Blog posts by Lee Becker
-
Former State Rep. Bob Smith Challenges Dave Shearon for Watkinsville Mayor
Blog: In the Loop
Watkinsville alone among Oconee County’s four cities will hold an election this fall, with two candidates competing for the mayor of the city and two more competing for Post 2 on the city council.
Incumbent Watkinsville Mayor Dave Shearon and Bob Smith, a real estate agent and former state representative, filed paperwork last week qualifying for the mayoral contest.
Incumbent Post 2 council member Connie Massey and Jonathan Kirkpatrick, a retired federal government employee, qualified for the Post 2 position.
Incumbent Watkinsville Post 1 council member Brian Brodrick also qualified, but he will have no opposition on the ballot in November.
-
Candidate for Oconee Sheriff Seeks Democrats' Support
Blog: In the Loop
Jimmy Williamson is running for Oconee County sheriff as a Republican, but he asked Democrats assembled at the party meeting last month to help him with his campaign.
“Anybody that wants to help me get my name out, and help people understand that I’m the most qualified candidate, I appreciate the help,” Williamson said.
The former University of Georgia police chief even asked those present to consider selecting the Republican ballot in the May 2020 primary and picking him because of his experience and leadership.
-
LGBT Lobbyist Praises Gaines' Syringe Bill
Blog: In the Loop
Shannon Clawson, lobbyist for Georgia Equality, told Oconee County Democrats recently that her group had a mixed record during the 2019 Georgia legislative session.
Clawson pointed to passage of a number of bills that she said served the interests of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities of the state.
She included among the successes passage of a bill sponsored by Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens) making it possible for “syringe services” programs to distribute syringes or needles without civil or criminal liability.
-
Three Stores Closed or Closing at Epps Bridge Centre
Blog: In the Loop
LifeWay Christian Store in Epps Bridge Centre currently is holding a going-out-of-business sale and will be the third store in the Oconee County shopping center to close this year.
Gap closed in January, and Kinnucan’s last month.
The second phase of Epps Bridge Centre—across the Oconee Connector from the initial phase—has only one tenant, Hobby Lobby.
Much speculation has centered on Costco as a tenant for that second phase, but Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chair John Daniell said last month that Costco isn’t coming to the county any time soon.
-
Voting Machine Bill Passes on Party-Line Vote
Blog: In the Loop
Oconee County’s three legislators in the Georgia General Assembly last week voted in favor of House Bill 316, which selects new voting machines and responds to allegations that voters last year were denied access, absentee ballots were not counted and vote tallies were incomplete.
The vote on the House bill was partisan, and Sen. Bill Cowsert from the 46th District, Rep. Houston Gaines from House District 117, and Rep. Marcus Wiedower from House District 119, all Republicans, sided with the Republican majority.
-
Athens Republicans Vote for Abortion Bill, Against Hate Crimes Bill
Blog: In the Loop
Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville).
Oconee County’s two representatives in the Georgia General Assembly cast their votes late Thursday night with the House majority in favor of a bill that prohibits most abortions after a doctor can detect a heartbeat in the womb and with the minority against a hate crimes bill.
House Bill 481, officially called the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, passed narrowly at 10:45 p.m. on Thursday with 93 representatives, almost all Republicans, voting in favor, and 73 voting against.
The bill required 91 votes for passages in the 180-seat House of Representatives, where Oconee County’s Houston Gaines and Marcus Wiedower are joined by 105 other Republicans.
House Bill 426, which would amend existing Georgia Code to provide criteria for imposition of punishment for defendants who select their victims based upon certain biases or prejudices, also passed narrowly with 96 voting in favor and 64 voting against.
-
Oconee County Moves to Keep Economic Development Out of the Public Eye
Blog: In the Loop
The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night will consider transferring the county’s economic development activities to the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce.
The action comes in the form of a memorandum of understanding that would convey $100,000 annually to the chamber and give it responsibility for providing economic development services for the county, including attracting and recruiting new businesses and industries.
The intent of the agreement, according to Board of Commissioners Chair John Daniell and County Administrator Justin Kirouac, is to circumvent the state’s open records and open meetings laws.
-
Bill Prohibiting House Design Regulations Passes Committee Over Oconee's Objections
Blog: In the Loop
A screenshot of Athens homebuilder Jared York testifying before the House Agriculture Committee.
The Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee of the Georgia House of Representatives voted 6-5 Wednesday morning to pass House Bill 302 prohibiting local governments from regulating building design of one or two-family dwellings.
The vote followed a discussion of more than an hour that was dominated by the building industry in the state, with speakers strongly favoring the bill and criticizing local regulations of residential housing.
One of the most outspoken of those who addressed the committee was Jared York, past president of the Athens Area Home Builders Association, who singled out Clarke and Oconee counties for criticism.
Representatives of the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia spoke against the bill, as did Lilburn Mayor Johnny Crist. Lilburn is in Gwinnett County.
Oconee County Commission Chair John Daniell and Commissioner Chuck Horton attended the meeting and asked to speak, but Committee Chair Tom McCall called for a vote before they could do so.
-
Meeting Between Oconee Commissioners and Legislators Focuses on Kemp
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Lee Becker
From left, state Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens), Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville) and Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens).
Brian Kemp, the governor-elect of Georgia, was not invited to and did not attend the pre-legislative session held late last year by the Oconee County Board of Commissioners for the county’s delegation to the Georgia General Assembly.
But Kemp’s presence at the gathering was strong nonetheless.
In closing the session, Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert said “the most interesting thing about this session” is going to be seeing how the personalities of Kemp, newly elected Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan,and House Speaker David Ralston “mesh” and how their goals “match.”
-
Democrats Make Slight Gains in Oconee County
Blog: In the Loop
Public Service Commissioner Chuck Eaton.
Republican Brad Raffensperger got 67.1 percent of the vote in Oconee County in the runoff for secretary of state on Tuesday, up just slightly from his 66.8 percent vote on Nov. 6.
Democrat John Barrow received 32.9 percent of the vote in Oconee County on Tuesday, up from the 30.7 percent he received in the three-way contest on Nov. 6.
In the Public Service Commission race, incumbent Republican Chuck Eaton received 68.1 percent of the vote in Oconee County on Tuesday, down from the 69.4 percent he received on Nov. 6.
Democrat Lindy Miller received 31.9 percent, up from the 27.3 percent she received in the three-way race on Nov. 6.
-
Oconee County Voters Cast Mostly Party-Line Ballots
Blog: In the Loop
Oconee County voting on Nov. 6 showed little variation by election contest, suggesting that most ballots were cast along party lines.
No Republican got more than 74.6 percent of the vote or less than 66.8 percent in Oconee County, and no Democrat got more than 30.7 percent of the vote or less than 25.4 percent, an analysis of the certified results shows.
Voting for the state as a whole showed that same pattern, with almost all contests being split, with about half of the vote going to Republicans and nearly half going to Democrats.
-
Athens-Area Reservoir Named to Georgia's 'Dirty Dozen'
Blog: In the Loop
The Georgia Water Coalition has named the planned withdrawal of water from the Apalachee River for an expanded Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir on its 2018 Georgia’s Dirty Dozen list.
The coalition labeled the proposed Apalachee River water intake “an exercise in overbuilding” and called on the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to turn down the current requests for the intake.
The Georgia Water Coalition is an alliance of more than 200 organizations, including the Greater Apalachee River Community, a group of Oconee County and Morgan County residents that organized this year to represent the interests of the Apalachee River.
“For the Apalachee, the aquatic wildlife it harbors and the people who live along and play in it, this proposed withdrawal creates other problems simply because it is super-sized for such a small river,” the report states.
-
Over 40 Percent of Oconee Voters Voted Early
Blog: In the Loop
At the end of early voting on Friday, 11,709 Oconee County residents had cast a ballot, representing 42.5 percent of the county’s 27,530 active, registered voters.
Four years ago at the end of early voting, only 24.4 percent of the county’s then 22,526 active registered voters had participated, indicating final turnout for Tuesday’s election almost certainly will exceed by a considerable amount turnout four years ago.
-
Hice Boasts About Strong Economy in Athens Visit
Blog: In the Loop
Congressman Jody Hice’s presentation to the Council of the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission last month was not billed as a campaign event, but it would have been hard to miss the political implications of the message.
In just “two quick years,” Hice told government and civic leaders from the region, the country has gone from having a “stagnant” economy to one in which there is “great economic news.”
Hice said that “tax cuts played a huge role, relief of regulations have played a huge role.” He also said “local public and private partnership has played a huge role” in stimulating the economy.
Hice didn’t mention President Donald Trump, the Republican-controlled Congress, or even his own re-election bid.
-
Wiedower Raises Most Funds Among Athens Legislative Candidates
Blog: In the Loop
Marcus Wiedower, Republican candidate for the 119th House District seat, raised more than $80,000 from July 1–Sept. 30, topping all six candidates for Clarke and Oconee counties' seats in the General Assembly.
Rep. Jonathan Wallace, the incumbent Democrat in House District 119, raised
$55,908.Rep. Deborah Gonzalez, the Democrat incumbent in House District 117, raised $68,381—more than $20,000 above the $47,987 raised by her Republican challenger, Houston Gaines.
Incumbent Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert raised $61,575, while his Democratic challenger, Marisue Hilliard, raised $33,459.
-
Houston Gaines Goes On Attack at Oconee Forum
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Savannah Cole/file
Republican challenger Houston Gaines went on the attack against incumbent District 117 Rep. Deborah Gonzalez (D-Athens) as soon as he first got his hands on the microphone at a candidate forum in Oconee County on Thursday.
He devoted much of his two-and-a-half minute introductory comments to criticism of Gonzalez, saying that “we deserve better” than what she has provided in her first 10 months as a legislator.
Gonzalez largely ignored Gaines, who stayed in attack mode throughout the evening, saying in his concluding comments that the choice is between “somebody who is going to go and yell resistance at every turn” and “somebody who is going to work to make a difference.”
-
Gaines, Cowsert Campaigns Are Flush With Cash
Blog: In the Loop
It seems unlikely Republican Houston Gaines will run out of money as he seeks to unseat Democratic Rep. Deborah Gonzalez in Georgia House District 117 in November.
Gaines, in his second attempt to win a House seat, was sitting on $169,450 in unspent funds as the election entered its crucial stage this summer.
That’s $145,951 more than the $23,499 that Gonzalez had on hand at the same time period.
It’s also significantly more than the $36,310 that incumbent Democrat Jonathan Wallace had in unspent funds for his re-election campaign in the 119th House District and the $10,746 that Republican challenger Marcus Wiedower had.
-
Oconee County Added Half an Elementary School Worth of Students This Year
Blog: In the Loop
Enrollment in Oconee County schools increased by 246 students over the last year, marking the fourth straight year that enrollment in the county schools grew by more than 3 percentage points.
Brook Whitmire, chief human resources officer for the school system, told the board of education on Monday that the growth in enrollments means that the county is adding enough students each year to represent about half of a K–5 school.
The Oconee County School District opened Dove Creek Elementary School on Hog Mountain Road in the far western part of the county this year to accommodate school growth.
-
UGA Prof: Abrams Can't Win Governor's Race, but Kemp Can Lose
Blog: In the Loop
The Georgia governor’s race is Republican Brian Kemp’s to lose, political scientist Charles Bullock, an expert on Georgia elections, told Oconee County Republicans on Thursday night.
“The Republicans should win this,” said Bullock, a distinguished University of Georgia professor. “This is still a Republican state.”
Bullock said, however, that he could imagine a number of scenarios that would lead to a Democratic takeover of the governor’s mansion.
Republicans have to be united, he said, and the disruption from Washington has to be minimal.
“If Republicans in any way drop the ball, mess up, then a Democrat could win,” Bullock said. “I am telling reporters that Stacey Abrams can’t win, but Brian Kemp could lose.”
-
Oconee Republicans Rescind Media Restrictions
Blog: In the Loop
The Oconee County Republican Party Executive Committee has placed severe restrictions on media coverage of its meetings, starting with the one on Thursday and running through the election in November.
Tammy Gilland, chair of the local party organization, said that media representatives are allowed to attend the next three party meetings but that they are not allowed to record the meetings in any way and not allowed to take any notes.
Gilland said the recording and note-taking prohibition “will apply to all media.”
Page 2 of 11, showing 20 records out of 210 total, starting on record 21, ending on 40
latest stories
-
In the Loop | August 27, 2019 3:24pm
Former State Rep. Bob Smith Challenges Dave Shearon for Watkinsville Mayor
-
In the Loop | July 29, 2019 1:03pm
Candidate for Oconee Sheriff Seeks Democrats' Support
-
In the Loop | June 18, 2019 4:18pm
LGBT Lobbyist Praises Gaines' Syringe Bill
-
In the Loop | May 21, 2019 1:24pm
Three Stores Closed or Closing at Epps Bridge Centre
-
In the Loop | March 21, 2019 1:49pm
Voting Machine Bill Passes on Party-Line Vote
-
In the Loop | March 12, 2019 12:44pm
Athens Republicans Vote for Abortion Bill, Against Hate Crimes Bill
-
In the Loop | March 4, 2019 11:46am
Oconee County Moves to Keep Economic Development Out of the Public Eye
-
In the Loop | February 25, 2019 1:04pm
Bill Prohibiting House Design Regulations Passes Committee Over Oconee's Objections
-
In the Loop | January 14, 2019 11:48am
Meeting Between Oconee Commissioners and Legislators Focuses on Kemp
-
In the Loop | December 6, 2018 2:30pm
Democrats Make Slight Gains in Oconee County
-
In the Loop | November 20, 2018 4:06pm
Oconee County Voters Cast Mostly Party-Line Ballots
-
In the Loop | November 15, 2018 12:30pm
Athens-Area Reservoir Named to Georgia's 'Dirty Dozen'
-
In the Loop | November 5, 2018 2:18pm
Over 40 Percent of Oconee Voters Voted Early
-
In the Loop | October 29, 2018 1:15pm
Hice Boasts About Strong Economy in Athens Visit
-
In the Loop | October 15, 2018 4:17pm
Wiedower Raises Most Funds Among Athens Legislative Candidates
-
In the Loop | October 8, 2018 12:52pm
Houston Gaines Goes On Attack at Oconee Forum
-
In the Loop | September 20, 2018 1:27pm
Gaines, Cowsert Campaigns Are Flush With Cash
-
In the Loop | September 13, 2018 1:31pm
Oconee County Added Half an Elementary School Worth of Students This Year
-
In the Loop | August 27, 2018 9:35am
UGA Prof: Abrams Can't Win Governor's Race, but Kemp Can Lose
-
In the Loop | August 23, 2018 9:18am
Oconee Republicans Rescind Media Restrictions