Received yesterday evening. Contested mayoral election in Hahira and not in Lake Park, so far. Also one contested Valdosta school board seat, but none for Valdosta City Council so far. -jsq
Lowndes County Board of Elections
2808 N. Oak St. P.O. Box 10130 Valdosta, Georgia 31604
Telephone: (229) 671-2850, Fax: (229) 333-5199
Email: elections@lowndescounty.com
QUALIFYING
November 5, 2013 – Municipal Election
AUGUST 26, 2013
City of Valdosta
City Council District 2
Continue reading
An actor turned anti-nuke activist after Fukushima just won a seat in Japan’s upper house in the national government.
Japan Times, 22 July 2013 (Tokyo time is 13 hours ahead of Georgia time),
Actor Yamamoto, ex-wrestler Inoki win,
Actor and anti-nuclear activist Taro Yamamoto and ex-wrestling star Antonio Inoki both won seats in Sunday’s Upper House contest, early returns showed.
Yamamoto, 38, who ran as an independent in the Tokyo constituency, appeared set to enter the upper chamber after failing to win a seat in the Lower House election in December.
He became widely known for his anti-nuclear power activities following the March 2011 Fukushima meltdowns. He has also campaigned against Japan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade liberalization negotiations, while calling for improved social security.
Blogger In the Eyes of an Étranger reports Toro Yamamoto said about his election win:
“I will do a banzai to celebrate the occasion when I really end up helping the victims of the nuclear disaster. A thorny path lies ahead of me. Vested nuclear interests will no doubt try to sabotage my efforts. My only friend in my endeavor are the voters who entrusted their sacred votes.”
WSJ notes five seats for Tokyo were contested Continue reading
There’s still time to call in and make your voice heard, (800) 282-5813. The swing vote is the Commissioner for south Georgia, H. Doug Everett. Solar power may win over Georgia Power today.
Greg Bluestein and Kristi E. Swartz wrote for the AJC yesterday,
Solar supporters see rare loss on horizon for Georgia Power,
If Georgia Power says it needs something, it usually gets it. Over the years, state regulators have cleared the way for the utility to land new power plants, more transmission lines and rate increases, often without much heated debate.
Walter C. Jones wrote for jacksonville.com yesterday, PSC likely to require Georgia Power to double its reliance on solar power Thursday Continue reading
The political appointee was replaced by a librarian,
and the marketing guy by a marketing guy,
at
the 25 June Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.
5.a. Lowndes County Library Board
Back
on June 10th
Library Director Kelly Lenz brought
candidates
Jack Hartley, Linda Most, and Matt Lawrence,
who spoke, and
at the June 24th Work Session
Commissioner Joyce Evans submitted the name of Mr. Robert Jefferson,
who did not speak.
This time County Manager Joe Pritchard mumbled behind his monitor and did not deign to name any of the candidates, referring to “a list” that Commissioners could see but the public could not. He did say that the openings were for the board slots previously occupied by Kay Harris and Ray Devery.
Previous political appointee Kay Harris
failed to get the new library at Five Points approved
in
last year’s failed SPLOST VII vote
and
resigned as Library Board Chair and from that board 15 March 2013.
Here are
some related points she never seemed to discuss.
And while she and the County Commission and the Valdosta City Council
and Mayor pointed fingers about who lost SPLOST, Continue reading
“Hopefully” there will be four town hall meetings before
the final SPLOST lists are settled, said
Lowndes County Commissioner Joyce Evans (District 1)
at last night’s
Lowndes County Democratic Party Annual 4th of July Barbecue.
We’re beginning to put things together for the SPLOST.
Hopefully we’ll be able to do several…. I know the mayor has stated that they were going to do two town hall meetings and the county’s going to do a couple of town hall meetings and then we’re going to come together with the information that we’ve received from the community and go and put together an overall SPLOST for the city and the county.
So please, take time, think about it, and be involved.
We shall see. At least it’s a small change in the old boy backroom behavior so popular among elected officials around here that the famously reclusive commissioner said this in front of a video camera.
Here’s the video:
Four SPLOST town hall meetings –Joyce Evans
July 4th BBQ, Lowndes County Democratic Party (LCDP),
Gretchen Quarterman (Chair), Dennis Marks (Vice-Chair / Elections),
Amanda Hall (Vice-Chair / Membership), Richard Saeger (Vice-Chair / Qualifying), Jerrell Anderson (Secretary), James J. Parker (Treasurer),
Video by John S. Quarterman for Lowndes County Democratic Party (LCDP),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 2 July 2013.
-jsq
The homeless formerly living under the James Beck Overpass now have homes and most have jobs, said Valdosta City Council Deidra White at last night’s Lowndes County Democratic Party Annual 4th of July Barbecue.
White said the encampment under the overpass had been growing for some time, and people in her district, which contains the overpass, were increasingly concerned yet had had little success in dealing with the situation.
So I contacted many people in the community, homeless advocates, churches, governmental, civil, nonprofits; anyone that I’ve ever come across who has ever worked in any capacity helping with the homeless situation. And in a very,almost seemingly the stars all lined up a couple of weeks ago. Many people came together to do something about the specific eleven homeless persons who were living under the James Beck Overpass.
A private citizen donated property and said that they could stay on this property for a temporary time until we find a permanent solution. Members of the homeless coalition immediately began identifying potential employers….
She referred listeners to the recent newspaper stories for some details, and then continued:
Continue reading
A veteran said he was concerned about losing our freedoms
right here in Lowndes County because of the Commissions’
recent trash collection decisions,
in yesterday’s
Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.
Excerpts from what Carl Johnson Jr. said:
As I drove into town today I drove by… Brown’s produce. Right across the way was Mr. Carter’s produce. Both of them same business. Why not just take Mr. Carter’s business, and say, well, we’re going to give it all to Mr. Brown…. We think it’s in the best interests of the county. That’s not the American way of life. Competition in everything is the strength of America….
[Applause]
He said he didn’t know the intricacies of the law,
but he asked the Commission to reconsider.
Attorney for Lowndes County Walter Elliott looked on stone-faced.
County Manager Joe Pritchard, as usual, paid no attention to citizen speakers.
There’s more in the video: Continue reading
“Stop wasting taxpayer money” said Gretchen Quarterman in yesterday’s Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.
I sort of wish that I had been able to observe the executive session where you discussed the pending lawsuit against Deep South Sanitation. I wonder who asked the question “Is it beneficial to all concerned?” I wonder which one of you said “This will really attract people to start or relocate business in our county when we sue one of our local business owners.”
If I were considering a business move, I wouldn’t move to a county that eats its own.
I ask that you drop the lawsuit and stop wasting taxpayer money. Thank you.
[Applause]
Bill Slaughter and Gretchen Quarterman were inducted into Valdosta
Rotary on the same day (12 September 2012); that’s John Page,
already a member, standing behind them.
County Attorney Walter Elliott is also a member.
The Rotary Continue reading
A 47-year local resident got up to say he liked Deep South Sanitation
after he tried the monopoly company, and he likes having a choice.
This was in yesterday’s
Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.
Duane Roark said he was a satisfied customer of the recycling centers the county closed, and he didn’t like it when he heard he had to do business with ADS. Nonetheless, he signed up, but he wasn’t happy because of numerous mistakes so he switched to Deep South Sanitation, where the CEO answers the phone and delivered a can that same day. DSS: a man with one truck: what harm is he doing?
We like that we have a choice….
And he’s got my vote.
[Applause]
Some of the incumbent Commissioners may find votes hard to come by.
More in the video:
Continue reading
A stock trader looked for causes of solar stock price rises
and considered the effects of solar PV price drops,
and realized solar power is going to
beat every other energy source so fast that it
“will make your jaw drop with astonishment.”
Michael Sankowski wrote for Business Insider 3 May 2013, Solar Is Going To Change The World Much Faster Than Anyone Expects,
6% year is a fantastic rate of decreases, but 20% is simply astonishing. 20% is an impressive number, but putting it into context will make your jaw drop with astonishment.
My calculations show that if solar maintains 5 more years at current 23% rates per year price drops, solar power will be cheaper than using existing coal plants. That’s right — it will be cheaper to build new solar plants than to use existing coal plants. It sounds absolutely crazy.
First he discovers the effects of no fuel for solar in Continue reading