Denise,
I have not heard about the protest, and it is not listed on their website. Thanks for the info. Anyone who cares about the future of Fayette County who wants to thwart a bunch of folks with chips on their shoulder from setting up their own fiefdom in the north end of the county should attend and protest the protest.

There are reasons why this county is the best on the south end, and the absence of distric voting is only one of them.

The Fayette NAACP website doesn't mention the protest, but hey do have a link to a book signing at Barnes and Noble of an author that wrote
"...blacks must secure a racial identity free of negative stereotypes. The challenge to whites, on which she expounds, is to give up the privilege that their skin color affords and to work actively to combat injustice in society." I wonder how she expects white people to "give up the privilege that their skin color affords" and I wonder how the black community plans to "secure a racial identity free of negative stereotypes."

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Barack Obama is a human featherball -- a slick, smiling, substance-free empty suit who excites gullible dimwits by repeating the words “change,” “unity,” and “hope” over and over --

they have racial identity
its called give me,give me, give me
and ill only give you grief back

shadowalker

Nothing but hot air..

Ummm, let me guess......is it "racist" because we have the audacity not to be like clayton-crime county??

If district voting is so great there are 4,000 homes in foreclosure right now in clayton county. It would be easy for anyone who hates Fayette County to move there on the cheap.

Right now we all get to vote, lets keep it that way.

If you like Fayette County and the peaceful clean life we live here you need to make your voices heard.

Ask yourself has district voting worked in clayton, and fulton crime counties?? I say no.

What do you say?

on Thurs night as a counter protest.

I've spoken to several commissioners and they will stand their ground with the help of some public support.

for county commission...Jimmy the Greek's lock of the week. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Give me a break. You think no one reconizes the same letter cut and pasted into a new blog? That alone should remove you from consideration for any elected office - much less preach to us on how we should conduct our registration and voting process.

You may be the poster child for "No district voting"

What say you?

I am wondering why so many Fayette Citizens seem to be almost scared of district voting, Why? Will you not still be able to vote? Will the people running for office be any more or less corrupt? I really must not understand why this bothers so many? All the blogs say things about a growth explosion, where do you people live. Fayette is growing by the day and not really in smart ways or environmentally friendly ways. There are new strip centers, stop lights and subdivisions going in everyday. This county is quickly entering the category of used to be a nice place to live and moving to the category of urban sprawl like the dreaded Clayton County. And your question (as is mine) What does this have to do with district voting? I still have to say this is who we vote in to office, not where the lines are drawn! Why don't we vote for the person that maybe has the best interest of the citizens, all of them not just the ones in their backyard.

the "sprawl" that seems to be infecting Fayette County is a result of what happens when you sell government to the highest bidder. Who is benefiting economically from the war in Iraq {and you all can lay off all the discussion as to why we are there, since I did not address that here)? Who benefits economically by downsizing and outsourcing government(hint: it hasn't been the taxpayers)? This type of thinking has infected local government in Fayette County. You are absolutely correct in what you say about it being who we elect? Unfortunately, the problems have become systematic and changing how we elect commissioners is just about the only way we, as voters, can regain control over this system. Keep the faith

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

In most cases it's NOT who we elect. It's Georgia's zoning laws (that empower landowners to the nth degree) and the local zoning maps which were created in some cases YEARS AGO.

You can blame the local folks when they bother to rezone tracts of land.

Gosh do I have to teach you Dems everything??? If I help ya anymore I'll lose my independent status.

You ask some very pertinent questions, seminole085. Let me take a stab at answering.

First of all, do you even know who the five county commissioners are? Most people don't....and therein lies the crux of the argument. The existing "at large" configuration rewards name recognition and incumbency.

Move it up to a state level for a moment: do you know who the Congressional representative for Valdosta is? More importantly, do you care? I don't know who he/she is either, nor do I care. That's why district voting was implemented at the same level.

I believe the same situation holds true on a local level. "High Density Herb" Frady might be bound and determined to pave the entire northern third of Fayette county, and as a resident of Peachtree City that doesn't impact me directly. You can bet your bottom dollar it impacts those poor folks up there, though. But in order for them to vote someone out, they'd have to convince the remaining 4/5 of the county to see their point of view.

Local representation via district voting makes at least one commissioner directly responsible for the needs of his constituents.

I blogged about the broken trust between the commission and the people earlier today. 156 out of 159 counties in Georgia have district voting. Fayette is one of the last remaining holdouts.

Under the current system, the North Fayette residents who are registered voters can vote "High density Herb" out of office, same as a PTC voter can have some say in who replaces Horgan. That is the beauty of the present system. If you go to district voting, voters in each district will be disenfranchised of their right to vote for all 5 commissioners.

Whether it is 2 or 3 or 4 districts, I want some say over who is elected on county commission because no matter what district they live in or represent, they can still screw up and approve something in my back yard or worse they could gang up on one unpopular district representative and vote to put a landfill or something like that in his district. Then after they do that the voters in that district have no recourse against those that are "protected" by their district voters.

Let's just leave this one alone and keep the special interest groups out of power.

I don't know.

Regards,
Jeff Spicoli

Lady you dont do a thing to help me or fay co. open dialogue i dont think so honest yea right
stay in fulton county
stop trying to run fayette

shadowalker

shadowalker,
Do you live in Fayette County? What's up with the punctuation and run on sentences? Some of your postings are not clear.
District Voting is a done deal. It's on the way, like it or not. It's not a choice now. Connie Biemiller knows her stuff!

yes i live in fay co, im so very sorry i do not puncate to your liking, just not enough education.
and i must agree with some of the others i dont want this co split
district A. commish pushing to get something that is not in the best intrest of the county as a whole.
so if you dont mind your not my mom or my teacher,
if you dont understand read it again

shadowalker

You are delusional. This is what you wrote:

"I am looking forward to an honest and open dialogue with our local officials when I am elected to the Georgia House in the coming year."

Not going to happen - either one of those things. You need to consider that only a small part of District 66 is in Fayette County - the bulk of it is in Fulton County. Go there and pander your stupid idea. Oh, I forgot - they do district voting there and that's working out really well.

You actually wrote:
" I can see that Fayette County will be legally mandated to incorporate district voting."

How's that, babe? Discrimination? Violation of an actual law? Personal preference? You are not focused on the fact that Fayette County is not interested in your nonsense.

Where in the world do you live? Who do you talk to? Or better yet - listen to? Listen to me - go away and stay out of our county - we are fine.

Is this YOUR county? Are speaking for everyone? Like it or not, District Voting is here. The Commissioners are submitting a plan to redraw the lines because it is a law now. Get your head out of the sand.

===
The Commissioners are submitting a plan to redraw the lines because it is a law now. Get your head out of the sand.
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When did this "law" get voted on and put into effect? How about you cite that law that requires district voting? Seems like some people are wasting their time in trying to get district voting in Fayette since it's already a law, according to you at least. lol.

Talk about getting one's head out of the sand, or elsewhere.

NUK

There are only 3 counties that have not changed to district voting in Georgia. These lines for voting were drawn over 100 years ago. The rest of the counties have district voting. We are behind in the times.
United States Senate bill 1257 reaffirmed Taxation without Representation- all people, to be taxed, must be represented. Therefore your representative must live in your area, and YOU have a right to vote him or her out of office. That elected official is only accountable to you- so that YOUR voice is heard, not just the voice of the majority.
Say, someone in Brooks, GA (which is in Fayette)has no representative but they pay taxes. North Fayette does not have a representative either. Check out this website. Sorry you didn't get the memo. Your head must have been in the sand, too!
http://judiciary.senate.gov/print_testimony.cfm?id=2789&wit_id=6487

I'm staying neutral regarding the district voting in Fayette County. But honestly, did you read what SB 1257 was about? It pertained to voting in the District of Columbia and adding another congressman to Utah. BTW, it's stuck in the Senate.

Here's the link.

Bill 1257

Now tell Nuk_1 you are sorry.

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1257 sets a precdent. President Bush is ready to sign the Voting Rights Act (2007) as a Constitutional Ammendment, rather than a statitory law. Where this plays out in Fayette is that if Fayette Co. is taken to court over district voting by the citizens, then ultimately the GA Supreme Court will rule on behalf of the Constitution and the tax payers money in Fayette Co. will have been wasted on something that should have never been fought in the first place (because Fayette endeavors to be a democracy).

how SB 1257 sets a "precdent"(sic)?
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You're not getting it, and I'm tired of typing. Watch Dan Rather sometimes, he'll explain it.
In the words of good ol' Wikipedia.......In political theory, Democracy describes a small number of related forms of government and also a political philosophy. A common feature of democracy as currently understood and practiced is competitive elections. Competitive elections are usually seen to require freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and some degree of rule of law. Civilian control of the military is often seen as necessary to prevent military dictatorship and interference with political affairs. In some countries, democracy is based on the philosophical principle of equal rights.

Watch Dan Rather? Now that's funny. He retired from CBS 3 years ago. Why don't you take a time out and return with an answer later.
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I WONDERED WHERE HE WAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

i checked with my english teacher
all the !!!!!!!!!!!! does not take away from
the stupid comments you are making.......
also i am listing below puncation
,./;'!?:"

It's never been passed, so I highly doubt your other claim that the Fayette County Commissioners are right now submitting a new plan on voting in districts. I think you created some memos in your mind or need to drink a whole lot less before posting. Try Google.

as 9 Georgia Counties have ONE man Commissions.

The majority of the World's Countries are NOT Constitutional Republics either, does that mean the US is wrong?

So are you saying Fayette Co. is equal to say, Cuba? What are you saying? You're close to being right, we don't want Fayette to be like an Unconstitutional Republic. You are catching on quick! We want a democracy. D-E-M-O-C-R-A-C-Y. Can you say Democracy? I knew you could......
Those 9 GA counties probably only have 150 people in them. They are probably MORE rural than us. Imagine that.

It seems you need a little education in our government.

So I take it you are admitting your original claim was wrong.

Seriously, how do you expect to make Fayette better with this proposal? It must not be so bad now, as you have chosen to live here.

We in the United States of America are NOT a Democracy? What!?!?!? Where have I been, what happened when I was gone (or had my head in the sand as others seem to). How did we move to a dictatorship? All this over district voting? I need to go and read these links to these bills,laws and amendments and return with my head swelled with knowledge and Burka for the Dictatorship.

YOU need the education. Our government is a Democracy. What's the opposite of Democracy... dictatorship. You should have said "Thankfully, the US is far from a Dictatorship. "
I didn't chose to live here, I was born here.

Since you say we are a Democracy, which by definition, means majority rules, IF the majority voted to only have white males vote, you would be fine with that? Or if the Majority voted to ban "anything", I assume again you would be fine with that.

In a true Democracy, the rights of the minority get trampled by the majority.

Bless your heart. Someday, you'll understand.

This is getting out of hand. I understand the definition of the words Democracy and Republic. I was not taking them as literal as you. I was not adding a class of people to the statement majority rules, I was saying the one with the most votes wins which is a majority, right? So why is it such an outlandish and uneducated thing to say that the elected officials of our Republic are put there through majority rules (Democracy)?

I think you and I are on the same playing field now. However, "Nutt" is really lost. Also, I'm staying neutral on the voting thing.
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Well when they count the votes it is he with the most votes that wins. Which I guess is the majority of the people. So therefore majority rules. I am not trying to rewrite the definition of the word just saying that we do not live in a dictatorsahip. Do you not agree?

which is defined as a representative democracy. We, the people, get to choose those who we want to make the decisions. The decisionmakers are generally chosen by the majority (hence "majority rule"), but even that is not completely the case. You see, the guys who wrote the Constitution had this great fear of the masses, even though universal suffrage meant only male landowners back then. So they placed various levels of protection between the people and the decisionmaking. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Maybe "Nutt" will believe you.
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And I have no idea why you keep bringing it up.

Fact is, we are NOT a Democracy.

America is a Republic, a constitutional Republic of a democratic (one man - one vote) nature. However, we are not a democracy where the majority rules.

Now, tell "Nuk_1" and "spyglass" you're sorry
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They will get you down to their level, then beat you to death with experience.

I got a good laugh from these two uneducated jokers above.

You shouldn't be so hard on yourself and Cyclist, Spyglass. You'll see when it (district voting) happens........

In advance..I told you so....

In what ways do you see this proposal making Fayette a BETTER place to live?

We are already at or near the top of the Counties in Georgia in most measurable quality of life issues. I'm not sure there is anywhere to go but down in any changed scenario. But I've asked 3 times now, and I'm willing to listen to your answer. So far, the silence is deadening.

I don't have a dog in that fight regarding the current Fayette voting scheme. But your understanding about the US and our form of government is wrong. Even "seminole" acknowledged that.
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in your thinking that the US is a Democracy.

District voting yea/nea has ZERO to do with the other argument.

Fact is, I flat out asked you what would be better about Fayette if we did have district voting, so far I've seen no responses regarding this query.

The definition of Democracy is a government by the people, excerised either directly or through elected representatives.
Does this not desribe the US? It does in my world! But in your world it's dang wheres my Burka I gotta go out in public.

Please recite the pledge of allegiance for us. Or can you?
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Why yes of course I can recite the pledge. I can also read. The difinition of a republic is a government in which the head of state is usually a president.
So both are really okay if you want to go there. Cuba is a republic and Castro (until yesterday)was the president, then we also have The Republic of China. So I think my point is we are a Republic ruled by democracy. I do understand what you are trying to say and only can hope that you can understand my point as well.

That is exactly what the US is, and you should be very thankful. The rights of the minority are protected.

Don't come back until you've completed American History 101.

Prove me wrong. Cite your sources.

BTW, I did and just a little more.
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Where did you cite Sources? What sources of mine do you need cited? I gave several links already. Have a good weekend pondering this......
So how long have you been a citizen? Lost the manual already?
Don't peddle to hard.

Your sources were all wrong which means... OMG! you're wrong too. Come back when you have more time.
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I vote that Nutt can't vote.

Nicely Done!!!!!
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Couldn't have said it better myself!!

Yeah, I guess we need an Interstate and MARTA too! All the other counties 'round us have that, so why not?

Maybe we need Clayton Co's school system, and corrupt school board members. Or perhaps the $70-80 million shortfall in Atlanta?

What Connie? Are you working towards high density apartments and sewering the entire county?

Silly me. I thought we in Fayette were the only ones doing things right 'round the southern crescent.

Give me a friggin' break.

What does district voting have to do with Marta,Interstates,apartments and Clayton County? Either way you look at it it's still the people we vote in not where the lines are drawn. The fact that everyone here thinks Clayton is in such bad shape have you been to the Pavillion lately? Come on folks we are already like Riverdale and it just keeps coming. How many new stop lights have been erected in the last year? You tell me that is all about district voting, I stll think it's about the people we elect and what lines their pockets.
Fayette County doing it right in the Southern Cresent what a friggin' joke!!!!!

it is, indeed, the people we elect. Just look at the election results over the past, say, 10 years. Notice a distinctive pattern? Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Now that's a real reason to change a successful system...so we can be just like Clayton county. Mmmm...a fine example to aspire to. You go Connie!!!

"All of our neighboring counties have district voting"

worst. sales pitch. ever.

with district voting i see joe smuck the district commish busting
his hinie to just help his area and not have the entire county in mind
everybody would be working to put all there efforts into a small area
and that to me is not good work towards a better fayette. Biemiller
ive never heard that we ask you to focus on how we vote.
go away

shadowalker

It's been working for quite a while this way, and I hope it stays that way forever. Our neighboring counties have district voting if that intrigues you, and growth is out of control in all of our neighbors.

Keep Fayette unique in this regard. NO to district voting.

I understand district voting to be that a minority district can elect their own representative.

And any other kind of voting allows the majority races to also vote for the minority district.

Thusly, few minorities win election!

Am I wrong?

Do you want Alabama to help us elect our officials?
Or Maybe Albany, Georgia could vote with us in PTC?

What in the Wide Wide World of Sports does Alabama have to do with ANYTHING in Fayette County?

Once again, you play the DUMBEST man on the internet with verve.

Sorry I got too complicated for you!

of Alabama electing our commissioners for us to prove a point. He could have just as easily used the example of England electing Georgia's governors for us, since that would have been an apt parallel. And as for district voting not coming to Fayette County, well, that is just as much of a fantasy. At the point when the minority population grows to over 20% of the population, then the Voting Rights Act of 1965 kicks in and the Justice Department becomes involved. Now there would be a great headline for the Citizen..."Federal Government mandates district voting in Fayette County".

Whether the county moves toward district voting on their terms or on the Federal Government's terms is the option. Wouldn't it be better to control the transition than have the transition forced on us by some outside authority? Something to think about. Keep the faith
Democracy is not a spectator sport.

double post

but it is my belief that the Citizens of a said County or State should be able to elect their Council/Representatives however they see fit to do so.

If other Counties, or Fayette County for that matter, vote to change they way they elect Council's etc, I'll go along with it.

Alabama voters don't vote in Georgia, and Coweta County voters don't vote in Fayette, how hard is that to understand? When England appointed Gov's, England was our Ruler, we chose to do something about it.

Fact is, I do not want any Rep from FULTON County dictating ANYTHING to our fair County. You may disagree. I realize the voting rights act might disagree, but I'm willing to take my chances for a while.

but the fact remains that district voting is the key to local representation. It is not the commissioners who are the problem, it is the unfair system the under-represents significant segments of the population.

Do voting districts create "special interest groups" based on geography? Could happen, but the county would not be controlled by one or two powerful special interests. And one voting district could not dictate to the entire commission a certain course of action. There would have to be discussion and arrival at some sort of consensus. Is that so bad? Isn't that how our national government was designed to operate?

As for Fayette County becoming Clayton County, well, that would be up to the voters, wouldn't it? Do we want to create a situation where the various segments of our population are forced into an adversarial position rather than one where we all work together to tackle common problems?

And, though I know that it was not in your post, I truly think that saying that Democratic leaders in Fayette County have less than honorable intentions trivializes the fact that there are valid, philosophical differences that exist. Do you really want one party rule? Do not the voters deserve a choice when going to the polls? Or is it like it is with my wife, who always tells me, "When I want your opinion, I'll give it to you{LOL}. At any rate...keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Wasn't it settled by the Supreme Court years ago that minority districts must be created in proportion to their count so as to have representation, if not majority?
In other words: 15% minority deserve having the right to elect 15% of the officials! 85% of the majority, 85% of the officials.
That is of course within each district---not state wide.
That doesn't keep the opposite from happening but at least each side had the chance to vote for their side.
We had enough gerrymandering to avoid some any representation in the past!

Oh, I was sure Alabama voters could vote in Fayette!

Oh, by the way, as you requested: "you are crazy."

District Voting is Horse Hockey!

Let the system remain the way it is! This is just an attempt for the Democrats’ and the “Starbucks Crowd” to get a foothold in and on the County Commission that they could not obtain through traditional voting practices. I like the fact that our elected commissioners have to look at the county as a whole when making decisions, not just the impact on their respected “Districts or Subdivisions”.

District voting smells a lot like special interest. Don’t like the system, move out, lots of great homes for-sale in Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton, try MLS for once good places to live. I vote NO to district voting!

Thank you for your commint and your name
i see it being nothing but special interest tearing the county apart
and not seeing it as a whole.

shadowalker

Fear and Fayette are two things that are being very well mixed in this District Voting Discussion. All I know is that my neighbors Republican and Democrat alike do not live in fear. We have proven that by coming together and stopping the PSC Plant from poisoning us. We absolutely want Fayette to be a shining example of how true community works. You are right -the beauty of Fayette is low density and we all very much value local control which is at the heart of being accountable to ones district. I choose to live in Faith rather than Fear and I absolutely know that Fayette will not succumb to outside influences just because it will be legally mandated to institute District Voting.

you are not talking you are dribbleing to here yourself, speak mighty
woeful sayings and look good in print. one day we can sit back and say we stopped the biemiller from trying to control our home
she was fought off by brave citizens thrusting the faith of there
heart and souls infront of her rambageing hord.

shadowalker

Hope. Change. Kittens.
sounds nice, but there is nothing there.

We are not stupid enough to fall for nice words that mean nothing.
btw, REPUBLICANS SUCK TOO!