This diary is a response to the call issued by
RenaRF for different individuals to offer a detailed information guide on Election 2006 for each of the fifty states.
Georgia is a state once dominated by the Democrat party, but years of corruption and apathy have reduced the party to minority status as the GOP has gained ascendancy over the last decade. For Democrats, as of late, it has appeared quite bleak in the state of Georgia, with the Governor, both U.S. senators, a majority of U.S. representatives, and the State House and State Senate controlled by the Republican party. Well...okay...it is quite bleak, but there is cause for hope. In a few short years the Republican party in Georgia has already shown itself to be incapable of addressing the various problems in the state, have reduced the state to a bad joke with various attempts to initiate and expand the teaching of intelligent design in public schools, and been exposed as corrupt merchants of greed with obvious pandering to various business interests. There is hope.
This is Georgia:
First, I would like to begin with various election 2006 deadlines and important dates. To clarify, the first date will be the Voter Registration Deadline and the second will be the actual election date.
Election 2006 Dates and Deadlines
Special Election...February 21, 2006...March 21, 2006
General Primary/Special Election...June 19, 2006...July 18, 2006
Primary Runoff/Special Runoff...June 19, 2006...August 8, 2006
Special Election...August 21, 2006...September 19, 2006
General Election/Special Election...October 10, 2006...November 7, 2006
General Election Runoff...October 10, 2006...December 5, 2006
Voter Qualifications
- A citizen of the United States.
- Legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you wish to vote.
- At least 18 years of age by election day.
You may not vote if you have ever been convicted of a felony or have been deemed mentally incompetent.
Important Note: A bill (House Bill 244), passed by the State House, which required special photo identification in order to vote has been delayed by a federal court ruling. This applied to any special elections held in 2005. If this ruling is upheld or struck down, I will be sure to include the relevant information in a future entry. This bill, supported by Georgia Republicans, would adversely affect minority voters and is a simple political ploy to further reduce Democrat voters in the state. Under current law, there are 17 forms of photo identification which are acceptable. The bill seeks to impose one specific photo identification card for voting.
Other voter information can be found here.
Important Candidate Dates and Deadlines
January 1, 2006: Earliest day to file and publish a notice of intention to be a write-in candidate in the General Election.
April 24, 2006 9:00 A.M.: Earliest day for a Political Party candidate to file Declaration of Candidacy to have his/her name placed on the General Primary Election Ballot.
April 28, 2006 12 noon: Last day for a Political Party candidate to file Declaration of Candidacy to have his/her name placed on the General Primary Election Ballot.
June 10, 2006: Last day for a political body to hold a convention for the purpose of nominating candidates to be placed on the General Election Ballot.
June 26, 2006 9:00 A.M.: Earliest day for an Independent or Political Body candidate to file a nomination petition.
June 26, 2006 9:00 A.M.: Earliest day for an Independent, Political Body, or Nonpartisan candidate to file Notice of Candidacy to have his/her name placed on the General Election Ballot.
June 30, 2006 12 noon: Last day for an Independent, Political Body, or Nonpartisan candidate to file Notice of Candidacy to have his/her name placed on the General Election Ballot.
September 5, 2006: Last day to file and publish a notice of intention to be a write-in candidate in the General Election.
Other candidate information can be found here.
Okay, now we'll get to the meat of the diary. The actual positions up for election and who is currently running. Now, I will only include candidates who have already confirmed that they will run for office and will include their campaign websites, if able. I will not include potential candidates until they formerly declare, and then I will include their information in future entries. I will offer minimal analysis, with more in depth analysis reserved for future entries.
Election 2006 Candidates and Elections
Governor
Sonny Perdue (R). Incumbent with below average approval ratings.
Cathy Cox (D). Popular Secretary of State, Ex-State Representative and Attorney.
Mark Taylor (D). Lt. Governor and Ex-State Senator.
Garrett Hayes (Libertarian). Computer Consultant.
Quick Analysis
Cathy Cox is the way to go. Her various election reforms and campaigns to halt predator businesses have not gone unnoticed in Georgia. Mark Taylor is too closely associated with the Democrat establishment, the previous Barnes administration, and has conducted a very visible partisan war against Governor Perdue. Perdue is vulnerable, especially among various confederate flag supporters who felt that he betrayed them after he was elected.
Lt. Governor
Greg Hecht (D). Ex-State Senator and Attorney.
Jim Martin (D). Ex-State Representative, Ex-State Human Resources Commissioner, Attorney and Vietnam Veteran.
Casey Cagle (R). State Senator and Businessman.
Ralph Reed (R). Political Consultant and Ex-Christian Coalition Executive Director.
Quick Analysis
This is to fill the post of Mark Taylor who is running for Governor. Honestly, I need to conduct more research into the two Democrat candidates, though the older Martin seems to be the more qualified and experienced (though, the Lt. Governor in Georgia has little power). The Republican primary will be interesting. Will Georgia Republicans choose the conservative Cagle, or the hardcore right wingnut Reed? With the Abramoff scandal tainting Reed, they will most likely gravitate towards Cagle. Some, unsuccessfully, attempted to get former Democrat U.S. Senator Max Cleland to run, but he declined. Others are now attempting to convince Democrat State Labor Commissioner Mike Thurmond to run.
Secretary of State
Scott Holcomb (D). Attorney and Iraq War Veteran (Fighting Dems anyone?).
Carol Jackson (D). Ex-State Senator.
Angela Moore (D). Medical Staffing Company Owner.
Shyam Reddy (D). Attorney.
Charlie Bailey (R). Credit Management Company President.
Karen Handel (R). Fulton County Commission Chair.
Bill Stephens (R). State Senate Majority Leader.
Quick Analysis
This is to fill the post of Cathy Cox who is running for Governor.
Attorney General
Thurbert Baker (D). Incumbent.
Perry McGuire (R). Ex-State Senator and Attorney.
State School Superintendent
Kathy Cox (R). Incumbent.
Carlotta Harrell (D). Substitute Teacher.
Quick Analysis
Kathy Cox has steadily attempted to introduce intelligent design and even attempted to remove the word "Evolution" from biology courses, replacing it with "Biological changes over time." Check out this site for more information.
State Agriculture Commissioner
Tommy Irvin (D). Incumbent.
Gary Black (R). Georgia Agribusiness Council President.
Bob Greer (R). Businessman.
Brian Kemp (R). State Senator.
Dee Dee Strickland (R). Farmer.
Quick Analysis
Tommy Irvin has held this post forfuckingever.
State Insurance Commissioner
John Oxendine (R). Incumbent.
Guy Drexinger (D). Attorney and Accountant.
State Labor Commissioner
Mike Thurmond (D). Incumbent.
U.S. Senator
None.
U.S. House of Representatives
District 1
Jack Kingston (R). Incumbent.
Jim Nelson (D). Methodist Minister and Army Veteran.
District 2
Sanford Bishop (D). Incumbent.
District 3
Lynn Westmoreland (R). Incumbent
Patrick Pillion (D). Businessman.
District 4
Cynthia McKinney (D). Incumbent
District 5
John Lewis (D). Incumbent.
District 6
John Linder (R). Incumbent.
John Konop (R). Financial Industry Marketing Executive.
District 7
Tom Price (R). Incumbent.
District 8
Jim Marshall (D). Incumbent.
Mac Collins (R). Ex-Congressman, Ex-State Senator and Businessman.
Kenneth Pawlak (R). Businessman.
District 9
Nathan Deal (R). Incumbent.
District 10
Charlie Norwood (R). Incumbent.
District 11
Phil Gingrey (R). Incumbent.
District 12
John Barrow (D). Incumbent.
Max Burns (R). Ex-Congressman, Ex-Screven County Commissioner and Army Veteran.
District 13
David Scott (D). Incumbent.
Quick Analysis
These races could pose a problem for Democrats. There are no realistically possible pickups available for Democrats and there are two races that are possible losses. Jim Marshall and John Barrow are going to be involved in two tough races and will need all the support available in order to emerge victorious. The recent redistricting has left Democrats very vulnerable in Georgia, and further strengthened the GOP.
Well, there is my kickoff entry. Later entries will offer more information, analysis and different websites of bloggers, news outlets and anything else that is relevant to Georgia politics and elections. Also, if I'm in a good mood, I'll post a response I received from the odious Ralph Reed concerning a previous controversial statement of his.
Whew! Now I'm tired.