Updated: Mary Norwood has sent a $500 check to John Lewis. Details are below.
Original: Just as bees are attracted to bouquets, politicians can't resist crowds of voters. No matter who feels stung.
On Saturday afternoon, a day before the Atlanta Gay Pride parade that both attended, mayoral candidate Mary Norwood made an appearance at a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Atlanta.
that showed her and Lewis in the same frame, with this message:
“Celebrating with Atlanta’s beloved Civil Rights legend! Thank you Cong. John Lewis for 30+ years of getting into good trouble.”
That's all well and good, but Norwood apparently didn't buy a ticket to the event. Here's the Facebook post by Kristin Oblander, who heads up a prominent Atlanta fund-raising outfit:
Bad enough to have Norwood staffer call me to inquire how much tickets are to event ($100, $30 Seniors), then not donate, then show up and blow by our registration table, barge past doorman into private Sponsor's reception with your professional photographer in tow, then be asked to leave....THEN to tweet about the event like you are a supporter!? All for your political gain, shows such a lack of respect and decorum.
IF you had made a contribution you would've been properly registered for event and we would've taken your picture with our professional photographer!
Federal records show Norwood hasn't contributed to Lewis’ campaign. And Lewis has made no endorsement in the race for mayor of Atlanta.
Norwood's camp denies that she was kicked out, but said that she had to jet after a short time because she had a packed schedule.
As we say in today's print edition: The race for mayor of Atlanta has become a frantic footrace. Perhaps we've reached that stage where it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. (Greg Bluestein)
Updated at 12:40 p.m.: We've just received the following note from Norwood's press person:
Mary Norwood was gratified to attend the John Lewis birthday benefit this past weekend. Through an oversight on the part of Jamie Ensley, Campaign Treasurer, who was involved in Gay Pride weekend events on behalf of the campaign, the check was not delivered in a timely fashion. The check has now been delivered.
This photo was included:
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We don't generally pass along editorial positions, but Savannah is the 1912 birthplace of the Girl Scouts. Here's a taste of the Savannah Morning News take on the Boy Scouts of America decision to open its ranks to girls:
In a letter to the Boy Scouts, the national president of Girl Scouts of the USA, Kathy Hopinkah Hannan, claims the Boy Scouts are engaged in a “covert campaign to recruit girls” into their programs.
Ms. Hannan expressed two major grievances. First, that the Boy Scouts are looking at expanding to a co-ed model, which would undercut Girl Scouts membership. And second, that the Boy Scouts are being sneaky about their intentions, having apparently glossed over those plans in a recent phone conversation between Hannan and Randall Stephenson, national president of the Boy Scouts….
She is correct. Indeed, the move by the Boy Scouts smacks of desperation. The organization has been hurting, as it has lost a third of its membership since 2000. While both groups must do more to prop up sagging memberships, and to serve under-served youths, that doesn’t excuse the Boy Scouts of poaching.
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This from the AJC's James Salzer may be the most important article in today's print edition:
Gov. Nathan Deal and lawmakers were unhappy last year when only 40 percent of Georgia school districts gave teachers the salary hikes the General Assembly promised.
This year most gave at least the 2 percent increase approved by lawmakers, according to a state Department of Education survey obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. But the survey found something else: Eight years after the Great Recession ended, a few rural school districts still have to furlough staffers to keep their doors open.
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After a nine-year absence, former GOP lawmaker and state transportation commissioner Vance Smith, 65, intends to make a bid for his old House seat, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. State Rep. John Pezold, R-Columbus, is not seeking re-election.
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On the Democratic side of the fight for the Senate District 6 seat that straddles Buckhead and Cobb County, Vinings dentist Jaha Howard has caught some flak for some conservative views he's expressed in the past.
The Georgia Voice last week published screen grabs of a series of Howard's Facebook posts:
-- From 2012: “The Bible in fact teaches that women should only teach other women. There is no Biblical authority for women; pastors; bishops etc.”
-- From the same year: “If there comes a point where I lose patients or have protests in front of my office because of my personal stance on gay marriage, I will be ready to deal with it.”
Howard has apologized for the statements. Nonetheless, the Marietta Daily Journal dipped in on Saturday:
Michael Owens, chair of the Cobb Democratic Committee, said he’s spoken with Howard and believes him to be a person driven and led by his faith.
“While that may be admirable, it has clearly put him at odds with some of the core values of the Democratic platform. Regardless of where he stands on these issues, I think it is most important for him to be clear and consistent with voters,” Owens said.
It’s just another reminder that, these days, you are what you post.
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Our friend Alexis Scott sends word that Calvin Carter, who retired as aviation commissioner for the city of Atlanta in 1990, has died.
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Just in time for a likely runoff for mayor of Atlanta, a new documentary of the life and times of Maynard Jackson, the city's first black mayor, will have its world premiere on Nov. 16 at DOC NYC, a documentary film festival in New York City. Sam Pollard is the director.
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Republican Clay Tippins hasn't formally announced his run for governor yet, but the shadow campaign might as well be over. We got hold of an invite advertising a "meet and greet" next week in Carrollton with the Atlanta businessman, who seems certain to tailor his campaign for governor around his outsider appeal. A lengthy list of hosts from the community were attached. (GB)
