Democratic candidates in Cherokee County, as rare in past elections as that lone alligator occasionally seen in the Chattahoochee River, are showing up to challenge Republicans this year.
Four Cherokee Democrats are running for state legislative seats. That includes businessman Patrick Thompson, who is campaigning against Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock). And two local Democrats are running for the school board.
Compare that to 2006 and 2008, when Cherokee County supplied only one Democratic challenger to the local races. Each time, the challenge was to Rep. Sean Jerguson (R-Holly Springs).
The Democrats are positioning themselves as an alternative to the administrations that were in control while the economy went south.
"After eight years of Republican rule in the state, here we are: one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, leading the nation in bank failures, a leader in foreclosures," said county Democratic Party President Bill Haffner. "The budget is a mess, and it is really misapplied. Educational support is cut first, which is typical around here. So we are mad as [heck] and want our state back, and the county as well."
Rep. Calvin Hill (R-Canton), who ran unchallenged in two previous campaigns for House District 21, has already noted the competition on his Web site and asks for contributions to help beat back the challenge.
Cherokee County has been a Republican stronghold for years. Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson's Web site called Cherokee County one of the 20 most conservative in the U.S. this spring. Do the Democrats have a chance?
"Statistically, no," Hill said. "The Republicans have a majority."
In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama got about 24 percent of the vote. Still, Hill is taking no chances.
"I am going to be campaigning at every moment," he said.
Bill Brown, the Democrat running against Jerguson, also ran against him in 2008 and proudly noted he got 27 percent of the votes, a higher percentage than Obama.
"It is unprecedented to have six Democrats running for various offices in Cherokee County," Brown said. "The party has fielded candidates across the board, and they are good, quality candidates, and it will give us a chance to debate the issues."
Brown said he will talk about failures of Republican programs such as continuing to give corporate tax cuts and maintaining a program to bring more sports fishing to Georgia while laying off teachers.
"It is unacceptable. Once people understand that, I think we will do really well," he said.
Jerguson said seeing six Democrats qualify was a surprise, after so many years when most races were decided in Republican primaries. He does not know why so many Democrats turned out, but it will not change the strategy that has seen him elected by large majorities in the past -- issues such as keeping taxes low and taking personal responsibility, he said.
"I know [Republicans] are going to take every opportunity seriously and campaign and listen to the voters," he said.
And they will choose the winners.
Brown said, "It is hard to tell how many of us will win. But if not, at least we are going out there to educate people. We will certainly make a difference."
Competitive Cherokee County races
State House District 20
State House District 21
State House District 22
State Senate District 21
Cherokee County School Board, Post 3
Cherokee County School Board, Post 6
Here are the sites for the Cherokee County parties:
http://cherokeedemocrats.com/driver/
www.cherokeecountygop.com/
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