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for 9 AUG 04: HOUSE HUNTING
Political candidates will be busy across Georgia today, campaigning for votes in tomorrow's runoff. Unlike Alabama in June, there actually are some interesting races. Maybe Alabama Democrats should do what Republicans in Illinois do - and bring in candidates from other states to run.
The big runoff race in our area is for U.S. House District 8, between Dylan Glenn and Lynn Westmoreland. WRCG's Robbie Watson beat me to it, when she noted last week these men sound like they're running for Superior Court Judge....
Did you see the House "forum" between Dylan Glenn and Lynn Westmoreland on TV Friday evening? The way they went at each other, either they want a seat in Congress really badly - or they're auditioning to co-host a cable news talk show.
Dylan Glenn declared you should vote for him because, among other things, he helped organize the Chattahoochee County Republican Party. So? Any country music concert at Fort Benning can bring that together....
Lynn Westmoreland responded to that Dylan Glenn statement by noting Chattahoochee County isn't in the 8th District. Isn't this a bit like faulting your church Pastor for converting people on a missionary trip?
Dylan Glenn said an "attack ad" accusing him of "skipping town" on an Albany charity was blatantly false. But hold on -- that Lynn Westmoreland ad actually has video of Glenn walking by a train! Now if only Albany HAD train service....
Lynn Westmoreland responded to an "attack ad" about accepting money and gifts by lobbyists, saying he was trying to promote teamwork in Atlanta. We know this approach works, because it's brought Atlanta's baseball team so many division titles in a row....
Several big-name national Republicans have endorsed Dylan Glenn in the last couple of weeks. J.C. Watts did. Newt Gingrich did. Zell Miller seemed to - no wait. Senator Miller only SOUNDS like a Republican these days.
Lynn Westmoreland dismissed his opponent at the TV forum by saying Dylan Glenn is "unemployed." Well, at least Glenn is out looking for work - so why is a sitting Georgia House member trying to deprive him?
Dylan Glenn is a Columbus native and a Pacelli High School graduate. He's called himself "Columbus's rising star" in commercials - yet in a July debate with Lynn Westmoreland, he gave his home address as Fortson. Doesn't this make him
Fortson's ONLY star?
I had a hunch over the weekend that if I visited Dylan Glenn's house in Fortson, I might find something interesting. After all, State Rep. Danae Roberts faced rumors that she didn't really live in her district - and the fact that she works in Atlanta now may be enough evidence to settle the issue.
So Sunday morning, your blog took a drive to Fortson. It's a place I admittedly don't visit very often. There's South Columbus, North Columbus - and then there's this area, which seems a prime candidate for Harris County to take over in a coup.
I exited Interstate 185 at Smith Road, went east to Fortson Road, then north to Country Place. Dylan Glenn's stated home is in a fancy neighborhood called "A Place in the Country," where almost all the homes are obscured from the street by trees. If the terror groups ever drive up, these folks are ready for guerrilla war.
At Dylan Glenn's stated number on Country Place, I found the mailbox door a bit ajar, a rather loose U.S. flag hanging over a winding driveway -- but no signs identifying it as his house. There wasn't even a Glenn campaign sign at the curb. So this conservative Republican REALLY supports privacy rights....
(You can't even see Dylan Glenn's house from the street, because it's set back so far and so many trees block your view. That's one intriguing way to avoid mowing your lawn on weekends.)
It was tempting to drive up Dylan Glenn's driveway and knock on the door - but I didn't. I'll wait for Tuesday night's campaign party, presuming it's again at the Wyndham Hotel downtown. Which reminds me - isn't 9th and Broadway part of
Sanford Bishop's House district?
As nice as his country house appears, I'll say for one thing for Dylan Glenn. If Lynn Westmoreland is right and Glenn really did take that $100,000 from a charity in Albany, Glenn must have made some great investments with that money....
To be honest, there were no campaign signs up in Dylan Glenn's "Place in the Country" subdivision at all -- for ANY candidate. I suppose there could be a neighborhood covenant against such things. But no one's pulled up the construction company yard sign outside one house yet.
(Boo hoo! I shot several pictures to record this trip - but I regret to report the official blog camera somehow erased them all. I decided not to make a second trip to Fortson Sunday night. Gas is still expensive, and I'm a blogger on a budget.)
Let the record show between I-185 and Smith Road and Dylan Glenn's home, I saw no political signs for either House candidate. But back at the entrance ramp, I found one sign for Mac Collins's Senate race -- so maybe the Republican runoff
candidates consider this space under a curse or something.
(No, I did NOT drive to Sharpsburg and check Lynn Westmoreland's house. Did you notice this is NOT called the Blog of Coweta?)
Before you run off from this runoff talk, we have some Instant Messages to send....
+ To the Chambers County government: I hope your "Day of Prayer" Friday went well - but I was concerned to read this tradition began one week before September 11, 2001. Should I hide in the bathroom for the next few days?
+ To Dunkin Donuts on Manchester Expressway: Aw c'mon - SIX BUCKS a dozen? What are you putting in these donuts, organic flour and Belgian chocolate?
+ To the former Econo- Lodge on Veterans Parkway downtown: I think I finally figured it out. You covered the sign because with your rooms starting at $49 a night, it's really not that "Econo" anymore.
COMING TUESDAY: No politics.... but we certainly won't forget to "write"....
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