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Viewpoints
Your Opinion
Go to the polls July 19--
your vote does count
Dear Editor:
My name is Dean Chronopoulos and I am a candidate for the Public
Service Commission. The purpose of my letter is to remind your readers
of our upcoming July 19th primary election and the direct effect it will
have on their families, their work and their communities.
As you may already know, not only are the candidates for your State
House and State Senate up for election, but so are the candidates for
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General,
Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, Commissioner of
Insurance, State School Superintendent and Public Service Commissioner.
Every partisan elected state office will be on the ballot, as well as the can
didates for U.S. Representative of Congress and some non-partisan judge
ships. Some ballots across the state will have elections for local county,
city and school board positions.
As you see, this election cycle is extremely important. You and your
neighbors' decisions will have a vital impact on your life for the next two,
four or six years. Now is the time to make sure your voice is heard in our
government. Please, go to the polls on Tuesday, July 19th - your vote
does count!
Thank you,
Dean Chronopoulos
Reader discusses views of
Freeport tax exemption
Dear Editor:
Chairman Stafford is all wet.
The Freeport exemption comes as a subtraction from the 100% value of
inventory - leaving 60%. By Georgia law the assessed value is 40% of the
60% and so they - the industries which qualify, pay taxes on 20% of the
100% value.
If you also have the Freeport Exemption, how can you LOSE money by
adding 40%?
How can you LOSE money when you pay on 60% instead of 20%?
I was the first Tax Appraiser legally hired in Houston County.
Politicians know nothing about taxes or math. And they play on the tax
payers' wallets and checkbooks. God forbid.
Sincerely,
Bruce C. Atkinson
Recycling This Paper . . .
A Small Gift To The
Earth
Houston Times-Journal
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The awakening of memories of Monticello, politics
IT’S STRANGE how the mere
mention of the name of a town can
trigger memories and ideas.
A friend mentioned that he had
been in Panama City when the
hurricane warning was issued. He
said he left the night before the
hurricane hit and wound up
spending the night in Monticello,
Fla.
It was in Monticello way back in
1948 that I learned some interesting
things about politics.
I was handling publicity for Dan
McCarty, who was a candidate for
governor of Florida that year. It
was hot. This was before use of air
conditioning was widespread.
I sat with an old time Florida
politician outside the motel during
the evening, hoping to catch a
breeze once in a while.
I appreciated the opportunity to
share some of his wisdom.
A story I have written about
several times in the intervening
years pertains to a question I asked
him.
“What,” I asked, “is the greatest
asset a politician can have?” He
replied, “A physical disability...if it
shows.”
I went further. “What,” I asked,
“is the greatest handicap a politician
j^
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will be proud to cast my vote for James C. Bush
Back in January of 1989, Joe
Gossett, editor of the Valdosta
Post, wrote an editorial about
James C. Bush, who presently lives
in Albany. In case you haven't
heard by now Mr. Bush is a candi
date for the Second Congressional
Seat presently held by Sanford
Bishop of Columbus.
Joe's column sounded like a polit
ical endorsement when it was writ
ten five years ago, but at that point
in time he had no way of knowing
that Bush would ever be a candidate
for Congress. He was serving as
district coordinator for Charles
Hatcher and most folks thought
Hatcher would retire in Congress.
But then came the check bouncing
which led to Hatcher's defeat two
years ago.
In the column, written over five
years ago, Gossett points out that
even then Bush had earned the re
spect and admiration of some of the
most prominent leaders in the U.S.
House and Senate, both
Republicans and Democrats alike.
Joe called him "capable, dedicated,
caring, accessible and conscien
tious."
Gossett wrote about Bush's com
mitment to preserving the small
family farm. "In a time of the
weakening of family units, and the
growing increase in drug addiction
and crime among young people, the
family farm is more important than
ever in raising children to be pro
ductive, law abiding citizens who
recognize their responsibilities to
their country and to other human
beings," Bush said in 1989. Bush
was bom and raised on his share
cropper father's farm in Miller
Houston Times-Journal
Page 4A
can have?”
He said, “Real ability...if made an
issue.”
* * *
HE EXPLAINED to me that in
politics, as in life itself, perception
is just about everything.
“Not,” he told me, “what you
know or what you do...but what
people believe you know and what
they believe you do.”
1 have thought about this is a lot
in the intervening 46 years. And
what he said, in all instances, has
proven to be true.
I remember what the congressman
I met in Washington told me. “Up
here in congress we go home and
tell the people what they want to
hear...and then we come back up
here and do as we please.”
Perception.
We believe what we are told by
them. Few of us ever check to see
how they vote on specific issues.
Or who they align themselves with.
We take their word that Washington
is the enemy and they are fighting
tooth and toenail in our behalf
against that evil monster...when in
reality usually they are part of it.
* * *
A FEW days ago I read where a
congressman made an
County. "Although his parents
were poor in material wealth, they
gave James a legacy that was more
valuable than money, because they
instilled in him a belief in God ad
country; due regard and respect for
the rights and dignity of other hu
man beings; and the sure knowledge
that he could achieve any goal by
always seeking more knowledge;
sheer hard work; and by helping
people in need whenever possible,"
Gossett wrote about Bush.
James Bush has served in several
community related positions in
Albany, being a co-founder and
outgoing President of Crimefighters
of Albany. He has served as
Treasurer of United Way of Albany,
chairman of Goodwill industries of
Southwest Georgia, and has held
various top elected offices in the
American Legion. He is a graduate
of Leadership Georgia, received the
"Friend of Education Award" for the
Albany area, was named "Albany
Man-of-the-Year" in 1991, was the
first black elected as Chairman of
the Dougherty County Democratic
Party, and was one of the first
blacks elected to the Dougherty
County Commission in 1979.
Mr. Bush served in the U.S.
Army with valor in combat during
the Vietnam War from 1968-1971,
and remained in Vietnam on a secu
rity job until 1975. After returning
to civilian life he became an officer
with the Dougherty County Police
Department.
Bush is a member of the National
Rifle Association, the Albany
Chamber's Economic Development
Team; he is both a Rotary and
Criterion Club member. He and his
- Wednesday, July 13,1994 "Houston Tlmes-Journal
announcement that a federal grant
was being made to the city of
Warner Robins...and he was glad to
make the announcement
It reminded me of all those grants
we received when I was mayor of
Warner Robins.
There are many government
programs to benefit cities. We had
a department which filled out the
forms and made the applications on
behalf of the city. Getting the
money usually was routine once an
application was made.
When the grant was approved we
would be told by the agency
handling it...but warned not to say
a word about it until our
congressman or senator made the
announcement.
Sometime later there would be an
announcement from Washington
about the grant he had gotten for us
when, in reality, he never knew
anything about it until the agency
gave him the information to make
the annoucement.
Perception.
That is how the game is played.
And next time you read in the
newspaper about a congressman
getting a HUD grant or some other
such grant remember he probably
knew nothing about it until just
wife, Kim, have three sons and one
daughter, and they are members of
Friendship Baptist Church in
Albany.
"When school children are taught
about citizenship, I respectfully
suggest their teachers cite James C.
Bush as a man they should try to
emulate. It is no exaggeration to
describe him as noble, for noble
also is defined as generous, honor
able, great-hearted and high-minded.
And James C. Bush possesses each
of these virtues in ample supply,"
Gossett wrote in 1989.
I have had the privilege to sit
down with James Bush on two or
three occasions to discuss current
issues at hand and philosophy with
him. Mr. Bush thinks as the vast
majority of folks in the Second
District think. He is conservative,
he is intelligent, he is well-versed
on important issues presently be-
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To: Editor
Houston Times-Journal
P.O. Drawer M
Perry, Ga. 31069
IS
Foy
Evans
before the announcement.
Those agencies know their
budgets depend on goodwill in
congress...they make sure the
congressmen get the credit...and
those of us in local governments
always go along for the same
reason.
* * *
ONE MORE memory from
Monticello. The next morning the
national president of the Jaycees
made a speech at a free barbecue.
He said, among other things:
“I’m from Texas. We’re proud in
Texas to claim we are the biggest
and best...in everything. But I have
to hand it to you Floridians. You
are smarter than us Texans. No
way about it. We still have to
make our money by picking
cotton...and you folks have learned
to pick tourists.”
So much for the awakening of
memories from Monticello.
Bob
Tribble
fore Congress, he is experienced in
a wide area of activities, and he is a
Christian gentleman., James at
tributes his success to "old-fash
ioned virtues such as honesty, sin
cerity and hard work." Need I say
more?
I will be proud to cast my vote for
James C. Bush for Congressman
serving the Second District on
Tuesday, July 19. You will not
make a mistake by doing the same.
He is well qualified and will serve
our district well.