23 JUN 08: BRING ON THE BEAUTIES

OK, I guess I'm not supposed to call them that. But a procession of contestants begins parading downtown today -- people with definite stands on issues, looking for strong showings of support and affection. And across First Avenue from the Election Board office, the Miss Georgia preliminaries will start as well.

This is qualifying week for nonpartisan candidates in this year's Georgia elections. This includes the independents, as well as the people running for Columbus Council. And we all know the council candidates are independent - as long as you ignore the attorneys and business owners donating them money.

A couple of people already have announced they're running as independents. Sheriff Ralph Johnson has done that ever since taking office -- so for him, Independents' Day comes even earlier than the party at Fort Benning.

The other announced independent in Columbus is Zephaniah Baker. The son of Pastor and civil rights activist Wayne Baker is challenging state Representative Calvin Smyre. But by running as an independent, he risks being considered strange by some voters - perhaps even half-baked.

Some people have accused Zephaniah Baker of acting more like a Republican than an independent, seeking G.O.P. supporters in his campaign. I think Muscogee County Republican Chair Josh McKoon even showed up at Baker's kickoff announcement. But then again, Calvin Smyre is a Democrat -- so McKoon is content with an A.B.C. approach: Anybody But Calvin.

Five Columbus Council seats are at stake, as well as four seats on the Muscogee County School Board. This year it's the even-numbered Council districts and the odd-numbered school board districts. Whether you consider the councilors evenhanded and the board members odd is up to you.

Two school board members already have announced they're NOT seeking another term -- Joseph Roberson and Fife Whiteside. You have to admit, campaign signs with the phrase "Fife for Six" wouldn't be as catchy as four years ago....

The Columbus Council race already has seen one candidate announce he would NOT run -- only to take it back, then take it back again. Don't be surprised if Red McDaniel goes to Jeremy Hobbs's home this week and asks: "Is that your final answer?"

Remember the groundswell around town two years ago for change in Columbus Council -- including letters to this blog? I haven't heard much of that this time around. Maybe it's because the people who wanted more attention paid to public safety got their wish - and some of them now have been reprimanded, or worse.

So we'll see who files papers to run for.... what? What's that you're asking? You want me to mention those other contestants, across First Avenue? You say they're more interesting? Well, I'm not so sure about that. If someone has a picture of Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Turner Pugh in a swimsuit, we could do a comparison....

This year's Miss Georgia pageant has 38 contestants from across the state. Well, I think they're all from across Georgia - but then I checked the list, and there's a "Miss Music City." I didn't realize the state legislature wanted to move the Tennessee boundary that far north.

It's become a custom for this blog to predict a winner of the Miss Georgia pageant. Sometimes we come very close, while sometimes we're way off. And sadly, the women we pick never contact us to say thanks - so we could invite them to a one-on-one dinner.

It's challenging to pick the winner of Miss Georgia, because all the pageant's web site gives you for guidance is pictures of the contestants. We don't know their "platform" issues of concern. And we don't even know if they plan to wear platform shoes, with their evening gowns.

BIG PREDICTION: This is a close call, but I'll pick Miss Augusta (Laura Stone) to win the Miss Georgia pageant. Miss Rome is second on my scorecard, followed by Miss Elliottia - and she might have placed higher, if "Elliottia" was easier to pronounce.

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THE BIG BLOG QUESTION changed Sunday evening -- and our non-scientific poll found 59 percent of our voters oppose the one-percent city sales tax question (7-10). Maybe if some money had been promised for scientific programs....

Our result is similar to a survey WRBL did on its web site this past week. It also found a majority of online voters are against the LOST question. So supporters may need to get those commercials out quickly - and of course, avoid any mention of the yes vote being a "LOST cause."

The only person to leave a comment on our poll raised a series of objections, including one which we didn't quite understand. It implied the sales tax question would give one Columbus Councilor "outrageous tax breaks." What does Mayor Wetherington need to do - pick the spots for new fire stations, by throwing darts at a city map?

The commenter even suggested a recall drive might begin against Mayor Jim Wetherington, because a law officer used swear words toward opponents of the sales tax question. I'm still waiting to see the threatened recall petitions against a couple of Muscogee County School Board members - for simply doing their duty, and casting votes.

The comment went on to declare the Government Center a "new police state." I'm not sure Mayor Wetherington is to blame for that. My calendar shows the September 11 attacks occurred five years before he took office.

Our new B.B.Q. deals with an issue currently before Columbus Council, which an e-mail last week brought up. Should there be limits on how often citizens can speak before Columbus Council? And what about those of us who have never spoken there - can we have "rollover minutes," to talk as long as we wish?

E-MAIL UPDATE: Our Sunday topic brought a message from that local baseball blogger....

Thanks for the link. I do appreciate it.



Regarding the building of a stadium, I'm not opposed to it. Heck, living west of the Chattahoochee means I wouldn't have to pay for it. Except if they charge to park there.



But about the stadium, I don't think it would solve the problem.



Don't get me wrong, I think Golden Park will not draw a new team. Heck, it didn't draw the Catfish (nee Waves); they could have easily ended up in Macon -- where they would have drawn better. But the SAL liked Columbus for its history (an original member of the Southern League).



Anyway, Golden Park has outlived its usefulness. But if the city built a new park, I'm of the opinion that, following an initial surge of "newness," it wouldn't draw any more folks than Golden Park.



My reasoning: if someone wanted to go to a baseball game in Columbus, they'd go.



That's not to say that the city wouldn't get use of it. They could bid to host various baseball venues, such as state tournaments, college conference tournaments or championships, regionals, or championships (other than Division I, in Omaha for 25 years more).



So, while I'm not opposed to a new stadium -- I'd actually enjoy it, I think -- I do not think it will solve the problem. The current stadium isn't the problem, it's an excuse. The problem is that people don't care enough about baseball to support a team.



Anyway, thanks for putting up with this. And,yes, "How 'bout them Dawgs!"



Basil

Wow - people in Columbus "don't care enough about baseball"?!? I don't think Basil should wear a name tag around the upcoming Little League All-Star tournaments.

By the way, the Columbus Catfish couldn't play Sunday against Charleston. Saturday's suspended game and the scheduled evening game both were rained out. At least you can't blame it on masses of upset fans crying on the field.

One other e-mail must be held, until we do some research. So let's do a quick check of other Sunday news:

+ Who sprayed blue graffiti on one of the doors of the old Baker Middle School? It wasn't done quite right - because buildings scheduled for demolition are supposed to have a "D" on them.

+ Several Marion County residents told the evening news they oppose a planned military training center along the Fort Benning boundary. The residents fear the center will be too noisy. If only more tanks came equipped with silencers....

+ WRBL noted Phenix City's public swimming pools still haven't opened for the summer, because of a lack of lifeguards. Don't you pity the children there? The only place where they can have "horseplay" is around horses.

+ Instant Message to Morgan Tsvangirai: Let me get this straight. You praise your political supporters in Zimbabwe for being courageous, in the midst of violence - then you pull out of the presidential runoff, five days before the vote? Whose seized farm have you been guaranteed to take over?

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