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Saturday, July 21, 2007
DeKalb’s Jones launches quest for Senate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones threw himself into the Democratic contest for U.S. Senate on Saturday with searing criticisms of Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss for his stands on immigration and the war in Iraq.
“We’re in a bad situation over there, and poor leadership and rubber stamps got us over there,” Jones said. “We have to find a dignified way to get out of Iraq.”
He emphasized his support for the war on terror, but added that “fighting terrorism, and making stupid, repeated mistakes are two different things.”
The lanky DeKalb County executive made his long-expected announcement on the picturesque Marietta Square in Republican-dominated Cobb County. Jones said he chose the location because of its proximity to a national military cemetery and Dobbins Air Reserve Base.
About 150 supporters attended the announcement, many of them brought to the rally on two air-conditioned buses. Attendees included Walter Young, brother of former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young, and Patricia Roberts, the mother of Jamaal Addison, the first Georgian killed in Iraq.
Jones first announced his interest in the U.S. Senate race in December. His two terms as head of DeKalb County government could give him a distinct advantage in his search for the Democratic nomination — DeKalb generates more Democratic votes than any other county in the state.
But winning a statewide general election has become a challenge for any Democrat. In the 2004 race for U.S. Senate, Denise Majette — like Jones a resident of DeKalb County and an African-American — earned only 40 percent of the vote in her loss to Republican Johnny Isakson.
As of June 30, Jones reported raising a total $188,970 for the race, and had $154,403 in cash on hand. Chambliss, facing his first re-election bid, reported $3.3 million available.
Jones mentioned Democratic rival Dale Cardwell only when prompted by reporters. Cardwell, a former Atlanta TV journalist, entered the race last month. “I’ve run a government. I’ve got a track record. I see him as an intern,” Jones said of Cardwell.
On the bandstand in the Marietta Square, before a huge American flag, the DeKalb CEO offered up his county’s improved “quality of life” as evidence of his ability. “I believe I can do for the country what I’ve done for this county,” he said.
Jones, the son of a North Carolina tobacco farmer, also pointed to his eight years as a state legislator, claiming credit for helping establish the PeachCare program, which provides health insurance for children of Georgia’s working poor.
But the crowd responded most loudly when the topic was Jones’ Republican opponent.
In addition to repeatedly calling Chambliss a “rubberstamp” when it comes to Bush administration policy on Iraq, Jones accused Chambliss of performing a “Michael Jackson moonwalk on immigration reform.”
Jones noted that Chambliss ended up voting against “the very legislation that he helped craft” — after the bill received a hostile reception among Georgia voters.
Jones insisted his critique of Chambliss would remain issue-oriented. “I think he’s a nice man. He really is. He’s just out of touch,” he said.
The Democratic candidate himself is likely to be subject to questions about his personal life. As DeKalb CEO, Jones was the center of several controversies — including a 2005 rape allegation, in which a woman alleged Jones, who is not married, had assaulted her after a night of consentual sex with her and a second woman.
After a nine-month investigation, the woman withdrew the charges, but never recanted.
Jones said he’s ready for any personal attacks. “Every single issue that’s been brought against me — every single one of them — has been proven, clearly proven, to be false and baseless,” Jones said. “My life is open. I’m open. Let’s discuss it. I have nothing to hide.”
In the 1996 presidential race, Jones noted, U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich focused on President Bill Clinton’s sex life. “He got re-elected, and Newt Gingrich is home,” Jones said.
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