26 MAY 06: DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN

Two former Muscogee County School Board candidates announced Thursday they're running for the board again. On FM radio, I think they'd call this an "old school jam...."

The most showy announcement was made at the Government Center, as former school board member Linda Parker declared she's running again this year. A good crowd showed up to support her -- or was lunch served after the ceremony, and it wasn't shown on TV?

Linda Parker is running for Muscogee County School Board District 4, the seat she used to hold. She edged Naomi Buckner for that seat in 1998, then lost narrowly to Buckner in 2002. Should we call a possible rematch this year "the brawl to settle it all" ?!

Linda Parker says one of her campaign issues is the need for new schools in South and Southeast Columbus. Aren't officials already planning for that, with all the additional soldiers heading for Fort Benning? These are G.I.'s, after all - so they can't all afford to live near Maple Ridge golf course.

Your blog was able to glimpse Linda Parker's campaign "media package" - and it included her picture on a laminated bookmark. Well, I suppose it beats putting her face on a money clip....

The Muscogee County School Board races are nonpartisan. Yet I'm told Linda Parker's husband became upset, after the evening news mentioned her 2002 announcement that she was becoming a Republican. Parker's husband says it never happened -- so maybe everyone at the airport rally that day was dreaming.

The other school board announcement Thursday came from Cathy Vaughn Williams, who told WRBL she'll try again for the at-large seat. She ran for that seat in 2002 as Cathy Vaughn -- so maybe she added a third name to sound as cool as Mary Sue Polleys.

Remember how strange the at-large school board race was four years ago? Mary Sue Polleys announced her retirement. Cathy Vaughn announced she wanted the seat -- then Polleys changed her mind at the filing deadline and won re-election. Start watching to see if Polleys is wearing flip-flops....

(Cathy Vaughn lost in 2002 despite gaining the endorsement of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, over School Board President Mary Sue Polleys. When DOES the new owner plan to shake up the editorial board?)

Cathy Vaughn Williams has been busy for a few years promoting affordable housing in Columbus. She heads the "NeighborWorks Columbus" program -- which is really misleading, because compared with Habitat for Humanity, your neighbors don't work to build the house for you.

(She may support affordable housing - but this campaign apparently shows Cathy Vaughn Williams is NOT a fan of home schooling.)

What's striking about Thursday's announcements is how old names in school board races are coming back around again. Maybe we should color Columbus politics blue -- as in the city recycling bins.

Filing week in Columbus doesn't occur for another month, so there's still plenty of time for new school board candidates to surface. Where are the young parents, concerned about our schools? Are they all waiting for a foundation to propose buying out Superintendent John Phillips' contract?

There's more election stuff, in our quick review of other Thursday news:

+ The Columbus Chamber of Commerce hosted a forum with State Senate candidates Ed Harbison and Reginald Pugh. Pugh told the audience at one point the race "is not a popularity contest." Uhhhhh - it's not?! When did Columbus create an electoral college?

(Reginald Pugh said afterward it bothers him that incumbent Ed Harbison has done nothing as a State Senator for "ordinary people." Is this why Democrat Pugh has been seen at plenty of Republican events in recent weeks?)

+ Roy Moore brought his campaign for Alabama Governor to Opelika. Moore said his campaign is starting to move into high gear - and with only 11 days remaining before the primary, some would say it's a little past time.

(Aides to Roy Moore's campaign say he's been endorsed by former Governor Fob James. This stunned many people - because they'd completely forgotten about Fob James, since he left office in 1999.)

+ Elsewhere, ground was broken at Fort Benning for a new $28 million shopping complex. It will have a Post Exchange, a food court seating 700 people - but for some odd reason, NO Old Navy store.

+ The hottest day of the year so far in Columbus saw the temperature reach 93 degrees F. It was SO HOT that even the "C-Town Hotties" in "The Edge Magazine" were complaining....

+ The American Red Cross showed great timing, choosing a 93-degree day to hold a blood drive at Bruster's on Whittlesey. Blood donors received a free pint of ice cream - but somehow, I doubt many donors asked for a cherry-red flavor.

+ Regions Bank announced plans to merge with AmSouth of Birmingham. The combined bank will rank among the ten biggest in the country - moving ahead of the bank on "Deal or No Deal."

+ Instant Message to Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling of Enron: OK, you "smartest guys in the room" - did you listen to the prosecutor after you were convicted? You shouldn't hide behind accountants and analysts. Do what Richard Scrushy of HealthSouth did - hide behind the Bible and civil rights attorneys.

COMING NEXT WEEK: A holiday special which will move quickly.... and what should we do for post #1,000?....

Your PayPal donations can help build a better blog, and keep it independent-minded. To make a donation, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 12,484 (+ 353, 2.9%, record high)

If you quote from this in public somewhere, please be polite enough to let me know.

© 2003-06 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.