^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
13 JUL 04: LET'S GET IT OVER WITH
The political debate was tempered Monday, perhaps by the death of Muscogee County Election Board member Ken Barfield. He wound up on the board after a public spat with local Democratic leaders -- so you see, next Tuesday's Superior
Court Judge vote may not mark the end of a career after all.
Ken Barfield happened to die on the first day of "advance voting" in Georgia. I have several concerns about this practice. For one thing, some pride-filled people might go around wearing "I voted" stickers for a week.
(And another thing: doesn't this invite blatant commercialism at the polls? It's a wonder Advance Auto Parts doesn't have a pickup truck outside the Government Center door.)
Things looked fairly busy at the Government Center, as people cast advance voting ballots. One man explained his family was going out of town next week - perhaps to the beach, to wash off all the mud from some of the local races.
You may be surprised to learn the blog received NO e-mails Monday about the race for Superior Court Judge. Either both sides have run out of accusations -- or they were busy researching, to find new ones.
Meanwhile, did you know Bobby Peters has a "wanna-be" candidate in Phenix City? Based on what I've found, this man must think it's the signs which make Peters so popular....
With all the fire in the Superior Court Judge race, it's easy to overlook other contests on next Tuesday's primary ballot. For instance, I found school board candidate Mary Walker's campaign bus Monday night parked at Buena Vista and St. Mary's Roads. If she wins with that bus, the widening of St. Mary's finally may become a reality.
Then there's the U.S. Senate race in Georgia. Rep. Denise Majette came to Columbus Monday, as her radio ads encouraged you to elect "the first African-American Senator in Georgia history." It's nice to see being a female doesn't
matter anymore....
As for Majette's Democratic opponent - Instant Message to Cliff Oxford: Why did you "approve" the TV commercial where it looks like you have a five o'clock shadow on your face? Are you growing an election beard, like sports teams do during the playoffs?
Now a few other quick things from a quiet Monday:
+ Cellar's Lounge on Victory Drive posted this message on its outside sign: "Dear Fort Benning: Don't blame us for the city drug problems." Why, that place probably doesn't even have a "pot" for cooking food....
(Cellar's manager Sherry Melton said Columbus police checked her lounge four times over the weekend, looking for Fort Benning soldiers. SURE they walked into a strip club, looking for soldiers - like people tune into Jerry Springer for his
"final thought.")
+ WRBL visited Rigdon Road Elementary School, where four teachers are instructing fourth-graders in a team concept called "looping." Don't confuse this with one teacher giving year-round instruction - which would drive some of us
"loopy."
(And all this time, I thought "looping" referred to the parking police making U-turns on Broadway all day long....)
+ Kravtin's novelty shop on Broadway announced it will close, after more than 80 years. What will tourists do now, if they want to buy Columbus souvenirs? Some people simply will NOT be thrilled with Cannon Brew Pub T-shirts.
+ Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced Mando America will move its North American headquarters from Detroit to Opelika. Apparently state officials didn't make the mistake of encouraging the move by putting "Come, Mando" on an invitation.
(Mando officials say they're moving south because they like the Alabama economy. Translation: no unions.)
To offer a story tip, make a donation or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post a reply.
If you quote from this in public somewhere, please be polite enough to let me know.
© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.