Without preamble, here are the ways I’m going this election season, and why:
Georgia State Constitutional Amendment #1: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to make Georgia more economically competitive by authorizing legislation to uphold reasonable competitive agreements?”
I will vote NO NO NO. This could also be stated, “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to make employees less able to control their own futures?” Sure, this is a boon for businesses, but I regard this as something that should be addressed through employee retention policies and not forcing me (and you can be forced after hiring to sign these) to sign a non-compete agreement that is so broad as to disallow me from working in my field of expertise.
Georgia State Constitutional Amendment #2: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to impose an annual $10.00 trauma charge on certain motor vehicles in this state for the purpose of funding trauma care?”
This is a tax levied on all owners of private automobiles. Yes, it’s a tax. Yes, I’ll vote for it. Trauma hospitals are important and motor vehicles provide a lot of the supply of patients to them.
Georgia State Constitutional Amendment #3: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to allow the Georgia Department of Transportation to enter into multiyear construction agreements without requiring appropriations in the current fiscal year for the total amount of payments that would be due under the entire agreement so as to reduce long-term construction costs paid by the state?”
Ahh, something of which I have expertise! Yes, I’ll vote for this one, and you should, too. This doesn’t change the obligation of the state in funding projects, doesn’t change the costs, doesn’t change how people get paid, it only changes the way the contracts are obligated from fiscal year to fiscal year. Sure, it has a downside if the DOT gets discombobulated and stops funding projects; there would be half-finished roads everywhere, but this is still a good idea. Vote for it!
Georgia State Constitutional Amendment #4: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to allow the Georgia Department of Transportation to enter into multiyear construction agreements without requiring appropriations in the current fiscal year for the total amount of payments that would be due under the entire agreement so as to reduce long-term construction costs paid by the state?”
This one is basically the same as #3. If you vote for 3, you should vote for 4 and vice versa.
Georgia State Constitutional Amendment #5: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to allow the owners of real property located in industrial areas to remove the property from the industrial area?”
I have no earthly clue about this one. I have to go find out.
U.S. Senate: Michael Thurmond (D). I’m voting for Commissioner Thurmond rather than for the incumbent Johnny Isakson (R) for social-justice reasons. I agree with Isakson’s positions on business and (somewhat) taxation, although he’s been holding the republican party line recently (“The Party of No”) however his positions on various social agendae I find repugnant.
Georgia Governor: Former Governor Roy Barnes (D). I’ve voting for Barnes and against former U.S. Representative Nathan Deal. I haven’t put much thought into the GA Governor’s race because when Deal announced his candidacy, he also took up the position of a Birther, which is one of my few political litmus tests. If you’re a birther, you are either ignorant or pandering to the ignorant, and I will not vote for you. This issue is dead dead dead.
On the other side of the coin, I’m also voting for Barnes for pocketbook reasons. I think he’ll be better for Georgia transportation funding than Deal would be. That spells continued employment for me.
Georgia Lieutenant Governor: Casey Cagle (R-incumbent). I like Casey. He’s done good stuff. That’s enough for me
Georgia Attorney General: Ken Hodges (D). I was going to vote for Sam Olens (R) the basis of the competency he displayed as the Commissioner of Cobb County, rather than his ideology. However, I realized that while I would support him in a run for Governor or Lt. Governor, I do not support him for Attorney General. He came out in the wake of the federal health care law as saying that if he were Attorney General, he would join the lawsuit challenging the law’s constitutionality. I don’t personally think there is any merit in that claim and I believe that this is a Republican fuck you to the American people. I don’t want him wasting my tax dollars on a frivolous lawsuit so Ken, you got my vote.
U.S. Rep: Tom Price (R-incumbent). Running unopposed.
State Rep: Don Parsons (R-incumbent). Running unopposed.
State Senator: Chip Rogers (R-incumbent). I actually need to do some research into his opponent, Patrick Thompson, but at this time I think I’ll be voting incumbent.
If you notice that there are a lot of things left off this list, it’s because I either don’t have an opinion yet, or haven’t done my research.
