Blog Topic: Raging Election

In the Loop: Early Voting Has Started

By Blake Aued | April 29, 2014 2:15pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

Tim Denson casts his ballot Tuesday, Apr. 29—hopefully for himself.

Mayoral candidate Tim Denson and dozens of supporters marched to Civic Hall to cast their ballots today—and so can you!

Early voting started Monday, Apr. 28 and runs from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. through Friday, May 16. In addition, you can vote early on Saturday, May 10. It's at the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections, 155 E. Washington St., next door to City Hall and across the street from Copper Creek.

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In the Loop: Today's the Last Day to Register to Vote

By Blake Aued | April 21, 2014 10:51am

Today is the last day to register to vote in the May 20 election or, if you've moved, to change your address.

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In the Loop: Three Candidate Forums Set in Oconee

By Lee Becker | April 3, 2014 11:25am

Oconee County citizens will have at least three opportunities in April to put questions in open meetings to the five candidates seeking two spots on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners.

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In the Loop: Commissioner Kelly Girtz Endorses Rachel Watkins

By Blake Aued | April 2, 2014 3:05pm

Grippin' 'n' grinnin'.

Athens-Clarke County Commission District 3 candidate Rachel Watkins got a big boost today when her campaign announced that Commissioner Kelly Girtz has endorsed her.

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In the Loop: Gov. Deal Is Planning Medical Marijuana Trials

By Blake Aued | March 29, 2014 2:54pm

Gov. Nathan Deal speaks to Athens Republicans at The Melting Point. Photo credit: Blake Aued.

Even though state legislators failed to pass a bill legalizing a form of medical marijuana that, alas, won't get you high, Gov. Nathan Deal is considering moving forward with clinical trials.

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In the Loop: Commissioner Jared Bailey, Candidate Sharyn Dickerson Launch Campaign Websites

By Blake Aued | March 25, 2014 12:52pm

Athens-Clarke County Commissioner Jared Bailey, who's running for re-election in District 5, recently launched a website and a Facebook page.

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In the Loop: Carter Loses Bet to Deal Over Mercer-Duke

By Blake Aued | March 24, 2014 1:12pm

Photo via nydailynews.com.

Flagpole readers generally tilt to the left, so many of you are facing a conundrum: You like Jason Carter, but can you really vote for a guy who went to Duke? Is Georgia ready, not for a Democrat, but a shorter Christian Laettner as governor?

We got a reminder of Sen. Carter's unpopular (basketball-wise, at least) alma mater—in his defense, he did go to law school at UGA—when Gov. Nathan Deal, a Mercer University graduate, tweaked him on Twitter after the Bears upset the Blue Devils in the NCAA basketball tournament. Apparently Carter owes Deal's staff some Fox Bros. barbecue.

More after the jump.

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In the Loop: Twitter's Take on the #DensonDebate

By Blake Aued | March 19, 2014 8:21pm

Photo credit: UGA Young Democrats via Twitter.

Mayor Nancy Denson debated challenger Tim Denson for the first time tonight at a University of Georgia Young Democrats meeting.

Maybe the biggest news was that Nancy, like Tim, is in favor of legalizing marijuana possession for personal use.

"I would like to see small amounts of marijuana decriminalized," she said. "This is the first time I've said that publicly. I've talked about it a lot privately."

[UPDATE: Nancy has clarified her marijuana statement, saying she is in favor of legalizing medical marijuana and wants the state to reduce the punishment for possession to a mere ticket.]

And Tim proposed a requiring stores to charge a fee to shoppers to use plastic bags, an environmental measure that's gaining steam in other progressive cities.

Nancy, though, said such a fee would drive grocery stores out of Clarke County and primarily affect the poor, not "the little yuppies who get in their SUVs and go to EarthFare."

Tim replied that businesses would keep part of the fee to offset any additional costs, and shoppers could avoid it by bringing their own bags or asking for paper.

We'll let the tweeters take it from here.

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In the Loop: Paul Broun Spends Tax Money on Debate Coach

By Blake Aued | March 18, 2014 2:34pm

Photo credit: WSB

Athens congressman and Senate candidate Paul Broun spent $33,000 in taxpayer money on a campaign consultant who specializes in coaching debating techniques. And when a WSB-TV reporter tried to ask him about it, Broun slammed the door in his face.

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In the Loop: Commission Candidate Herb Gilmore Launches Websites, Looking for Volunteers

By Blake Aued | March 13, 2014 11:04am

Athens-Clarke County Commission District 3 candidate Herb Gilmore has launched a website,Facebook page, Twitter account and Instagram account.

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