Remember, the next time you hear your state senators or representatives extoll the virtues of voting in our great democracy: they are lying through their well insured teeth.

This election is the proof. We were jerked around and redistricted again by the Legislature barely before the election and for purely political purposes, as usual. If we did not have a highly professional Board of Elections supervisor and staff, we’d all be wandering around with no idea where or how to vote. Even so, it is still confusing, particularly because a lot of voters will be asking for the unfamiliar ballots of the political party they don’t usually vote for.

There’s a lot of interest in our two contested state House races. In the Democratic primary, District 118 pits challenger and former mayoral candidate Spencer Frye against 20-year incumbent Keith Heard. I have endorsed Spencer, because I think he’ll bring fresh energy to the representation of Athens-Clarke County. Whoever wins the Democratic primary on July 31 will face the winner of the District 118 Republican primary: Carter Kessler or Chris Perlera. I have endorsed Chris, because he is bright and intelligent and is the son of Salvadoran immigrants and has solid connections to our large Hispanic population. Perlera will make an attractive Republican candidate in the general election on Nov. 6, though the 118th is heavily Democratic.

State House District 117 is the one with the drama. There is no Democratic candidate, because this district was meticulously massaged by the Republicans in Atlanta to construct a safe seat for our darling liberal Democrat Doug “Obama’s the Man” McKillip, who won election last time as a yellow dog Democrat and then immediately turned into a suck-egg mongrel Republican, as it were. As if he’s afraid he might change back at the next full moon, McKillip has wrapped himself in the afterbirth of the extreme anti-abortion movement by sponsoring legislation that inserts state law between women and their doctors at the most critical point of their pregnancies. Moreover, deftly utilizing all the money heaped upon him by lobbyists and PACs, he is busy portraying his opponent, real Republican Regina Quick, as a liberal abortionist and (whisper, whisper).

This is the same Doug McKillip who caused the redistricting of our local government by the Legislature and the re-writing of our charter, overruling the decisions of local citizens.

The only recourse left to Democratic voters in House District 117 is to ask for a Republican ballot and vote for Regina Quick—a straight-talking, honest, old-fashioned conservative, who says exactly what she thinks, even if you don’t agree. But she will be hard-pressed to win against McKillip’s Atlanta money and his lies. She will get a good vote among Republicans in Oconee and in Athens, but Democrats in the 117th have no contested races in the Democratic primary, so they can ask for a Republican ballot and at least have a choice. They don’t have to register as a Republican, just vote like one for a change. As a bonus, they can also vote in the Republican 10th District Congressional primary race for Stephen Simpson, U.S. Rep. Paul Broun’s opponent.

Among the other contested primary races, that leaves the non-partisan Athens-Clarke County Commission elections in District 6 and District 4. Jerry NeSmith is eminently better qualified in District 6 than Ron Winders (see Carl Jordan’s letter on p. 4), and Allison Wright, in District 4, is way ahead of David Ellison in experience and service to the community.

In State Senate District 47, might as well vote for the incumbent, Frank Ginn, as a known non-entity rather than the loose cannon from Barrow County, Danny Yearwood.

U.S. Congress 9th District is just a right-wing Republican truck jerk: close your eyes and take your pick.

Sunday sales seem to be a no-brainer. Why not have the choice to pick up a six-pack at Bell’s on a hot Sunday afternoon?

Straw polls: they’re non-binding. Let your conscience be your guide.

Finally, T-SPLOST is the only plan on the table that will start building bike lanes and increasing bus frequency and maybe even building sidewalks here, in addition to the usual auto-heavy stuff we’re going to get under whatever plan may or may not follow if T-SPLOST is defeated. I say take the money and pedal: vote yes.

See you at the polls.