About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 2020)
Tensions mount between Ralston, Kemp Republican factions wrangle over special election, budget I lnside 1 O 1 ' O I Trump praises Leeffler. BY JEFF AMY AND BEN NADLER Associated Press ATLANTA — Is it bad enough to call it a feud? Maybe not yet, but tension between Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and House Speaker David Ralston is becoming one of the defin ing features in the young 2020 ses sion of Georgia’s General Assembly. The conflict between the Republican officials flared again Wednesday, with Ralston telling reporters that House members are still unhappy with the budget infor mation they’re getting from the Kemp administration. Earlier, law makers were miffed when Kemp Kemp Ralston told agency heads not to appear before legislative committees last summer after he announced budget cuts. “We started asking for this infor mation as far back as last Septem ber and were assured that we would have it, and frankly, some of the information we still don’t have,” Ralston said after he pushed through a weeklong timeout from normal legislative business. He wants House members to focus intensely on Kemp’s proposed budget cuts amid a revenue slowdown — cuts that are getting clear pushback from many House Republicans. Kemp’s spokeswoman fired back Wednesday, criticizing Ralston for attempting to change how Georgia holds special elections. The unsuc cessful attempt would likely have boosted the U.S. Senate bid of Doug Collins, a Ralston friend, and under cut Kemp’s appointed choice, Kelly Loeffler. “While we respect the Legisla ture’s purview, the governor does not need a lesson in conservatism from a man who brokered a deal with Democrats just last week for political gamesmanship,” Candice Broce said in a statement. Tension between a governor and legislators is nothing new — indeed it’s designed into the system. Gov. Sonny Perdue vetoed a 2007 budget when House Speaker Glenn Rich ardson was trying to force through property tax relief, and then vetoed 40 other bills, including 29 by mem bers of the House Appropriations Committee. Lawmakers are also inclined to fight among themselves. I Collins, 4A When Zell Miller led the Senate as lieutenant governor and Tom Mur phy was House speaker, their feud ing was notorious. By contrast, former Gov. Nathan Deal, Ralston and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle kept their conflicts to a mini mum, in part because Deal coordi nated tightly with lawmakers. “It was the Deal years that were the outlier; this is more normal,” said Brian Robinson, a Republican political adviser who served as com munications director for Deal. “It’s normal for legislators to defend their ■ Please see TENSION, 4A After the storm Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Water moves quickly along Flat Creek as it swells due to heavy rainfall Thursday, Feb. 6, along Highland Terrace in Gainesville. Sexual assault kit initiative in Ga. expanded BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com The initiative to test sexual assault kits and identify suspects for prosecution is now expand ing to cold case homicides with “sexual assault components and in unidentified serial sexual assault cases,” according to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. The Georgia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Task Force started in 2017 to get unsubmitted kits tested. “To date, the task force has been fully opera tional for over a year and has indicted 23 cases and convicted (four) rapists. Of those convictions, (three) were serial rapists. The task force and its partner agencies’ goal remains to provide victims with comprehensive case assistance,” according to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. Senate Bill 304, known as the “Compassion ate Care for Victims of Sexual Assault Act,” ■ Please see KITS, 5A 2 sentenced in bank fraud case Severe weather, heavy rains fell trees, close roads BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Severe weather brought trees down and closed some Hall County roads, but nothing further is expected by Hall County public safety officials. “There is no further severe weather forecasted for (Thursday night) or (Fri day),” Hall County EMA Director Casey Ramsey wrote in an email Thursday. At least one person had to be rescued from flood waters after choosing to go kayaking during the stormy conditions. Hall County Fire Services spokesman Zach Brackett said the West Fork Little River near Jim Hood and Highland roads had overflowed its banks, and people in the area decided to kayak. “One of them actually got stranded on a tree branch (and) became separated from his kayak,” Brackett said. Firefighters used the aerial ladder truck around 5 p.m. Thursday to rescue the kayaker. Several area roads were also affected by the rains. Lawson Road in North Hall was closed by Hall County because of “hazardous conditions caused by heavy rains,” a press release stated. “There’s a heavy stormwater flow and possible damage to the roadway that will need to be repaired,” Hall County Engineer ■ Please see WEATHER, 5A Crews begin the repair of a portion of Calvary Church Road Thursday, Feb. 6, that washed out after heavy rains. BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Two men pleaded guilty Jan. 29 to con spiracy to commit bank fraud concerning SunTrust bank account holders, affecting one bank in Oakwood, according to federal court documents. Parry Gully Jr. and Lonnie Antonio Collins also pleaded guilty to a count of aggravated identity theft. Collins received 26 months in federal prison, while Gully received a 4-year sentence. Both men will receive credit for time previ ously served. “The object of the scheme to defraud was to steal money from SunTrust Bank and convert the money to the use of the defendant, (his asso ciate) and others unknown to the grand jury,” according to the indictment. ■ Please see FRAUD, 5A INSIDE WEATHER 2A DEATHS 6A 0 40901 06835 Advice 6B Business 4B Calendar 2A Classified 8B Comics 7B Life 5B Lottery 2A Opinion 8A Sports 1B TV/puzzles 6B High Low 42 29 Lake Lanier level: 1,071.24 feet Full pool 1,071. 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