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Guide to the June 9 Election
Four Commission Seats and More Are Up for Grabs
By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com
n fter the coronavirus pandemic pushed
it back for a month—actually, nearly
three months, in the case of the
presidential primary—Election Day has
finally arrived. Here’s a brief overview of
the contested nonpartisan, Democratic
and Republican races that are on the ballot.
ICYMI, go to flagpole.com for more detailed
overviews of local races.
is facing opposition. Last year, Hamby
co-sponsored the $4 million anti-poverty
“Prosperity Package”—later repurposed for
coronavirus relief—and has participated
in planning efforts for downtown, Atlanta
Highway and the West Broad neighbor
hood. His challenger, Knowa Johnson,
co-founded the Athens Anti-Discrimination
Movememt that successfully pushed for
cash bail reform and an ordinance banning
selectively enforced dress codes at bars.
in the Democratic primary, police detective
John Q. Williams, hopes to capitalize.
But Edwards contends the sheriff’s office
needs steady leadership. The winner faces
Republican Robert Hare, one of Edwards’
former deputies, in November.
9TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Nine Republicans
are seeking to replace Rep. Doug Collins
of Gainesville, who is running against
Gov. Brian Kemp’s Senate appointee,
Kelly Loeffler. A couple of familiar names
include former 10th District congress
man Paul Broun—best known for com
paring President Obama to Hitler and,
more recently, giving away an AR-15 to
fight “looting hordes from Atlanta”—and
Andrew Clyde, the local gun-store owner
who sued Athens-Clarke County in a failed
attempt to overturn coronavirus shelter-
in-place restrictions. Democratic options
include Army veteran-turned-actor Devin
Pandy of Commerce, retired minister Dan
Wilson of Clayton and Gainesville resident
Brooke Siskin, who owns a small business
in Gwinnett County.
10TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Two years ago,
Tabitha Johnson-Green, a nurse from
Washington County, seemingly came out of
nowhere to win the Democratic nomination
against two better-funded and better-orga
nized candidates from the Athens area. She
is joined in the race this year by Andrew
Ferguson, a screenwriter who has aligned
himself with the progressive wing of the
party, with endorsements from the likes
of former state Rep. Deborah Gonzalez
and a recommendation from Athens for
Everyone. The winner faces Republican
Rep. Jody Hice of Lake Oconee, who has
trounced several Democrats in the deep-red
district.
U.S. SENATE: Seven Democrats are running
for the right to face Republican Sen. David
Perdue, but only three have any chance.
Sarah Riggs Amico, who has some name
recognition from her run for lieutenant
governor in 2018, is making her Christian
faith and labor rights the center of her
platform. The young documentary film
maker Jon Ossoff raised over $30 million
when he ran unsuccessfully
against Karen Handel for a
north Fulton County con
gressional seat in a 2017
special election. Teresa
Tomlinson says her experi
ence as mayor of Columbus
shows she can reach out to a
broad swath of voters, from
African Americans to dis
gruntled Republicans.
The Senate seat formerly
held by Johnny Isakson and
currently held by Loeffler
won’t be up until November.
Because it’s a special elec
tion, it will be a “jungle
primary” featuring over 20
candidates from both par
ties on the ballot together.
PRESIDENT: Joe Biden is the
presumptive Democratic
nominee, but Michael
Bennet, Mike Bloomberg.
Pete Buttigieg, John
Delaney, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy
Klobuchar, Deval Patrick,
Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer,
Elizabeth Warren and
Andrew Yang remain on the
Georgia ballot. President Trump is the only
name on the Republican ballot.
HOW TO VOTE: Everyone can vote in nonparti
san races, but voters must choose either a
Republican or Democratic primary ballot.
Those who choose a Democratic ballot can
also vote for the presidential nominee if
they didn’t already vote early in the post
poned March presidential primary.
Early voting is taking place through
Friday, June 5 at the ACC Board of
Elections from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and the
ACC Library, Miriam Moore Community
Center and ACC Extension Office from
10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., with extended
hours at all four locations until 7 p.m. on
Wednesday, June 3. Polls are open from 7
a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day. Go to mvp.
sos.ga.us to find your precinct location.
Remember, photo ID is required. While it
may be too late to mail in absentee ballots,
they can be dropped off in a box outside
the Board of Elections office at 155 E.
Washington St. until 7 p.m. June 9. ©
COMMISSION DISTRICT 4: UGA graduate student
Michael Stapor is challenging incumbent
Allison Wright. Stapor
believes poverty is Athens’ i
biggest issue and wants to s
pass a tenants’ bill of rights g
and address rising rent. m
Wright supports repealing ig
the two-unrelated-residents
law to make housing more
affordable. Her agenda for
a third term also includes a
Five Points business associ
ation and strengthening the
county’s newly passed dis
crimination ordinance.
SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 2: This district may
finally see some stable representation after
helps Susan Beacham feed her ballot into a scanner.
the resignations of longtime board mem
ber Vernon Payne and his replacement,
Frances Berry, in recent years. Kirrena
Gallagher is employed by Athens-Clarke
County as a neighborhood liaison, and also
volunteers at her childrens’ schools and for
various nonprofits. Mary Bagby is a nurse
and staunch supporter of former superin
tendent Demond Means who’s known for
sharp-tongued commentary at board meet
ings. She twice applied for the position but
was passed over. The current officeholder,
Antwon Stephens, is not running and has
endorsed Gallagher. None of the other four
seats up for election this year are contested.
SHERIFF: Incumbent Ira Edwards has
served as sheriff for 20 years. In that time,
he’s had his share of controversies, such
as county audit reports pointing out low
morale and understaffing at the jail, and
his decision to cooperate with Immigration
and Customs Enforcement to hold undoc
umented immigrants for pickup (which he
later changed his mind on). His challenger
COMMISSION DISTRICT 6: In
a race that’s gotten a bit
chippy at times, progressive
activist Jesse Houle is
attempting to oust incum
bent Jerry NeSmith.
Houle says NeSmith listens
too much to Republicans;
NeSmith responds that his
job is to listen to everyone,
and that his experience
makes him more effective.
Houle’s platform includes
free transit, free child care,
marijuana decriminalization Hannah Mapes
and requiring developers to
build affordable housing. NeSmith is more
of a fiscal hawk, and is also deeply involved
in efforts to revitalize Georgia Square Mall
and Atlanta Highway.
COMMISSION DISTRICT 8: Eastside represen
tative Andy Herod is stepping down from
the commission after 13 years, and it’s a
three-way race to take his place. Lawyer
and former school board candidate Kamau
Hull wants to increase access to govern
ment for underserved groups. Retired
educator Carol Myers is a longtime advo
cate for better transportation options and
environmental issues, helping to adopt a
bike master plan and push through SPLOST
funding for clean energy. Relationship ther
apist Andrea Farnham is focused on labor
rights and helping the black community
escape intergenerational poverty, although
she’s faced pushback lately for plagiarizing
an answer to a union questionnaire.
COMMISSION DISTRICT 10: For the first time,
three-term commissioner Mike Hamby
JUNE 3, 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM
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