About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 2011)
THE PERFECT CRIME Bipartisanship. Who knew? You may recall that Doug McKillip, after winning re-election to the Georgia House of Representatives as a Democrat, abruptly switched to the Republican Party, just after being elected to a leadership position by the House Democrats. The Republicans in the Legislature rewarded McKillip by carving out a new district for him that jettisons some of the Democratic area of his old district and pulls in enough turf from Oconee, Barrow and Jackson counties to create a supposedly safe Republican district. Of course, this new district has nothing to do with commonality of interests or the integrity of political boundaries. Doug's little district is a miniature Frankenstein of stitched-together parts that only a mad (political) scientist could love. Word is that Athens-Clarke Republicans don't trust Doug and that Republicans in Oconee, Barrow and Jackson are angry at being carved up to accommodate the slick Athens law yer who newly holds himself out to be one of them. McKillip's strategy rests on the probably correct assump tion that a year from now the average voters won't remember or care how their state representative district was created. They'll just get lots of campaign literature from that cute, tow headed Representative who vows to represent them well in the Legislature, where he holds impressive committee assignments and is a favorite of the Speaker. Doug will be the "incumbent,'' in the sense that he'll already be a Representative, while any body running against him won't have that kind of clout. Now, you know that local Democrats will want to take revenge on Republican Representative Doug McKillip. To do so, they will have to come up with a candidate who can appeal to voters in Oconee, Barrow and Jackson while turning out the Athens Democrats still left in Doug's district. Meanwhile, local Republicans and those in the other coun ties will have to make the decision whether to challenge McKillip in the primary, and they'll have to agree on a candi date acceptable to Republicans in all four counties. McKillip will have plenty of money to run against whatever candidates come out against him, and the more the merrier to split the vote. Money loves an incumbent and flows into his pocket without his even having to ask. Every big interest in the state that can profit from a favorable climate in Atlanta already has Doug in its budget. At this point, Doug looks to be unbeatable. He has pulled off the perfect crime, confident that his powerful friends in Atlanta will look out for him on that end and that the bother some formality of voting on this end will be eased by lack of attention and plenty of money. So emboldened is Doug at having got away with it that he's showing off. To impress his new best friends, Doug has taken it upon himself to redistrict Athens-Clarke County to make it more fair and balanced for Republicans. As of this writing, his plan is not public, but he has said that he might even eliminate our superdistricts while making the town safe for Republicans. Thus can our new overlord invoke the power of the Legislature to override local control and rewrite our charter. There is some slight confusion, because our mayor has already appointed a committee to effect redistricting, but that committee appears headed for a confused result that will prac tically cry out for somebody like Doug to resolve the problems. Add in a mayor who stands to gain if Doug does away with the supercommissioners who are her chief opponents and a daily newspaper absorbed with slashing the editors who could give it direction and coherence, and the gate to the Classic City is left ajar for McKillip to ride in.and take control. Oddly enough, bipartisanship is the only hope for both Democrats and Republicans. Both should work together to sup port a Republican candidate against McKillip in the Republican primary, with Democrats crossing over to vote for the strongest candidate against McKillip. It's a longshot, but the place to stop McKillip is the 2012 Republican primary, and it will take a bipartisan effort. Both Republicans and Democrats in all four counties have a strong incentive to yet together and make it work, overriding party and sectional differences. If they can somehow knock Doug off in the primary, then all can go back to voting for their own paity candidates m the general election and foi once feet okay no matter Bipartisanship. Who knew? Pete McCommons : • THIS WEEK’S ISSUE: City Dope 4 Athens News and Views A project manager is being hired to help move the river district vetting process forward. Athens Rising 7 What’s Up in New Development Can Athens learn to approach urban planning as another of its artistic endeavors? Grub Notes 9 Jam Session The Local Jam in Five Points serves breakfast and lunch in a casual atmosphere. The Reader 13 Things That Went Bump Jason Zinoman has written a book about scary movies that is valuable for cinephiles of all kinds. yysfl© Threats & Promises 14 Music News and Gossip Manray finishes debut album 1 Jason Scarboro leaves Dead Confederate! And more... Kuroma 17 ! Going in Debt to Sound Luxurious Local musician Hank Sullivant celebrates the the vinyl release of Psychopomp. CITY DOPE ... .4 ZUMM ZUMM 15 CITY PAGES ....5 TURQUOISE JEEP .... 16 CAPITOL IMPACT ...6 KUROMA 17 ATHENS RISING ...J THE CALENDAR! 18 AN EVEN TRADE .. .8 BULLETIN BOARD. .. 24 GR'JB NOTES ...9 ART AROUND TOWN .. 25 PERSPECTIVES 2011 ... ...10 COMICS 26 MOVIE DOPE ...12 REALITY CHECK 27 1 THE READER .13 CLASSIFIEDS 28 TIG NOTARO .14 WORLD VIEW 30 THREATS & PROMISES .. 1 ...14 EVERYDAY PEOPLE... * .31 ■ EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pete McCommons ADVERTISING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Alicia Nickles PRODUCTION OIRECTOR Larry Tenner MANAGING EDITOR Christina Cotter ADVERTISING SALES Anita Aubrey. Melinda Edwards. Jessica Pritchard ! MUSIC EDITOR Michelle Gilzenrat CITY EDITOR Dave Marr i CLASSIFIEDS. DISTRIBUTION & OFFICE MANAGER Nico Cashin AD DESIGNERS Kelly Ruberto. Cindy Jerretl j CARTOONISTS Cameron Bogue. Lee Gatlin, Missy Kulik, Jeremy Long. David Mack. Clint McElroy ADOPT ME Special Agent Cindy Jerrell CONTRIBUTORS Christopher Benton, Hillary Brown. Tom Crawtord. Gwynne Dyer. Chris Hassiotis, John Huie. Gordon Lamb. Ballard Lesemann, Kristen Morales. John G Nettles. Emily Patrick. Jessica Smith. Jeff Tobias. Drew Wheeler, Kevan Williams, Alec Wooden CIRCULATION Charles Greenleat. Nash Hogan. Jesse Mangum Matt Shirley WEB OESIGNER Kelly Ruberto ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jessica Smith ADVERTISING INTERNS Anne-Catherme Harris. Ashley Laramore MUSIC INTERNS Chris Miller. Brian Walter COVER DESIGN by Kelly Ruberto featuring a painting by Jennifer Hartley on display at Cin6 STREET ADDRESS: 112 Foundry St.. Athens. GA 30601 MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 1027. Athens, GA 30603 EDITORIAL ;/06> 549-9623 ADVERTISING: (706) 649-0301 FAX: (706) 548 8981 ADVERTISING -:ds@flagpule m CALENDAR COMICS EDITORIAL: editorWflagpole :om LETTERS: letters@tlagpole.com MUSIC: music@flagpole.com NEWS: ncws@flagpoie.com WEBSITE: web@flag(: Flagpole Inc. • r Flagpole Magazine ly and distributes 17 000 copies tree at over . . jrcut 1 Athens Georgia Sut npt st $55 a year. $35 for six months a (j) (fy CIRCULATION | VERIFICATION \ COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26 SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 MONDAY, AUGUST 29 TUESDAY, AUGUST 30 LOCATED ON TH( GROUNDS Of Eat Drink. Listen Closely. I TUESDAY, AUGUST 23 $5 Admi Comedy Befitting of a Gentleman & Scholar featuring PAUL GALLOIS TJ YOUNG, DREW DICKERSON, JESSE ROSOFF, MAH GILBERT, CRAIG HOELZER, ED BURMILA, WALKER SMITH AND CHRIS PATTON $5 admission (THURSDAY, AUGUST 25 SEVEN HANDLE CIRCUS JOHN KING BAND Tickets $5 adv • $8 at the door Athens Clarke Heritage Foundation Series PRESERVATION MAHERS FEATURING mark McDonald Free Admission • Open to the Public • Begins at 6pm Terrapin Bluegrass Series featuring NORTH GEORGIA BLUEGRASS BAND $5 Admission • $2 Terrapin Pints All Night! WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31 Van Morrison Birthday Celebration with W THE VAN MORRISON & TRIBUTE FEATURING GREG HESTER $7 adv. • $10 at the door UPCOMING EVENTS 9.1 9.2 9.6 9.8 9.9 THE SOLSTICE SISTERS THE 5PUTZ STRING THEORY MARK MAXWELL GROUP GRAINS OF SAND 9.13 JP& THE GILBERTS 9.14 DYRTY BIRDS WITH DANNY HUCHENS i ERIC CARTER 916 SONS Of SAILORS 9.17 THE ORKIDS. THE BEAUVILLES 9.20 HIGH STRUNG STRING BAND 9.22 ADAM KLEIN & THE WILD FIRES. UTTli COUNTRY GIANTS 9.23 THE HIGHBALLS 9 25 MEAT PUPPETS, HAYRIDE 9.26 SNARKY PUPPY 9.27 HOMEGROWN REVIVAL JONATHAN BYRD 9.28 GEOFF ACHISON& THE SOULDIGGERS 930 SAINT FRANCIS, VON GREY, JOSH DANIELS 10.2 MARTIN SEXTON, CHRIS TRAPPER 10.7 TIM REYNOLDS 4 TR3 10.14 CHICKASAW MUDD PUPPIES, BURNING ANGELS 11.3 JARON AND THE LONG ROAD TO LOVE. JOE FIRSTMAN 11.6 SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN IOUR WITH ED ROLAND AND KEVIN GRIf FtN 11.11 STEWART & WINFIELD 11.12 TIM MILLER BAND 11.16 CHARUE HUNTER 11.19 JORMA KAUKONEN 295 E. DOUGHERTY ST., ATHENS. GA 706.254.6909 FOR TICKETS & SHOWTIMES WWW.MELTINGPOINTATHENSvCOM OR CALL THE BOX OFFICE 706.254.6909 SEPTEMBER 2 @ TERRAPIN BREWERY DEL YEAH! featuring DEL McCOURY BAND CORNMEAL, DREW EMMITT & DANNY BARNES, DAVID MAYFIELD PARADE, WELFARE LINERS $20 adv. • $25 at the door • $50 VIP rmm PRESENTS AUGUST 27 @40 WATT KEVIN KINNEY CD RELEASE PARTY THE HEAP, SOME DARK HOLLER $20 adv. • $25 at the door AUGUST 24, 2011 -FLAGPOLE.COM 3
