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Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Of engagement showers, and the AIDS virus
Unusual political topics that could dominate two races in the July primaries
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
That engagement shower thrown for state Rep. Stacey Reece may be more expensive than anyone imagined.
The Gainesville Republican has picked up primary opposition from Lee Hawkins, a local dentist. Hawkins made his announcement Wednesday morning on Martha Zoller’s morning radio show on WDUN.
Last month, Reece and his intended were guests of honor at a downtown Atlanta party that celebrated their coming nuptials. The problem is that the fete was thrown by 21 lobbyists, while the Legislature was in session.
Reece also riled hard-core GOP conservatives last year with his successful sponsorship of a smoking ban in public places.
On another political note
And you thought Nan Orrock would be replaced by some Republican in a tweed suit?
Allen Thornell, former head of the gay-rights group Georgia Equality, has jumped up to say he wants to replace Orrock in her District 58 House seat. He’d be the first openly gay man in the Legislature. (He and state Rep. Karla Drenner could form the first gay-lesbian caucus in the state Capitol.)
Interestingly, Thornell is also open about being HIV-positive. He’s infected by the AIDS virus, a fact he found out 12 years ago. He expects the topic to be raised during a campaign that’s likely to include a large number of Democratic candidates.
“Certainly my HIV status is pretty well known because I’ve always been open about it,� Thornell said in a press release announcing his decision. “It has helped me understand the problems with our health-care system — it comes as an advantage actually.�
As head of Georgia Equality, Thornell waged an unsuccessful fight in the halls of the Legislature, to keep the gay marriage amendment off the November 2004 ballot.
For the past two years, Thornell has been the deputy regional political director of the Service Employees International Union, which means he could have some substantial labor support for the seat.
District 58 straddles the east Atlanta and the DeKalb County line. It includes portions of Grant Park and Reynoldstown.
Orrock, one of the Legislature’s most reliable liberals, is going after the state Senate seat being vacated by Sam Zamarripa.
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Campaign inflation
Just because Cagle and Reed have collected all that money, doesn't mean they can spend it.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credit bloggers, here and on peachpundit.com for this one. A few swift calculations show that the money race in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor is tighter than the totals indicate.
Campaign finance reports filed last week show Ralph Reed with $1.4 million cash on hand, and Casey Cagle with $881,227 in the bank. That’s a hefty $565,275 spread. But about $250,000 of the difference is illusion.
Both candidates have inflated their totals by taking more than the allowable $5,000 per individual, and diverting the excess to races beyond the July 18 vote. They can’t touch the extra dough until after the primary.
Reed in particular has juiced his total by 22.7 percent, by accepting $58,000 for a primary run-off (even though there are only two GOP candidates so far) and $269,821.82 for the general election.
Cagle has puffed up his total by 8.5 percent, by accepting $74,504.90 in general election cash.
In other words, Reed’s working total of cash on hand for the primary is $1,118,681. And Cagle’s is $806,721. So the true spread between the two candidates is $311,960.
That’s still significant, but the difference between the two candidates is now down to about the price of a week’s worth of broadcast TV spots in metro Atlanta.
Herman Cain diagnosed with cancer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Herman Cain, the former U.S. senate candidate and the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, has been diagnosed with colon cancer, a spokeswoman for Cain said this morning.
“The guy’s a fighter and he’s going to be fine,” said Ericka Pertierra, his chief of staff. “He’s trying to figure out how to do the radio show from the bed.”
Cain, 60, learned of the diagnosis “a couple weeks ago” and is scheduled for surgery later this month at a hospital in Houston, she said. Doctors said the cancer was caught at an early stage.
Cain was one of three Republican candidates in the 2004 race for U.S. Senate. The Henry County resident came in second with 26 percent of the vote, behind U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson but ahead of U.S. Rep. Mac Collins.
Currently, Cain is a motivational speaker, and has a weekly radio show on WSB (750 AM). His web site is here.
