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BLOOD ON THE TABLE
That Doug!
Always exciting.
And edgy.
Do not blame State Representative Doug McKillip
(Republican—formerly Democrat), Clarke, Oconee, Walton—
formerly Athens). Rep. McKillip has endured a great deal of
obloquy from people who feel that he betrayed their trust.
Merely because they elected him to serve as a Democrat and
he chose, once they had elected him. to become a Republican,
they don't own him.
He had good reasons for what he did. As he explained it
at the time, the difference between being a Democrat in the
House and a Republican is "the difference between a potted
plant and a seat at the table."
Rep. McKillip's new Republican friends in the Georgia
General Assembly certainly appreciate this difference. At the
same time, they know how vindictive people can be when you-'
betray their political trust, so they're making su-re that Rep.
McKillip doesn't have to face those same voters again. His new
colleagues appreciate Rep. McKillip's desire to be one of them,
and they are giving his district a re-do. Those old voters who
feel so betrayed can just go vote in somebody else's district:
Rep. McKillip will have lots of new Republican voters whom he
has not betrayed to assure that he is re-elected.
Everybody understands that this is how politics works. The
Republicans were really glad that Rep. McKillip joined them,
because, right before he did, he had
just been elected the leader of the
Democrats in the Georgia House of
Representatives. That's right: he had
campaigned for and been elected to
the office of Chairman of the House
Democratic Caucus. So it was a big
deal for him to turn Republican so quickly that he had to can
cel his victory celebration for caucus chairman.
That Doug! Always exciting. And edgy. You would think that
a guy who was waiting to see just how his new district is going
to shape up would be all focused on his own re-election. But
not Rep. McKillip. He wants to go the extra mile and show the
Republican hierarchy in Atlanta just how sincere he is with his
party-switch and that they can absolutely count on him not to
backslide. He is going to show them something they've wanted
to see for a long time. He is going to singlehandedly re-district
his hometown, Athens-Clarke County, so that Republicans can
get elected to the ACC Commission, even though they will run,
of course, as non-partisans.
Here's the best part of all, though. Rep. McKillip just
might also singlehandedly re-write the Charter of the Unified
Government of Athens-Clarke County and change the structure
of its representation by doing away with the"superdistricts"
that provide a backup commissioner for every district.
The supercommissioner structure has always been subject
to debate. Do we really need them? Would it be neater just
to have single-member districts and let it go at that, or are
citizens better served having every commissioner backed up by
another commissioner who represents half the county? When
our original charter was drawn, the founders believed that the
superdistrict idea was good for the county. One would think
that this important political and governmental question should
be taken up by another charter commission or at least by the
Athens-Clarke County Commission, with perhaps another refer
endum by our citizens as to whether they want to change our
form of government in this way.
Instead, because the Georgia Legislature has final author
ity on the organization of local government—traditionally
just approving what local people decide for themselves—Rep.
Doug McKillip gets to re-draw the lines and the government.
If he does mess with the superdistricts, he will coincidentally
abolish the positions of the two leading members of the com
mission, unabashed Democrats (in that non-partisan way), who
also happen to be thorns in the mayor's side. So, is it possible
that even the mayor of Athens-Clarke County may not protest
too much at this dismantling of the charter she is sworn to
protect, especially since the Republicans were instrumental in
her election?
If we revisit the play Little Shop of Honors, we can bet
ter understand the analogy Rep. McKillip used at the time he
flipped. He was the flower of the progressive Democrats, but
now he sits at the table with the corporate Republicans—out
for blood and demanding, "Feed me."
Pete McCommons : - ' r flaq;
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THIS WEEK’S ISSUE:
INMWS (is FEATURES
City Dope
| Athens News and Views
A new local economic development initiative, separate from the EDF, was announced last week
Google that Sh!t
Search: Alec -Baldwin
This ALEC is shilling for real corporations- not the Shemhardt Wig Company.
^EIMT
4
8
Art Notes 9
Mystery Triennial
ATHICA is reaching out with an exciting fundraising endeavor.
Film Notebook 11
1 News of Athens’ Cinema Scene
A 35mm print of Jacques Demy s masterpiece The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is being screened at Cine.
M1US0©
Threats & Promises 12
1 Music News and Gossip
The PopFest headliners. Schoolkids closing. Mass Solo Revolt Kickstarter and more. .
Upstart Roundup 13
Introducing Athens' Newest Talent
This week: Individuator. Star Slammer and White Violet.
CITY DOPE
4
TAXICAB VERSES
12
CITY PAGES
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UPSTART ROUNDUP
13
CAPITOL IMPACT
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GIFT HORSE
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COOBLOVIATE
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THE CALENDAR!
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ATHENS RISING
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BULLETIN BOARD
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GOOGLE THAT SHIT
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ART AROUND TOWN
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ART NOTES
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22
MOVIE DOPE
10
REALITY CHECK
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FILM NOTEBOOK
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CLASSIFIEDS
24
THREATS & PROMISES
12
EVERYDAY PEOPLE
27
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