The Citizen Newsletter

The Conservative Voice of Henry County

Issue # 359

July 28, 2012

Morris, Snapping Shoals EMC incumbents win by landslide

Henry Herald
HTTP://WWW.HENRYHERALD.COM/NEWS/2012/JUL/26/MORRISSNAPPING -SHOALS-EMC-INCUMBENTS-WIN-LANDSLID/

In This Issue:
Page Feature 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9-11 10 11 EMC INCUMBENTS WIN LANDSLIDE

CONYERS Members of the Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) have returned to office three incumbents in a rare contested election to the agency s 11-member board of directors. Gene Morris of Henry County, Walter Johnson of DeKalb County, and Anthony Norton of Rockdale, were being challenged because of their support to build the coal-fire power Plant Washington. Kaye Shipley, also of Henry County, Albert Roesel of Newton County, and Cheryl Mathis of DeKalb County form the group challenging the three. Voting took place at the cooperative s annual meeting Thursday in Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers. In the District 2 Rockdale post, 2,400 ballots were cast, with Norton beating Roesel 2,157 to 224. Nineteen ballots were voided. In the District 3 DeKalb County Post, Johnson garnered 2,099 votes to Cheryl Moore-Mathis 280. Twenty-one votes were voided. In the District 4 Henry County race, 2,392 ballots were cast, with Morris getting 2,082 votes to Shipley s 300. Ten were voided. Newton County District 1 representative Pete Knox ran unopposed. The Snapping Shoals election was a David-andGoliath struggle between huge environmental groups with a hidden anti-coal agenda, and unlimited budgets, and the directors of a hometown electrical co-op that happens to have some of the lowest power rates in Georgia, along with very reliable service, said Morris, who has been an unofficial spokesman for the incumbents. Just like the story in the Bible, David flung his stone and the giant fell.

An Ugly Campaign Mailer

Seen on Facebook Postmaster Dan Davis Retires Community Paper Shred Henry Tax Hike: Slanted News

Ken Sherman for Henry BoC

Kent Kingsley for Congress Propaganda vs. Truth Larry Stanley for Henry BoE

Campaign Ads

Herman Cain Endorses Steve Davis Vote NO to T-SPLOST

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ELECTION DAY is Tuesday, July 31st

Find your voting precinct here: HTTP://WWW.CO.HENRY.GA. US/REGISTRARS/VOTINGPRECINCTS.SHTML

An Ugly Mailer
By TheDoctor I received an ugly political mailer today in my afternoon mail. The mailer said we need BJ Mathis as chairman. Why? The mailer spoke about Tommy Smith one of her opponents about him being a quitter. She said that in tough times it calls for tough leadership not quitters. She said she was putting conservative values into practice while Tommy Smith was giving up. There have been many things that Ms. Mathis has quit on herself. 1. She left the ministry to go into political office, and for what real need? 2. She quit on citizens rights when eminent domain was used to by Nash Farm. 3. She and the commission have spent the taxpayers money very liberally: buying Nash Farm, the golf course, the airport and many other expenditures that are not conservative. 4. She dissolved a ministry that was involved in helping others lives through the court system. 5. She quit on a friendship because she could not accept criticism from the friend on a delicate matter. 6. She quit on the visionary of the Veterans Wall of Honor because she could not control the person. 7. She cut $20 million from the budget because there are not enough tax revenue coming in to support the budget. 8. She began on the commission and helped to spread neighborhoods and developments all over the county that have failed because you can t let something grow without any controls. 9. She quit on her home district to move to a more elite home. 10. She relieved 57 employees of their jobs and then a week later bought an airport. She quit on them. She has quit on many things since taking office the first time around. So, don t talk about quitting. I myself have quit many things because I did not see them as being of any worth to the betterment of society. There is one thing I will never quit, and that is my calling to the Lord Jesus Christ who you cannot fool.
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Seen on Facebook

And this:
I have a word about the candidates - really about their supporters. Some in our community are shallow,
short people. Like Randy Newman said, they have no reason to live [here] except to throw slings and arrows and make personal attacks when they have nothing positive to say about their own candidates.

The public square is not a place to vent personal anxieties over personal failures, or to try to drag anyone else to your lower plateau. We must focus on the greater good and the betterment of our government. For conservatives that means smaller government and lower taxes. We must stay on topic and not allow peabrained social elitists to divert the conversation.

That's my 'word for the day.' Now please make educated choices and vote your principles.

Article of interest
Postmaster Dan Davis of the McDonough Post Office retires on July 31, 2012, with 45 years cumulative military and U. S. Postal Service. Incoming Officer In-Charge is Postmaster Jerry Sparks effective 07/24/12. Jerry has a long and proven history as a
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Postmaster and Manager in many past positions. He is originally from Alabama, and served in Post Office Operations, Retail/Marketing, in Washington D. C. and the Atlanta District. Mr. Jerry Sparks has served as OIC in Griffin, but currently is Postmaster @ Hampton, Georgia.
Submitted by Jennifer Sparks

Do you worry about identity theft? Do you have lots of old paperwork around the house or office? The answer to both questions is the upcoming City of McDonough Community Paper Shred! On Saturday, August 18, from 9am-1pm, SAFE SHRED will be on site at 305 Racetrack Road. As the company name indicates, SafeShred s bottom-line objective is to ensure the safety of organizations information and provide complete peace of mind. Our friendly drivers shred your documents directly on-site, ensuring an unbroken chain of custody for your most secure documents. As a zero landfill organization , SafeShred recycles 100% of its collected material and is committed to planet preservation and environmental initiatives. Our eco-friendly mobile shredding trucks provide the industry s best and most eco-friendly alternative for on-site mobile shredding. There is no limit to the amount of paper that you may bring for shredding. However, if you have a large quantity, you will be asked to park and unload. Otherwise, the process will be a drive thru. City of McDonough officers will be on site to keep the traffic moving as smoothly as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Mayor Copeland s office by e-mail, BCOPELAND@MCDONOUGH-GA.GOV, or phone, 770-957-3915. Distribution for: City of McDonough/Mayor Billy Copeland

Hearings reveal support for tax hike

Henry Herald HTTP://WWW.HENRYHERALD.COM/NEWS/2012/JUL/26/HEARINGS-REVEAL-SUPPORT-TAX-HIKE/ Commissioners recently announced a proposed millage increase of 8.15 percent over the rollback millage rate of 13.595, said county spokesperson, Julie Hoover-Ernst.

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The Hearings, attended by tax hike supporters, reveal the bigger-government tax & spend segment of our county. The headline is biased. The article is clearer when we read WHO supports higher taxes. ~ The Citizen The decision was made last week and well publicized. Public meetings are a legal requirement, and they will not change the decision. We watched BJ scold Brian, which probably gave Brian some votes. Warren made the motion and that may cost him some votes. I praise the board for speaking their minds and voting their principles. We will see the public's reaction on Tuesday.

Tommy Kennedy also addressed certain county purchases, which have come under fire in recent years. Those purchases include the Cotton Fields Golf Course, acquired in 2007, and the Atlanta South Regional Airport, which Henry County bought from Clayton County in 2011. Are those good things for the community in the long run? Yes, said Kennedy. But in the short run, you take the heat. A District III County Commission candidate, Sandra Vincent, expressed support for the millage adjustment. It is critical to Henry County, said Vincent, who is unopposed for the Democratic nomination in district race. To not do this would be irresponsible.

Judgment Day

Tuesday, July 31st

Vote Your principles

A Recommendation for Henry County s Third District:

Ken Sherman for Commissioner

Albert Einstein was quoted as saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing, over and over, yet expecting a different result or outcome. I lived in the 3rd District of Henry County since 1989. The county was still considered quaint and rural at that point. Since that time, I have seen an explosion of poorly controlled, poorly planned, unexpected, and ~5~

unchartered growth. The end result of past mismanagement is a county with one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation, (now) a $12M budget deficit, and one of the highest property tax rates in Georgia. The 3rd District has since been adversely affected because of a last minute re-zoning (or reclassifying) of approximately 4,200 rural acres of land to higher density/mixed use development. This was before the real estate market crash. Now, the Board of Commissioners is considering raising the millage rate, essentially punishing the citizens for its lack of foresight and effective planning. As a result of more of the same governing in our beautiful county over the past 15 or so years (and especially over the past 8), I have found Einstein s quote to be on the mark. Why should we even hope for quantum leap improvements on how our county is governed if we continue to vote in more of the same breed of candidate?? The answer to this question is the reason why I am personally endorsing Ken Sherman as our next 3rd District Commissioner. Ken s platform is straightforward. It addresses the difficult issues facing Henry County. He has the experience, talent, and integrity to make his sound conservative plans work for our district. It is time for new leadership, and it is time for a new, yet proven, leader for the 3rd District. This is Ken s plan for a better quality of life for us all: FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: Ken has a proven track record of fiscal responsibility. His nationwide family business competes in an extremely competitive market: aviation. His company runs on a budget, his family runs on a budget, and the county must be managed based on a budget and operate within it. We cannot keep taking from the rainy day fund. It is now down to $31 million versus $52 million just a few years ago. The county s bond rating drops when our reserve falls below $27 million, which will result in increased cost for taxpayers. Non-critical spending must end, and improved management of existing assets must be implemented! CONSERVATIVE VALUES: Ken is a true conservative. He believes government should be involved only when the services needed by our citizens cannot be provided by private businesses at an affordable price. The county government s primary focus should be on public safety, roads/transportation, land/asset management, and code enforcement. He believes that government should not be the source of taking care of us from the cradle to the grave. We must take personal responsibility for ourselves and our families. GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND ETHICS: It is the responsibility of the Board of Commissioners to set the highest possible standards of ethical behavior in decision making. Full day-to-day business disclosure is the key, and county business (with the exception of personnel matters) must be conducted in the open. It can be done without exposing the county to needless litigation, expense, or embarrassment. Ken will send the 3rd district, citizen-volunteer developed, Henry County Unified Code of Ethics (HCC UCE), which is a sound basis for creating a County Ethics Board, to the State Attorney General s office for its review to ensure that every aspect is legally sound and not in conflict with existing laws. (Suggestion: Ken you many need to state up front if you support it and will work to get it enacted if it passes muster with the AG s office?!?) OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY: Ken will insist that all programs funded by the county be researched for need, cost effectiveness, and potential for consolidation. He will consider privatizing if it is a more fiscally sound option. EXPANDING OUR TAX BASE: Henry County must become attractive to new industries and businesses! Ken is accomplished at forging new relationships built upon trust and mutual understanding; however, without the proper infrastructure and incentives solidly in place, attracting new businesses will continue to be difficult. We can no longer depend on our homeowners to support our growing requirements for road maintenance and public safety needs. We must increase our tax base by attracting new industries to our county. COUNTY EMPLOYEES: We must make the necessary cuts and changes to the county budget so we can pay our law enforcement, fire, emergency workers, and educators a wage that is competitive with other counties our size. This can be accomplished by a step system of wage increases. The pay system must be insulated and funded so that it survives the economic downturns we have been experiencing for the past several years. A community in danger of losing these key community servants sits on the brink of decline. ACCOUNTABILITY: Ken promises to listen and respond to ALL OF HIS CONSTITUENTS. Ken does not have any political baggage or cronies to support, and he will not ignore any particular citizen or group. Not only will ~6~

Ken listen and respond, he will provide regular feedback and host interactive sessions with the citizens of the 3rd District. The frustration of trying to get in contact with your commissioner, or having your suggestions and needs ignored will be a thing of the past. Ken understands that sound decisions factor in the perspective and ideas of many not a few. To reach Ken: e-mail: kensherman1@charter.net Facebook: facebook.com/kenforhenryresponsibility Website: www.kenshermanforhenry.com Cell: 678-327-9303

Kent Kingsley for Congress, District 3

The July 31st primary is fast approaching, if you have not voted yet Kent Kingsley would appreciate your vote for U.S. Congress, 3rd District. He will represent you well in Washington. On the issues, he is for a balanced budget amendment, no new debt, pay off existing debt. Enact Fair Tax, repeal 16th amendment, abolish IRS. He is a strong constitutional conservative, lifetime proponent of 2nd and 10th amendment and supports term limits.
Endorsement by Cal Beverly, owner and editor of Fayette County s The Citizen newspaper: Lynn eyes U.S. Senate

The odd thing is that I support a lot of Rep. Lynn Westmoreland s positions. But after years of being on the public payroll, Lynn hasn t proved that he can move beyond being a reliable NO vote to oppose the Democrats and a reliable YES vote on congressional pork projects. I can t think of a single bill of any substance that Westmoreland has authored, a single original thought that has issued from his tenure in Washington. And I know this about Lynn: He glad-hands the politicians and power brokers in his district, but he s not much on taking any time to respond to constituency inquiries. The only time most of us will ever hear Lynn speak is on a robo-call asking for our vote. He started out as one of us, but Lynn has left us common folk far behind. And there is that Big Fix that may be played out in coming months. One of our two Georgia senators likely will decide to spend more time with the family and Gov. Deal will name Lynn to be our new U.S. senator. When the senatorial election rolls around, Lynn will be the incumbent. If you don t want Westmoreland as your equally out of touch next senator, I suggest you vote for retired military man Kent Kingsley for 3rd District congressman. Kingsley is a man of bedrock conservative principles and he will make himself known around the U.S. Capitol as something more than a comedy show caricature. It s time for Lynn to honor the conservative principle of term limits and get out of the way.
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Allow me to take your voice to the Henry School Board

WWW.STANLEYFORBOE.ORG

My opponent is 31 years old, never married and has no children. And he still lives at home with his parents. He has no life experience or responsibilities that would provide background with raising, mentoring or educating children. He is much less prepared to handle a one-on-one with parents whose child may be having problems. PLEASE MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION Elect Larry Stanley to Henry County school board Campaign Video: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PHOTO.PHP?V=10151221857822942 Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum: HTTP://PLAYER.VIMEO.COM/VIDEO/44583622 Henry Daily Herald candidate responses: HTTP://WWW.HENRYHERALD.COM/NEWS/2012/JUN/26/HENRY-BOE-CANDIDATES-RESPOND/

TOMMY SMITH

Candidate and future Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Henry County NEW CHAIRMAN / NEW LEADERSHIP
Endorsed by Henry County Fraternal Order of Police

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Vincent Lotti for District 2 County Commissioner Please watch and share with your friends! Roughly a week and a half until Election Day so let's continue to spread the word! Thank you! Vinny
HTTP://WWW.SBN.TV/ARCHIVES/CATEGORY/PROGRAMMING/GOOD-DAYSOUTHSIDE

Herman Cain Endorses Steve Davis

Representative Steve Davis (R-109) is proud to announce the endorsement of Herman Cain, a former Republican presidential candidate and talk show host. I want to tell you about my State Representative Steve Davis who has been a Conservative Warrior for 8 years, said Mr. Cain a resident of Henry County and constituent in Representative Steve Davis district. Mr. Cain continued, Steve is a great family man, a great leader and a proven Conservative who has fought for less government and less taxes. Mr. Cain concluded, I m voting for Steve Davis, a proven conservative. In response to the endorsement, Representative Steve Davis said, Mr. Cain has fought for conservative principles his whole life and is great example of someone rising to fulfill his American dream. I want to thank Mr. Cain for everything he does for our Country from the 9-9-9 plan to his SOLUTIONS REVOLUTION and for his endorsement of my conservative campaign.

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Vote "NO" on the T-SPLOST Referendum

Dear Friends, I encourage everyone in Georgia to vote "NO" on the statewide T-SPLOST (transportation tax) Referendum on this month's primary ballot. The reasons to oppose this TAX are many, but here are a few... 1. It is a tax increase of nearly $15 billion on the people of Georgia at the worst possible time in our history. 2. It is the largest amount of power ever given to unelected bureaucrats in Georgia's history. 3. More than 50% of all funds will be used to expand MARTA and other rapid transit projects. 4. Most of the proposed projects cannot be finished with the planned funds within the ten years of the tax... which means that it will have to be renewed. It will become a perpetual tax on you and your children. If you need more reasons, there is plenty of information on a variety of Tea Party websites. You can also watch these three Anti T-SPLOST television commercials:
TV COMMERCIAL 1 HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=WEIW17_4IEE&FEATURE=PLCP TV COMMERCIAL 2 HTTP://WWW .YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=XT8SVX0DD7G&FEATURE=PLCP TV COMMERCIAL 3 HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=QUUFCHV7UPQ&FEATURE=PLCP

For Georgia First!

Ray NOT Atlanta... NOT Washington... but GEORGIA FIRST!

Bo Moss for Henry County Commissioner District 1 Real Conservative, Real Republican
I have been a proud resident of Henry County for 26 years and have run a successful small business (Wall to Wall Floor Services) for 38 years. My wife and I have been married for 43 years. I have been blessed with two wonderful children, Mark and Tammy, and five grandchildren, Mitchell, Connor, Samantha, Riley, and Bryce.

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