Georgia ballot news
From Ballotpedia
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| Propositions • | Recall | • Law |
Here you'll find a collection of ballot news stories from Georgia.
Ethics panel rules against Fayette County commissioner
FAYETTE COUNTY, Georgia: Yesterday, the Fayette County ethics panel found Commissioner Robert Horgan guilty of three charges filed against him in light of a May 23 marijuana arrest. Horgan was found in violation of: not upholding the U.S. Constitution and state laws and unbecoming conduct. Horgan was found not in violation of attempting to solicit a bribe after he was placed in the back of the patrol car and asked "if there was anything that we could do to resolve this right here, right now!" Horgan now faces about $1,000 in fines by the Ethics Commission. Additionally, Horgan faces misdemeanor charges for marijuana possession.[1]
A month earlier Superior Court Judge A. Quillian Baldiwn ruled against a recall petition initiated in July 2009, a month after Horgan was charged with marijuana possession. Baldwin ruled that Horgan's marijuana arrest was not related to his position in office, however, Judge Baldwin warned Horgan that once the criminal case moves forward he might be forced to resign as a condition of his probation. A court date has not yet been set regarding the marijuana arrest.[2]
Georgia city places park expansion referendum on ballot
MARIETTA, Georgia: The Marietta City Council has recently voted to place a $25 million, 20-year bond referendum to improve the city park system. Discussions had been long and protracted, and only ended in a 4-3 decision; the seven-member council had been talking about improvements four at least a year and a half, not agreeing on how to split the money amongst the city's seven districts. If the bond passes, the tax rate would increase approximately fifty dollars a year on $200,000 homes, and twenty-five dollars a year on $100,000 homes. The additional revenue would go towards funding improvements for existing parks, facilities and trails; land acquisition; development of new parks; and general administrative planning and design requirements.[3]
At some points of the debate within the council, criticism and argumentation turned ugly. Those opposed to placing the referendum on the ballot did so mainly on the grounds that it is wrong to, or even try to, implement a tax hike in the current economic climate. Mayor Bill Dunaway proceeded at one point to accuse Philip Goldstein, who opposed the bill for these reasons, that he was not doing so out of concern for citizens, but rather because he owns a good deal of property on the town square that would be affected. Goldstein opted not to respond directly.[4]
Former Georgia congressional candidate to appeal ballot access ruling
ATLANTA, Georgia: Faye Coffield announced that in light of the recent ruling on Coffield v. Handel, she plans to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals of the 11th Circuit. In June 2009, Senior US District Judge Robert Vining ruled against Coffield, who argued that the state's ballot access laws are too restrictive for third party and independent candidates, citing that the law had already been upheld in previous court cases.[5]
In 2008, Coffield challenged US Rep. Hank Johnson for his seat in the November 2008 general election as a write-in candidate because she was unable to gather 15,000 petition signatures of registered voters in order to get on the ballot. Shortly after, Coffield filed a lawsuit that claimed that Georgia's ballot access laws for third parties and independents in US Congressional District races are too restrictive.[6] According to state law, independents must collect "the signatures of at least five percent of the total number of registered voters in the previous election in order to be included on the ballot."[5]
Sharpsburg officials review alcohol ordinances
SHARPSBURG, Georgia: Last month, Sharpsburg officials announced that they planned to review the city's alcohol ordinances. Specifically, city council members planned to review proposed rules and fees. In 2001 the city adopted an ordinance to allow retail sales of beer and wine. In 2004, residents in favor of allowing "alcohol by the drink" to be sold in restaurants. The city's alcohol ordinances will be finalized in July 2009. Sharpsburg's review has spurred reviews in other Georgia cities including: Senoia and Grantville. Some of the suggested changes include allowing package liquor sales; currently illegal in Senoia. However, Senoia Mayor Robert Belisle noted that if the residents want to allow package sales then they must present a petition. "It is not a council action that drives this to a public referendum. It has to be a citizen driven petition," he said. Grantville too is completing a review. According to city officials changes will include updating ordinances to reflect changes in state law. Grantville is the currently the only town in Coweta County that has package liquor sales.[7]
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