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Wednesday, November 21, 2007
In which we help Rosalynn Carter rig an election
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Happy Thanksgiving, people.
We’re passing on a request from Thomas Bates, co-founder of Democrats Work — a partisan but do-gooding organization that Bates started with Jason Carter, grandson of the former president.
Bates forwarded an e-mail that Rosalynn Carter has written, asking Georgians to help Sumter Regional Hospital in Americus win a new, million-dollar MRI.
You’ll recall the hospital was destroyed by a tornado last March.
Insurance will cover much but not all of the rebuilding. By coincidence, Siemens Medical Solutions is hosting a contest to give away an MRI to one hospital in the U.S.
The former First Lady wants the machine to go to Americus, and is pointing people to this web site, where a popular vote is being tabulated.
“Right now, we are in first place, but the second place hospital is just outside of Buffalo, an area with a much larger population than southwest Georgia,” Mrs. Carter wrote.
“You will see that many hospitals, including other great hospitals in Georgia, have posted videos. Many of them are deserving, but I hope you will take the two minutes to hear our story and help us.”
“You can vote once a day, every day. Please vote often and forward this message to your family and friends asking them to do the same. The last day to vote is December 31st.”
Note to Republicans: It occurs to us that there are still certain offices in this region of Georgia you haven’t conquered yet. This might be an opportunity to win some brownie points.
Field set to replace state Rep. Dan Lakly of Fayette County
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Three Republicans and a Democrat have qualified as candidates in the Dec. 18 special election to fill the vacancy created by the death of state Rep. Dan Lakly of Fayette County.
Lakly, 65, died of a heart attack in October.
Secretary of State Karen Handel said four candidates met the noon Wednesday deadline for submitting their names and a $400 fee for the House District 72 contest:
— Republican Heidi Becker of Fayetteville;
— Republican Steve Brown of Peachtree City;
— Democrat Kevin Madden of Peachtree City;
— and Republican Matt Ramsey of Peachtree City.
While the contest is formally non-partisan, the party affiliations of all candidates will be noted on the ballots. Voter registration for the contest closes today. Early balloting begins Dec. 10.
A run-off election would be held Jan. 15.
Click here to see the confines of House District 72, which is contained entirely within central Fayette County.
