Talk of the Town

By Sami

March 22, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this

Race wasn’t a factor. Why are African Americans so quick to blame everything on race? The people in Fayette County are too concerned about their community to risk turning over the reigns to someone merely because of their race. Fayette Co. citizens are typically of above average intelligence and choose the person who will represent them in the best way.

By chidog

March 22, 2006 03:24 PM | Link to this

I’m sure it did. And I hope that Mr. Wilkerson will finally get that not only his county but his Republican friends are not going to vote for him. I am African-American and it kills me that those of my race who choose to affiliate themselves with the Republicans are just shocked when they don’t win! Wake up - I’m not saying that you have to be a Democrat but at least be realistic and be independent. All that support you get from them is window dressing - when push comes to shove there is no place for you in their party.

By bushwacker

March 22, 2006 04:06 PM | Link to this

Does that really suprise asnyone? Let’s be realistic, how many white politicians have been elected in districts where the majority of the voters are black?

By Judith Moore

March 22, 2006 04:38 PM | Link to this

How can it be anything else? Even our local ultra-conservative local newspaper, The Citizen” endorsed Wilkerson.

By Rockytop

March 22, 2006 05:55 PM | Link to this

Bushwacker is right on. Why dosen’t this discussion come up about Clayton County or City of Atlanta elections. Of course race played a part. We don’t wnat to become what our Northern neighbors have become.

By Jason

March 22, 2006 07:10 PM | Link to this

Don’t fret. With the way demographics are changing around metro Atlanta, in a few years African-Americans will have a majority in Fayette County. Then they will control every single spot on the council and there will be nothing the new minority will be able to do about it because they’re on record now saying they don’t want districts.

By pmc

March 22, 2006 08:22 PM | Link to this

I do not believe that race played a factor in the election of Robert Horgan. However if it did, it would show that 91% of the county’s registered voters did not go to the polls. I cast my vote for Mr. Horgan, not based on his skin color but his intelligence as I know he will do a good job for all people of the county, and a good fair representative of all political parties. He will be a person, that will vote his own mind, not that of Mr. Dunn. I look forward to having this Christian man serving as a County Commissioner. Hopefully, he can inspire others on the board to leave the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department alone and allow them to continue the great job they do in protecting our citizens. Good Luck, Mr. Horgan, and GOD Bless You.

By Concerned Citizen

March 22, 2006 09:20 PM | Link to this

If he did win because of race, where were the African-American voters? Did they vote for him, or did they just not care? How can you say the Republican Party does not endorse/support African-American candidates/officials when the Democratic Party (whom the majority of African-Americans support) has never appointed an African-American to a position of power? Prime example: Colin Powell and Condaleeza Rice have both been Secretary of State under the current administration. It sounds African Americans have been supporting the wrong party for years and still haven’t realized that the party hasbeen “using” them for years in terms of voting.

By Kenneth

March 22, 2006 10:22 PM | Link to this

This was an interesting story. The 2nd place candidate say’s he lost because he wasn’t white. The story goes on to say that there has been an effort to re-district voting in this district. This implies that if there was a re-districting then blacks would win. Kind of like the pot calling the kettle black isn’t it? Did it ever occur to the gentleman that lost that he may have lost because people (all people, black and white) felt the other person was better qualified. Looks like the public has spoken to him twice in prior elections. Maybe he isn’t listening.

By Dave Davis

March 22, 2006 11:53 PM | Link to this

Sorry Emory, you lost because Mr. Horgan ran a better campaign.

He won because of name recognition. He had three times as many signs around the county as you did, they were more readable than yours, and they were up weeks earlier.

My and I, neither of us black last time I checked, voted for you because a black friend whom we greatly respect told us you were the best candidate.

The closest thing I’ve seen to racism in the county may be your “sour grapes” remarks after you lost the election. We are disappointed.

By Barbara

March 23, 2006 07:53 AM | Link to this

It is 2006 and we have come too far to continually use race as a factor in an election. When someone of color does not win an election the race card is immediately pulled. For the newspaper to title the article “Sole white candidate is elected in Fayette” only fuels the fire.

By Becca

March 23, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this

If all the registered voters of this area had voted, there might have been a different outcome - but then again, maybe not. Sounds like most of the voters didn’t think this was an important election.

By I Count Too

March 23, 2006 10:07 AM | Link to this

Of course it did and it always will play a part anywhere in Georgia. For those who don’t know, it’s only going to get worse. Wonder why.

By keith

March 23, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this

Can’t we all just get along !!!!

By george lester

March 23, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this

Why is there always a reference to race? I believe the best man won the position fair and square. I’m sick of hearing this sort of thing. Just look at the lead in to the story (the lone white guy). Now this says alot. Just get over it and move on. Hey, Fayette county will be white flight sooner or later.

By kathryne lee

March 23, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this

Maybe if Virgil Fludd had backed away from district voting, people in the county would have voted more readily for a black candidate. Because Mr. Fludd decided to “divide” the county into black vs white, it backfired. So I guess color did play a role although I voted for a black republican and it is not the first time I have. I admire any black that chooses his party based on principles rather than being led by the nose.

By craig

March 23, 2006 08:44 PM | Link to this

Wilkerson exemplifies precisely what is wrong with most people these days. - Place blame on others for your failures. I am apalled by his use of the race card, but it seems to be the norm here. I am a new resident of the area and find this type of behavior totally unacceptable. His lack of class and graciousness in defeat shows his true character. He does not belong in public office. Race did not play a role in my vote, but as I continue to witness behavior like Mr Wilkerson’s, it may in the future. I am glad I did not vote for Wilkerson and hope that Mr Horgan proves to exhibit the judgement and responsibility I expect from a public servant.

By Richard Hobbs

March 23, 2006 09:07 PM | Link to this

Actually race did play a special role in this election, but perhaps not in the way that many of you have thought.

In reviewing the facts, and past elections we can glean this information.

Fayette voted 70/30 Republican when race was not a factor. (see 2004 election) This has been somewhat steady over the last many elections.

Assuming of course that the turnout for this election would be proportionate to the prior elections, then one can make these observations.

In this election, of only 8% of the voters, we had only 15% vote for the two Black Democrats. Interestingly, 15% of the registered voters are black, and historically they vote Democratic, by more than 10/1. Considering this was a highly publicized election, and coming right behind the District Vote debate, one would imagine, a larger than normal black turnout.

How, then could the Democrats only get 15% of the votes, when John Kerry pulled 30%. If the 15% of voters-who happened to be black actually voted for one of the black democrats, then where were the other 15% which represents the white Democratic vote?

The White Democratic vote did not come out for the Black Democrats, but instead came out for the White Republican candidate who had voted in prior Democratic primaries. Which is consistent with prior elections.

In the last completely Republican election Primary (where white democrats would not vote) the facts become more clear. That election was between a white elected official and a new comer, a black republican- the new comer got 45% of the REPUBLICAN vote. He didn’t even run a strong campaign, but the primarily white REPUBLICAN voter gave him 45% of the vote.

In this election, the 70% of the Bush voters in 2004 actually voted pretty evenly between the White Candidate and the two Black Candidates. The Black Candidates got 35% of the vote, and the White republican got about another 35% of the vote, the difference was the other 15% which was the white cross over democrats, coming to support one of their own.

One need only look to the southern half of the county to find the most dixiecrats, who still reside there, and in which Horgan showed his most comfortable margins of victory.

So yes race did have something to do with it, but it went both ways. The black republican candidates likely recieved a small margin if any, of black democrat votes, which makes some sence, since they are not democrats, however, the white Democrats, could not agree to support a black democrat nor a black republican and decided to vote for their stealth white candidate. (Whose old family democratic ties, was mentioned by the candidate at the debates.)

The numbers are there for all to review. So, I’d be careful what you might say about the voters. The Republican Party gladly welcomes black conservatives, but we still cringe at liberal democrats who merely say they are republicans. In fact, the members of the local party were in full support of the black candidate who had wonderful credentials over the RINO white candidate.

Perhaps race still makes a difference in our elections, but I believe that it still has a home moreso in the Democratic base, rather than the Republican Party.

By David

March 23, 2006 11:18 PM | Link to this

I was extremely disappointed by Emory’s comment. Then I remembered that he’s a lawyer—taking advantage of any angle with total disregard to social responsibility. Emory—be an example to your children and rescind your comment for the greater good.

By Brian

March 27, 2006 04:05 AM | Link to this

You can’t tell by looking around, but campaigning against a white opponent doesn’t entitle you to win.