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PhOTOS BY BRAD AARON
mothers, which is even more of a challenge."
The shelter normally spends more on
kitten food than on food for adult cats
because kittens require more expensive
brands to meet their nutritional needs.
Couple that with the marked rise in the
kitten population, Garmon says, “and it is
just taxing our budget."
The AAHS will operate on $147,342.49 in
fiscal 2001. Athens-Clarke County allocated
$45,747 toward the shelter’s budget—just
$897 more than last year’s contribution.
Carmon says the shelter was hoping for
more help from the county this year, espe
cially given the 4.5 percent increase in the $4
million-plus fund that supports independent
agencies like the AAHS.
“It’s something I personally am very, very
frustrated with, especially when you read
that Madison and Oglethorpe are going in
together to build a shelter," Carmon says.
Madison and Oglethorpe Counties have
agreed to provide a combined total of over
$ 100,000 per year to operate a new animal
shelter built largely with private funds.
Carmon points out that Oconee County is
putting up $350,000 to build a new shelter as
well.
“These are counties with a lot less popu
lation than we have, so just the per-capita
contribution here is much less, and it’s very
frustrating to me,” she says.
The shelters for Madison, Oglethorpe and
Oconee will house both cats and dogs. In
Athens-Clarke, Animal Control handles dogs
and other large arnmals, while the AAHS
takes care of cats and smaller animals.
Animal Control is a city-county agency with
an annual budget of close to $400,000—
nearly 10 times the money per year granted
to the AAHS.
“Animal Control’s main purpose is, of
course, public safety," says Patrick Rives,
ACC Animal Control Superintendent. Rives
speculates that one reason for the disparity
in funding could be that dogs and other
wildlife pose more of a public safety hazard
than cats.
Commissicner Linda Ford says she
doesn’t know why the county allocates more
money for dogs than cats but says that as
long as the AAHS remains an independent
agency, it will have to compete for funds.
Ford says if the AAHS is interested in
becoming a county department, “they need
to bring that forth.”
Otherwise, she says. “The director over
there might need to write a letter or some
thing to the Mayor if they’re having addi
tional problems."
Right now', the shelter is counting on help
from the private sector. Food donations are
being collected at both Super Pet locations
(2301 College Station Road and 3190 Atlanta
Highway). The First Annual Washington
Street Festival has a yard sale and music
events which will benefit the AAHS on
Saturday, July 29 (See Out There on p.12 and
ABC on p. 16 for details.) The AAHS will hold
its annual dessert social August 17 at
Trumps downtown; “Catapalooza,” the
shelter’s annual fund-raising music festival,
is scheduled to take place this fall. (BA)
INCUMBENTS OUT
AND OUTSIDERS IN
About 25 percent of Athens-Clarke
County’s 39,135 registered voters cast bal
lots in Democratic, Republican and non-par
tisan primary races. The Democratic pri
mary offered a choice for Athens-Clarke
County Sheriff, District Attorney for the
Western Judicial Circuit and State Senate
District 46.
Sheriff Jerry Massey, elected in 1980, was
unseated by Athens-Clarke County police
officer Ira Edwards. Edwards received 4,826
votes to Massey’s 4,358. He credits his staff
and the voters for his success.
“I would just like to thank the entire com
munity here in Athens-Clarke County for
their support" Edwards says. “I’m looking
forward to serving Athens-Clarke County.
Not just some people, but all the people. My
doors will be open to hear concerns The
main objective is to make Athens-Clarke
County a safer place for all of us to five in, to
become more involved in the community. 1
think that’s what a sheriff needs to do ”
Edwards will not have opposition in the
November general election.
Former ACC Solicitor General Ken
Mauldin ran a quiet, no-frills campaign in
seeking the office of District Attorney. His
policy of not accepting contributions above
$100 kept him far behind incumbent Harry
Gordon financially, yet he managed to best
Gordon—who had run unopposed since
being appointed in 1972—by 399 votes.
“I certainly am very grateful for all the
folks who offered their support and who
went out and worked so hard," Mauldin said,
“all the folks who were on the campaign
committee and all those other folks who
were out talking about us and what we’re all
about. I think that personal contact really
made a difference in this race. I’m looking
forward to November and the opportunity to
really go out and get to know so many more
people, and let them know what we have to
offer."
Mauldin runs against Athens attorney Jim
Smith, a Republican, in the general election.
Perhaps the biggest upset of the pri
maries was Doug Haines' decisive victory
over Georgia’s District 46 Senator Paul
Broun. With 37 years in office and a $100,000
campaign war chest Broun appeared invin
cible. But Haines' tireless grass roots cam
paigning. bolstered by an endorsement from
ihe Georgia Association of Educators, paid
off with 5,797 votes, compared to Broun’s
4,621.
“I hope everyone in the community will
join me in expressing heartfelt thanks and
praise for Senator Broun’s 38 years of loyal
and dedicated service,” said Haines. “If
elected in November, I will strive to maintain
Senator Broun’s model of personal and com
munity service. I also want to thank and give
credit to the more than 100 dedicated volun
teers to this campaign who gave their time
and ene r gy to make this victory possible. I’m
happy to say that each of these volunteers
has agreed to push on for a victory in
November, and the Democrats in this com
munity have quickly united behind our cam
paign.
“We will not lose this Senate seat to the
Republican challenger. We are elated at the
► continued on next page
headed for destruction. See the next page for the result.
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JULY 26, 2000
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