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WHO WILL RUN FOR MAYOR?
If you think our state one-party politics is boring, try our
local no-party politics, where you can't tell the players without
a program. Take our mayor???please! Mayor Denson is a lifelong
Democrat, but she could just as well be a Republican and was
elected in the non-partisan election with the enthusiastic sup
port of local Republicans. Ms. Denson has presided over her
first term as a don't-do-anything, don't-rock-the-boat mayor,
and now she's running for a second term with more of the
same. If she wins, as of course she probably will, that means
our savvy, progressive little city will have endured eight years
of standing still, of not addressing any major problems or pro
posing any major initiatives other than routine street paving
and being sure that innovations like the Blue Heron river dis
trict or the downtown master plan don't go anywhere.
The most amazing aspect of Mayor Denson's first term is
that the Athens-Clarke County Commission, which was by-
and-large progressive when she was elected, has basically just
dozed off into complacency. Instead of revolting against the
do-nothing mayor, they have become a
do-nothing commission. Kelly Girtz and
Mike Hamby, who supported Mayor Denson's
opponent, have calmed down since she took
the oath of office. The political speculation
at that time was over which one, Hamby or
Girtz, would be running against Denson
in 2014. Turned out to be neither.
If the court-ordered May non
partisan election schedule holds up,
that means just a few months until
elections here. Not much time for
anybody to organize a campaign,
but here's hoping that somebody
It? will. As a community, we need a
. choice between Nancy Denson and a
viable candidate who can present
an alternative and cause us to
discuss whether four more years
of purposeful inaction is what we
want. We need to hear from some
body who has better ideas and is willing to put them out there
for us to consider. What we basically need is a Daylight Savings
candidate who will spring forward instead of falling back.
Maybe Ryan Berry, the only announced challenger so far, can
mount an effective campaign in spite of his inexperience in
government. His heart is certainly in the right place.
Sure, that's a big commitment from anybody, and there
aren't that many people around who have the requisite knowl
edge and experience to mount a serious campaign for mayor.
But come on, folks: if you're out there, and you have the quali
fications to be a candidate, please consider running for mayor.
Even if you don't win (and you know the odds are against
unseating an opponent???though it has been done here), you
will provide a valuable forum for us to discuss what kind of city
we want Athens to be. Jump in! Save us from our slumber.
Meanwhile, two, at least, of our commissioners are retiring.
The commission will never be the same without George Maxwell
and Kathy Hoard. They have given a definite personality to the
group, and they have worked hard on behalf of their constitu
ents. Nobody has announced yet to run in George's District
3, but Kathy's District 7 already has a solid contender in Five
Points businesswoman Diane Bell, who was ready to announce
her candidacy when Kathy announced her retirement.
Speaking of discussing issues, Democratic State Senator
Jason Carter's entry into the governor's race ensures a forum
for talking about Gov. Nathan Deal's disastrous performance in
regard to education and health care, not to mention transpor
tation and job creation. Carter is, of course, following in the
footsteps of his grandfather, Jimmy Carter, who also ran for
governor as a little-known state senator. Though he lost that
first race, he came back the next time and won. Jason Carter
has nothing to lose, and just by his candidacy he will focus
the spotlight of reason on our sorry state politics. He'll also
just by his presence help the campaign of fellow Democrat and
famous-name bearer Michelle Nunn, who is running to replace
Saxby Chambliss in the U.S. Senate against a host of right-
wing radicals.
Let's hope things heat up here at home, too.
Pete McCommons editor@flagpole.com
ON FLAGPOLE.COM
from the blogs
^ HOMEDRONE: Local bands Vincas and The Powder
Room had a bunch of their gear stolen on tour. Find
out how you can help.
& IN THE LOOP: Watch an AFL-CIO ad attacking
Rep. Paul Broun for calling undocumented immi
grants ???criminals.???
J* HOMEDRONE: Hear the premiere of the new solo
album from Werewolves??? Wyatt Strother.
ATHENS POWER
1. Caroline Bailey
2. Aaron Murray
3. Diane Bell
4. Jim McKay
5. Jason Carter X
7 facebook feedback ^
???Legitimize it? Nope. The thing is, usually
we???re told that it???s our responsibility to ???get
over it.??? This is a way of showing that it???s
everyone else???s responsibility to stop doing
these things.???
??? Ecil Haisty
Comments are up and running on flagpole.com! Play nice.
EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pete McCommons
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(see feature story on p.6)
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VOLUME 27
ISSUE NUMBER 45
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