We told you over the weekend how Gov. Nathan Deal's finances, an issue that dogged him four years ago, have rebounded since he's taken office:
But a tipster has sent us over some other details that didn't show up on his campaign finance disclosure.
The transaction involved Deal's 2012 purchase of property near his house in Demorest. The $350,000 acquisition is listed in the governor's ethics filings. At the time, Deal signaled in court filings he would put $200,000 down on the property and take a $150,000 promissory note on the property. That loan, from a Jonsey Jane Jones, was canceled about a year later, in June 2013, around the time the governor sold his stake in his salvage yard to Copart.
The loan was not listed on his campaign finance disclosures -- and Deal's campaign said that wasn't necessary. Campaign spokesman Brian Robinson said the mid-term disclosure for elected officials isn't required to be as detailed as the forms that candidates must complete during election years.
"By the time we had to fill out the 2014 candidate form, the loan was paid off," said Robinson. "So, again, this is my understanding, by the time he would have had to disclose a loan, that one was paid off."
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If there's one thing different about the 2014 general election season, it's Republican acknowledgement that the outcome isn't a slam dunk. From U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-Roswell, to the Cobb County Republican Women's Club on Friday, via Jon Gillooly and the Marietta Daily Journal:
"Georgia's pivotal, and I'm here to tell you that we aren't where we need to be right now," Price said. "Even in this district, Cobb County is so important to this election. You know Cobb County always turns up more folks to vote from a percentage standpoint than anybody else. It's going to take more work in this election to move this state in the right direction, so anything you can do."
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Politico takes an early look at the runoff game plans in Georgia and Louisiana, with U.S. Senate races that could go beyond November to decide which party controls the chamber. The plans are further along in the bayou, where a tea party Republican candidate is polling decently well in the state's "jungle primary" system that is highly likely to force a runoff.
As for our state:
While [GOP heavyweight Eric] Tanenblatt said that a runoff in the Peach State has historically favored Republicans, all could change if control of the Senate would be determined by that race and if emboldened Democrats pull off a dramatic upset in the governor's race, energizing the party for Nunn.
"These runoffs are going to be very expensive," Tanenblatt said.
Both sides said the intensive get-out-the-vote operation each side is developing now, with an army of paid staff and volunteers, would be replicated the moment a runoff race would begin. Democrats, who have been swamped by the GOP in Georgia over the past decade, have built up a rival ground operation this year that gives Nunn a chance come Nov. 4, officials in both parties said.
Ryan Mahoney, spokesman for the Georgia Republican Party, said the 14 field offices and the 650 volunteers on the ground amount to the "largest grass-roots effort" ever put forward by the GOP in the state. And, he said, that won't end come Nov. 4 if the party machinery needs to prepare for a nine-week runoff.
About that last stat -- 650 GOP volunteers in a historic effort. Mahoney sends word that he's a victim of Politico misquotery: "I said we had 650 precinct captains leading the volunteer efforts throughout the state. Not 650 total." A Nunn spokesman told us that more than 6,000 people have pulled a volunteer shift for the Democratic coordinated campaign this year.
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Democrat Michelle Nunn heads back to D.C. to raise money today, including a bash that includes 2004 presidential hopeful Howard Dean and Democratic superlobbyists Tony and Heather Podesta among the co-hosts.
The Georgia GOP, which helpfully compiled the fundraiser invites, points out that they still includes a nugget of biographical info that the campaign has already admitted is inaccurate: that Nunn spent most of her childhood in Perry. But the invite was likely produced long before the Politifact piece ran 10 days ago.
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This somehow slipped our attention, but add Athens-Clarke County to the list of Democratic enclaves considering Sunday voting. Blake Aued at Flagpole reports that the county board of elections will decide the issue at its Oct. 7 meeting.
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Former Arkansas governor and possible 2016 presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee worshipped in Atlanta this weekend at the Church of the Apostles. Here's a video of his full remarks.
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Speaking of 2016, U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson is already gearing up for a re-election bid with a snazzy new website designed by the Stoneridge Group. His new logo is at right.
The content signals that Isakson intends to protect his right flank. On immigration:
"Any meaningful conversation about immigration reform must begin with a plan to fully secure our borders and uphold the rule of law. I do not support any form of amnesty or pathway to citizenship for those who have entered our country illegally."
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In 2012, a catchy TV spot featuring his family's firearms collection helped U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Augusta, keep his job. Consider this one, in which Barrow portrays himself as an anti-Congress congressman, to be the sequel:
The Augusta Democrat's newest ad, released this morning, chastises Congress for being lazy for not working at 11 a.m. (floor business often does not begin until noon, as mornings are reserved for committee hearings) and mentions Barrow's refusal of the congressional health insurance subsidy and his paycheck during the government shutdown. It also cites Barrow-backed bills to ban members from flying first class or getting paid if Congress doesn't pass a budget.
Barrow voted against a version of "no budget, no pay" last year when it was attached to a debt ceiling increase and only applied for one year. But the measure worked, in a sense, as the Senate passed a budget for the only time in recent memory.
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U.S. Rep. John Barrow and Republican Rick Allen debated Saturday to an overflow crowd of more than 200 -- despite competing with the Georgia-Tennessee football game. The zingers, via the Augusta Chronicle:
Barrow swiftly defended himself.
"I vote in a bipartisan fashion," he said. "I work in a bipartisan fashion. For two reasons: First, it's the right way to do things. Whether you like the person or not, they have something to say, no matter which side of the aisle they're on. More importantly, it's the only way to get anything done.
"Mr. Allen might be frustrated by what's going on, but I work with people on both sides of the aisle and fixing blame is not going to fix the problem."
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Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was in Athens last week. It was a typically quiet appearance for the Savannah native, but we're told he spent time at the University of Georgia Law School and took in Saturday's football game against Tennessee from the president's box.
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In an interview with Denis O'Hayer of WABE (90.1FM), posted as the weekend began, state Rep. Harry Geisinger, R-Roswell, said he intends to reintroduce a bill to bar spying by drones in Georgia – with a hefty exemption for law enforcement.
Geisinger said the state needn't wait for federal regulators to take the first step – and that he didn't think the devices can be controlled from Washington:
"What's interesting is that the GBI and the State Patrol don't have any drones. I don't know of a sheriff in Georgia that has a drone, or a chief of police in any city that uses drones. But they want to when you talk to them.
"And when I tell them that you can buy a very good drone for about $3,500 – including the camera, and if you want to lift something, it'll lift about 35 pounds – they get all excited."
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The Atlanta Press Club has released its fall debate schedule. If you like politics, your Sundays are spoken for in October:
Public Service Commission, District 1: Tapes from 1:30 – 2:00 p.m.. Broadcast online at atlantapressclub.org. Invited candidates: Doug Everett and John Monds.
Agriculture Commissioner: Tapes from 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Airs at 6 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Invited candidates: Gary Black and Chris Irvin.
Labor Commissioner: Tapes from 4:45 – 5:15 p.m.. Airs at 6:30 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Invited candidates: Mark Butler and Robbin Shipp.
State School Superintendent: Tapes from 5:30 – 6 p.m. Airs at 7 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Invited candidates: Valarie Wilson and Richard Woods
Attorney General: Tapes from 6:15 – 6:45 p.m. Airs at 7:30 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Invited candidates: Greg Hecht and Sam Olens
Sunday, Oct. 19:
PSC, District 4: Tapes from 3:30 – 4 p.m. Broadcast online at atlantapressclub.org. Invited candidates: Daniel Blackman, Aaron Gilmer and Lauren "Bubba" McDonald.
Secretary of State: Tapes from 4:15 – 4:45 p.m. Airs at 6 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Invited candidates: Doreen Carter and Brian Kemp
Lieutenant Governor: Tapes from 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Airs at 6:30 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Invited candidates: Casey Cagle and Connie Stokes
Governor : Airs live from 7 – 8 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Invited candidates: Jason Carter, Nathan Deal and Andrew Hunt.
Sunday, Oct. 26:
Insurance Commissioner: Tapes from 4:15 – 4:45 p.m. Airs at 6 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Invited candidates: Ralph Hudgens, Liz Johnson and Ted Metz.
12th Congressional District: Tapes from 5 -- 5:30 p.m. Airs at 6:30 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Invited candidates: Rick Allen and John Barrow
U.S. Senate: Airs live from 7 – 8 p.m. on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Invited candidates: Michelle Nunn, David Perdue and Amanda Swafford.
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