in print, please contact Megan Lewis at 770-535-6371 or mlewis@gainesvilletimes.com Pets at Peace will appear in The Times the last Sunday of each month. Michael Steven Reeves Died Oct. 27, 2018 Michael Steven Reeves, 66, of Gaines ville died Saturday. Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland. Judy Beatty Smith Died Oct. 27, 2018 Judy Beatty Smith, 68, of Jefferson died Saturday. Funeral service, 3 p.m. Tues day, Oct. 30, funeral home chapel. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson. Obituary information Death notices are printed free as a public service by The Times. More information can be provided in paid obituaries. The rate is $50 per 100 words (or any part thereof). There is an additional mandatory $40 fee for online services, which includes a guest book that allows family and friends to post condolences. Deadline for publication is 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. Death notices and obituaries are accepted only from funeral homes. They should be emailed to obits@ gainesvilletimes.com. All submissions will appear in The Times and online at gainesvilletimes.com. For additional information, please call 770-718-3419 or 800-395-5005, extension 3419, between 3 and 6 p.m. weekdays. Team Times will host a Shred Day at The Times. Maximum of 5 boxes per car. All donations will go toward Relay for Life. Shredding provided by ^^Ldocument ^^Destruction Services, Inc. "Your Security is our Business" When you need secure destruction of confidential materials call the experts! 770-287-9605 www.ddsga.com ®he (Km es BBB ACCREDITED BUSINESS gainesvilletimes.com NAID (National Association for Information Destruction) PRISM (Professional Records & Information Services Management) A Division of Total Information Protection Group an r GROUP
