In the Loop
-
Dan Matthews Wins Watkinsville City Council Seat
Photo Credit: Lee Becker
Dan Matthews, a longtime Democratic activist and a fixture in the Athens music scene for decades, has won a Watkinsville city council seat, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.
Matthews, the office manager at Eric Krasle’s law firm, beat Mark Melvin 570 votes to 568. He was declared the winner Monday after a handful of absentee ballots arrived from overseas. It was Matthews’ fourth run for local or state office.
-
No, Athens Is Not on Fire
You've probably noticed that Athens is smoky as hell today. Nothing's on fire—at least not locally. Shifting winds are blowing in smoke from several major forest fires in Tennessee and North Georgia.
-
Trump Protesters Gather at the Arch
Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones
About 60 protesters gathered at the Arch Wednesday night to express their opposition to President-elect Donald Trump (it's gonna weird writing that for a while). They were joined by Trump-supporters counter-protesters as well as a number of onlookers, the Red & Blackreports.
Meanwhile, the Athens Banner-Herald describes local Republicans as "excited but cautious" about a Trump presidency.
Flagpole photographer Joshua L. Jones documented the scene at the Arch Wednesday night.
-
Athens Did Its Part to Help Elect Hillary Clinton (and More Local Election Results)
Most of us can empathize with this guy watching the results come in at Hi-Lo.
Most Flagpole readers probably are still processing Donald Trump’s stunning upset, the biggest since at least Harry Truman in 1948. If it’s any small comfort for local Democrats, you did just about everything you could to elect Hillary Clinton.
Turnout was higher in Clarke County this year than in 2012, with 4,000 more votes cast, and Clinton won 65 percent of the Athens vote, outpacing Obama by two percentage points. Trump won just 28 percent of the vote locally, six points less than Mitt Romney. Libertarian Gary Johnson won 4 percent—a bit higher than usual—and 1,137 people cast write-in votes, but looks as if third-party candidates drew more from Trump than Clinton, at least locally.
Still, Trump won Georgia handily, 51-46, which is about the usual margin we’ve come to expect here. I have thoughts on the national race—though I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t care, given the pundits’ record—and we’ll get to those, but first, some more local results:
-
Where to Get Drunk and Watch the Election Results
Whether in despair or in triumph, you will be drinking tonight. Here's where to do it.
For Democrats: The Clarke County Democratic Committee will be watching results at Southern Brewing Co. It’s free, but a brewery tour that includes 36 ounces of beer samples is $12.
For Republicans: The Athens GOP is hosting its viewing party at Locos on Barnett Shoals Road.
-
Reminder: Several Athens Polling Places Have Changed Locations
As you go to vote today (and you are voting, right?), be aware that several polling places in Athens have changed.
-
Anonymous Mailer Attacks Oconee County Commission Candidate as 'Career Politician'
The campaign for the open Post 2 seat on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners turned negative this week as a campaign flier attacking candidate Chuck Horton as a “career politician” who has threatened the county’s school system arrived in select mailboxes in the county.
The dark colored, six-inch by 11-inch flier does not indicate who paid for the mailing, but it lists as the mailing address the postal box used by Marcus for Oconee BOC, the organization of candidate Marcus Wiedower.
Wiedower has not responded to repeated attempts to talk to him about the advertisement.
Ben Bridges, the third candidate for the Board of Commissioners position, said Thursday night he had not seen the flier and had nothing to do with it.
Horton also said that 25 to 30 of his campaign signs posted on private property have been stolen or damaged. Several of the damaged signs were run over by a vehicle, he said.
-
The ABH Has Endorsed Donald Trump
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore
This is the man Athens Banner-Herald owners Billy and Will Morris think should be president.
And what a great endorsement it was.
Please don't put us in jail, Mr. President.
Page 82 of 235, showing 8 posts out of 1877 total, starting on # 649, ending on 656