Dunwoody News Alert

Monday, October 30, 2006

AJC's endorsements of Dan Weber and Fran Millar

AJC, Opinion, 10/23/06, by Maureen Downey and Jay Bookman, for the editorial board

Best in DeKalb races

From the story:

In state Senate District 40, one-term incumbent Republican Dan Weber, a mechanical engineer from Dunwoody, faces Democrat Martin McConaughy, a retired schoolteacher from Tucker. McConaughy brings intelligence and fresh ideas, including a "HOPE Returns" plan that would use HOPE scholarship recipients to tutor elementary students during summer. But Weber is also smart and articulate, and deserves one more term to prove himself. His biggest handicap is an unwillingness to buck his party even when he disagrees with its positions on education funding and other issues. His intelligence doesn't do his constituents much good if he can't find the independence to use it.

From Steve Barton:

When the AJC editorial board praises Dan Weber's intelligence AND his voting record, I am sure I will be looking for a Republican challenger to take him on. Don't make the AJC happy, Dan! (see example of Jill Chambers below)

From the story:

In House District 79, Republican Fran Millar has styled himself as a counterbalance to the ambitions and administration of controversial DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones, a posture that Dunwoody voters seem to value. But Millar, an insurance agent, is less vocal and informed on other issues that ought to concern his community. For example, his Democratic challenger, environmental engineer Keith Kaylor, faults Millar for ignoring the growing alarm bells over the state's water supply, and for voting the GOP party line too often. Those are valid criticisms that may someday lead voters to consider a change, but for now Millar remains the better choice to represent a community in flux.

From Steve Barton:

Oh yeah, the "valid criticisms" of Fran Millar are: not working on the growth vs. water supply issue and voting like a Republican. Ha! Fran's committees are Education (Vice Chairman), Health and Human Services, Rules, and Economic Development and Tourism. I don't know which Georgia House committee has been given the lead on the water issue, but it isn't one that Fran sits on. What is this baloney the AJC puts in print?

Also I have to note that styling and posture (see that first sentence of the AJC Millar endorsement) are not what any real person thinks when they meet Fran Millar. He is smart, direct, and blunt. Styling and posture? He is effective at crafting legislation and compromise that gets the best results for the state and his DeKalb County constituents on education, tax, and spending issues.

Why make such a pitiful endorsement of Fran Millar? Maybe it's because his opponent isn't "viable." Keith Kaylor's campaign website includes his campaign event calendar. For October, Keith is scheduled to participate in 10 campaign events...on behalf of Bob Roche running against Jill Chambers! He also has on his schedule a film screening (documentary "Iraq for Sale") attending a "progressive" PAC endorsement get-together (Kaylor's name isn't on their website), and four rallies. Are the rallies for Keith Kaylor? No, it's the "Impeach / Stop the War Rally" held every Thursday at 5 pm in Decatur. There aren't any events for Kaylor in the next week before the election either. Now we know why Kaylor wasn't endorsed -- he is not a real candidate.

Yo, Dan Weber. Look at what the AJC has done for Jill Chambers, R-Chamblee.

Jill Chambers is moderate on social issues, and has undertaken on a hard and necessary task for the legislature. She has led the first real legislative oversight of MARTA in untold years, digging into finances, contracts, and operations. MARTA bureacrats have not been used to anybody from the state (even though MARTA is a creation of the state) looking closely at what they do, but Jill Chambers has been dogged in getting the info. Her interest and daylight-shining has forced MARTA to be more efficient with our tax money -- and she has done this without ego or grand-standing. Taxpayers of DeKalb County should be especially appreciative.

To me Jill Chambers sounds like the kind of Republican the AJC would like -- their news coverage of her MARTA efforts over the last two years has been very positive. But the AJC didn't endorse her!

From the same story first cited:

Voters in District 81 face a quandary. Incumbent Jill Chambers has been a rare and valuable commodity, a moderate Republican. But she serves a Chamblee community that is increasingly Democratic, and this time faces a viable opponent in Democratic computer consultant Bob Roche, who is smart and informed.

That may be why a worried Chambers, a business owner, has resorted to a low-blow campaign, peppering her literature with unsubstantiated accusations. She has shown a tendency to make unsubstantiated charges in other forums as well, forfeiting her moderate reputation and perhaps her grip on this district, thus giving voters valid reasons to replace her with Roche.


Ah, have a "viable" opponent and an R next to your name and none of your good works get mentioned. The AJC said pick 'em, and slammed Chambers over her campaign while calling Roche "smart." I looked at that "low-blow" campaign stuff and, though some items have only a distant relationship with the absolute truth, these low blows are pretty tame.

Lesson for Republicans: you will only get endorsed if your opponent is a nut or neophyte, or your re-election is absolutely assured. When a Democrat has a chance of knocking you off, the AJC will ignore all your hard work and slap you for campaigning for yourself.

2002 DHS grad is valuable linebacker on 7-0 Univ of Louisville team

(Louisville) The Courier-Journal, Sports, 10/24/06, by C.L. Brown

Cards' linebackers define 'depth' chart

From the story:
University of Louisville linebackers Lamar Myles and Malik Jackson aren't big on calling attention to themselves.

As the No. 6 Cardinals (7-0, 2-0 Big East) prepare to face No. 4 West Virginia (7-0, 2-0) on Nov. 2, rest assured Mountaineers quarterback Patrick White will be calling them out. As in, "Block those guys."

Myles, a sophomore from Winter Park, Fla., leads the Cards with 32 tackles. Jackson, a junior from Dunwoody, Ga., has four sacks and seven tackles for loss, second on the team in both categories to lineman Amobi Okoye. Neither linebacker started August camp in the starting lineup.

Jackson, who is tied for fourth on the team with 28 tackles, said the depth has allowed everyone to stay fresh.

Petrino added Jackson's athleticism gave the coaches flexibility to use him in a number of positions and situations.

"We've put a lot more on the table for him to do," Petrino said. "He plays our SAM linebacker and also plays defensive end in our nickel packages. He rushes the passer very well. He's had a very good year."


From player bio, Malik Jackson

Dunwoody High School: Extremely physical, hard-hitting defensive back ... three-year letterwinner and two-year starter at Dunwoody High School ... logged 93 tackles, including 65 solo stops, two tackles for loss and four forced fumbles as a senior when he earned All-Region and second-team All-County honors ... clocked at 4.45 in the 40.

Personal Profile: Son of Romona and Anthony Jackson... born 6/10/85... Sports Administration major.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Zac Swansey, DHS basketball player, commits to UGA

AJC, Sports, 10/09/06, by Chip Towers

Dunwoody guard commits to Felton

From the story:
Athens — Zac Swansey, a 6-foot-1 senior guard at Dunwoody High School, has committed to play basketball for Georgia next year.

Swansey said Felton wants him to play point guard for the Bulldogs, which was another big factor in his decision to come to Athens.

Dunwoody HS student speaks at Latino Youth Leadership Conference

Macon.com, AP Wire, 10/21/06, by Doug Gross

Hispanic students gather for state conference

From the story:

Jonathan Sosa, 16, a junior at Dunwoody High School near Atlanta was one of four high school students who spoke to middle-schoolers..

A clear favorite of the younger students, particularly the preteen girls, Sosa, who moved from Uruguay when he was 12, answered questions about his favorite classes in school, his plans for the future and how being Hispanic has influenced his perception of the world.

"I was nervous," said Sosa, who said he hopes to go to college and become an architect. "It was very good. It's like, you're doing the right thing and you want to show others how to do it and to keep going."

Demographic growth forecast points to need for more schools in Dunwoody

AJC, DeKalb/Rockdale, 10/26/06, by Kristina Torres

School growth forecast in north, east DeKalb

From the story:

A demographic report that DeKalb school officials received last week points to the north and the east — Lakeside High into Dunwoody, east into Tucker, Stone Mountain and along the I-20 east corridor — as having the greatest need over the next 10 years for new schools.

Fran Millar on homestead exemption county referendum

DeKalb Neighbor, Letter to the Editor, 10/25/06

Vote yes on homestead exemption

Editor:

I urge you to vote Yes on the item county referendum-DeKalb County Homestead Exemption on Nov. 7. This legislation freezes the value of your home for county tax purposes by increasing the homestead exemption until the house is sold. It does not apply to school tax and will be subject to renewal after a five year period.

This bill passed the Georgia House of Representatives 149-0 and it passed the Georgia Senate 42-4.

Government officials have estimated the tax freeze will cost DeKalb County government $4.4 million.

However, CEO Vernon Jones has promised to implement impact fees for new construction and the impact fees are expected to generate $8 million in new revenue. The CEO and county commissioners have no basis to increase the millage rate.

Twenty-nine other Georgia counties now have some type of floating homestead exemption that have not been approved by voters.

It is time to eliminate back door tax increases in DeKalb County. If CEO Jones and county commissioners want to raise your taxes they can no longer hide behind the assessment process.

Vote yes on the item county referendum-DeKalb County Homestead Exemption and show your support for open government.

Fran Millar

State Sen. District 79

(R-Dunwoody)

Jeron Sykes, Dunwoody HS football player

DeKalb Neighbor, Sports, 10/25/06, by Calleb Obumba

Sykes a true field general

From the story:

There is no secret that Dunwoody football player Jeron Sykes is one of the most talented all-around players in the county.

He is described as a leader on both sides of the ball by his coach, James Teeter.

New owner for Shops of Dunwoody store, Chicken Lips

AJC, Northside Business, 10/26/06, by Andrew Adler

Children's store home for ex-world traveler

From the story:
What's inside: Whether for a baby shower, a birthday party or to educate a growing boy or girl, Chicken Lips provides customers with a brightly lit, fun-filled array of toys, toys and more toys for children ages infant to 10 years old.

About the owner: Prior to becoming Chicken Lips' owner in mid-September, Pamela Mitchell, 40, spent the past 18 years traveling the world while working for Federal Mogul Corp.