Calvin Smyre urged to run for mayor of Columbus
Our friend Chuck Williams over at The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer pointed us to it, so we'll give him the first word:
It may be a little early to start discussing the 2018 Columbus mayor’s race, but a local publication threw out a name that will get the attention of anyone considering entry into the race.logo-GB
The real news was committed by Wane Hailes, publisher of the The Courier/Eco Latino, a local newspaper aimed at both the African-American and Latino community. He wants state Rep. Calvin Smyre, a Democrat and longest-serving member of the state Legislature, to become Columbus' first black mayor.
The current mayor, Teresa Tomlinson, is term-limited.
Hailes began his pitch to Smyre with a mini-homily:
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth," and Calvin Smyre, your rent is due. It is time for you to run for mayor of Columbus.
Then there was this:
It is time for Smyre to follow those who have served on the state level and made the decision to serve their local communities as mayor such as Andrew Young and Kasim Reed and others.
Hailes might have to wait until after the current session of the Legislature for an answer. From Chuck Williams:
But there is a reason Smyre is not talking: he is in the middle of a difficult legislative fight involving casino gambling, which appears to be the flavor of the month in the General Assembly…
And Smyre has been clear: if it is going to pass, he wants Columbus in consideration as one of the possible sites.
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Many of you might have noted a recent piece from Politico.com that began thusly:
The concerns are affecting not only some of the highest-profile nominations, including agriculture secretary pick Sonny Perdue, but also candidates for ambassadorships, judicial positions and other posts. The chill that's settled in even has some people considering bowing out of contention, meaning Trump's attempt to quickly fill his government could drag out even more.
We ran into one of the former Georgia governor’s confidantes in the state Capitol on Tuesday. He assured us that Perdue is at peace with the slow pace that comes with becoming a member of the Trump cabinet, and is bearing up with the patience of Job – just as he always has.
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The Sentinel, the campus newspaper at Kennesaw State University, points out that its new president, former attorney general Sam Olens, is siding with his new boss on the matter of guns on public university campuses. The publication quotes this line from Olens' office:
"I support Chancellor Wrigley in his advocacy for maintaining Georgia's existing law as it relates to campus carry," the email read.
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A young Republican newcomer's plan to spend $250,000 boosting his longshot bid for the 6th District Congressional didn't sit too well with one veteran Georgia political operative.
Lawton Sack's sharp and unsolicited advice to David Abroms, the 33-year-old who wants to invest some of his fortune into the 18-man race: "Please, sir, don't do this."
Writing in Georgiapol.com, Sack urged Abroms to ignore consultants who "whisper into the ear of a non-viable candidate and tell them they have a shot."
He's familiar with that world. He once led the Bulloch County GOP and served as the 12th District GOP chair, which gave him an entry to the state party's executive committee and the wider world of operatives lurking in Georgia's political shadows. Writes Sack:
"PLEASE reconsider. If by some miracle you make the runoff in 8 weeks, then maybe consider using your own money. It is your money and your right to spend it, but you can make a real difference by donating it to charity instead of tossing it into the wind."
Abroms, we should note, has attracted a top-flight consultant known for an independent streak to advise his campaign: Joel Searby managed Evan McMullin's 2016 presidential bid. You can read about Abroms' bid for office here.
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As the agriculture industry braces for the fallout of Donald Trump's immigration policy, Georgia's top farming official sounded a note of optimism.
Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black told WABE's Denis O'Hayer this week that the president's executive orders on immigration and border security will have a muted effect on farmers. More important, he said, is the need to work out the kinks of the H2A temporary work visa program.
"I don't recall last season their being a hue and cry from rural Georgia saying we're short this migrant crew or that migrant crew," said Black.
"But here's what I did hear about: Because an I was not dotted or a 'T' was not crossed, paperwork was stalled in the pipeline and producers actually had workers arrived one, two or three weeks late."
Listen to the full interview here.
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Dunwoody jeweler Bruce LeVell picked up a pair of endorsements Wednesday in his bid for Congress.
Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway and ex-Dunwoody Mayor Mike Davis both backed LeVell, who ran Donald Trump's national diversity coalition during the 2016 campaign.
The Sixth District doesn't touch Gwinnett, but Conway has a reputation beyond his county line as a tough-on-crime conservative sheriff.
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But former secretary of state Karen Handel remains the most aggressive Republican in the Sixth District race. She's out this morning with this long list of endorsements:
D.C. Aiken - City of Alpharetta, former CouncilmemberMike Bowers - Former Georgia Attorney General
JoAnn Birrell - Cobb County Commissioner
Nancy Diamond - Roswell City Councilmember
Steve Dorvee - Former Roswell City Councilmember
Tim Echols - Public Service Commissioner
Chuck Eaton - Public Service Commissioner
Joe Gebbia - City of Brookhaven, Councilmember
Jim Gilvin - City of Alpharetta, Councilmember
Ashley Jenkins - Sandy Springs, former Councilmember
Randall Johnson - Johns Creek, former Councilmember
Mike Kenn - Former Fulton County Commission Chair
Arthur Letchas - City of Alpharetta, former Mayor
Joe Lockwood - City of Milton, Mayor
Joe Longoria - City of Milton, Councilmember
Bill Lusk - City of Milton, Councilmember
Bates Mattison - City of Brookhaven, Mayor Pro Tem
Karen Meinzen-McEnerny - Sandy Springs, former Councilmember
Dan Merkel - City of Alpharetta, Councilmember
Terry Nall - Dunwoody, Councilmember
Bob Ott - Cobb County Commissioner
Chris Owens - City of Alpharetta, Mayor Pro Tem
Michelle Penkara - Tucker, Councilmember
Donna Pittman - Doraville, Mayor
Kristen Riley - Former Roswell City Councilmember
Jim Still - City of Mountain Park, Mayor
Pam Tallmadge - Dunwoody, Councilmember
Karen Thurman - City of Milton, Councilmember
Honey Van De Kreke - Tucker, Councilmember
Rebecca Chase Williams - City of Brookhaven, former Mayor
Becky Wynn - Roswell, Councilmember
About the Author
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
