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Saturday, Oct. 04, 2008

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Former U.N. ambassador to speak in Macon

Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will speak Tuesday evening on Mercer University's Macon campus as part of its executive forum, which in the past has hosted political heavyweights James Carville and Newt Gingrich.

Bolton, the controversial and short-lived American ambassador to the world body, will give a 6:30 p.m. dinner presentation.

An executive forum membership is needed to attend. Contact Mercer's Office of University Advancement at (800) 837-2911 or visit www.mercer.edu/execforum for more details.

HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE

Lake Wildwood residents took incumbents to task earlier this week at a political forum held in their neighborhood clubhouse.

Tempers flared and voices raised as some residents accused Bibb County Commission Chairman Charlie Bishop, Commissioner Joe Allen and Sheriff Jerry Modena of not giving them their fair share of services for their tax dollars. The incumbents face Sam Hart, Maurice Atkinson and Scotty Shepherd, respectively, in the November election.

"Every county commissioner I've talked to says it's because we're private," one resident said.

Much of the criticism focused on what some residents perceived as a lack of patrol and law enforcement in the gated neighborhood.

Modena said deputies have been patrolling Lake Wildwood, and two weeks ago he reminded a captain to continue driving through the area.

He said he currently is looking for an agreement that would make it easier to prosecute minor traffic offenses in the neighborhood.

Because Lake Wildwood is a private community, there are some minor traffic laws - like speeding and running a stop sign - that can't be enforced unless the community agrees to allow local law enforcement to do so, Chief Deputy David Davis later explained.

Lake Wildwood made such an agreement sometime in the 1990s, but no one can seem to find it, he said. Because there's a question of whether the agreement still exists or is still in effect, the sheriff's office has been having difficulty prosecuting minor traffic offenses, he said.

Serious charges, such as driving under the influence, reckless driving and burglary, are applicable anywhere, Davis said.

"You can charge someone with DUI if they're driving in a cow pasture," he said.

Similar laws apply for some county services. Bishop told residents they could work with the county on several issues, such as getting help removing large amounts of trash.

"We don't try to keep from doing anything because it's private," he said.

FREEMAN SIGNS GO MISSING

State Rep. Allen Freeman, who's running for re-election in District 140 against former Twiggs County Commissioner James "Bubber" Epps, says someone is stealing his campaign signs.

More than $500 worth of signs have gone missing, said Freeman, R-Macon.

"I have endured many heated campaigns," Freeman said in a news release. "But, never have I seen anything like this.

"Although I give my opponent the benefit of the doubt that he is not directly involved, the fact that his signs are being placed over the very frames that my signs were stolen from makes it clear that these vandals are associated with Epps' campaign," the release states.

"I call on 'Bubber' to publicly denounce this behavior and give the sheriff's office names of anyone he knows to be involved."

Epps declined to do that, and said "the structures that his signs are put on, mine wouldn't fit on." He said his volunteers wouldn't steal Freeman's signs and that Freeman "knows I didn't have anything to do with this."

"This is just disturbing," he said. "We're facing a crisis in our state as far as an economic downturn and here we are wanting to talk about campaign signs."

MERCER HOSTS GEORGIA COURT OF APPEALS CANDIDATES

Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law will host candidates for the Georgia Court of Appeals on Tuesday.

Judge John H. Ruffin Jr. is retiring from the court, and seven attorneys have qualified as candidates for his replacement. The Judicial Candidates Forum will be held at 6 p.m. in the Moot Courtroom at the law school on Georgia Avenue. The public is invited to attend.

Candidates for the Georgia Court of Appeals include:

• Tamela Adkins, a family law practitioner in Lawrenceville;

• Sara Doyle, a partner with Holland & Knight in Atlanta;

• Christopher McFadden, an appellate attorney in Atlanta;

• Bruce Edenfield, a partner with Hedrick & Edenfield in Atlanta;

• Perry McGuire, a partner with Taylor, Busch, Slipakoff & Duma LLP in Atlanta;

• Michael Meyer von Bremen, a partner with Hall, Booth Smith & Slover, PC in Albany; and

• Michael M. Sheffield, a criminal trial practitioner in Lawrenceville.

For more information, call Nancy Terrill at 301-2204 or e-mail Terrill n@Law.Mercer.edu.

CHAMBER PICKS GODDARD

Republican Rick Goddard, who's facing off against U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall in this year's 8th District race, has been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a chamber spokeswoman confirmed Friday.

The chamber said Goddard's "support of pro-business issues earned this endorsement," according to a news release from the campaign.

The chamber chose Goddard despite his opposing this week's economic bailout, which Congress, including Marshall, D-Ga., approved. The chamber had worked for the bill and put out a news release Friday titled "U.S. Chamber Hails Passage of Financial Rescue Bill."

"I am such a strong supporter of small business, business initiatives," Goddard said.

"I think they looked at Jim Marshall's record."

TIME TO REGISTER - AND YOU CAN BRING YOUR DOG

Macon-Bibb County Elections Supervisor Elaine Carr did her part to help someone vote Wednesday.

Sitting outside, Carr baby-sat a dog on a chain while a man, who arrived on a bicycle, went indoors and cast his ballot.

By the way, Monday is the last day to register to vote in November's general elections. Dog sitting is apparently available.

HOUSTON COUNTY DEMS TO MEET

The quarterly meeting of Houston County Democrats is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at El Jalisciense Mexican Restaurant.

Members plan to discuss getting more volunteers for the Democratic booth at the Georgia National Fair and other activities building toward the Nov. 4 general election.

GOP DEBATE WATCH

Local Republicans will gather again Tuesday at the Cox Capitol Theatre in downtown Macon to watch the presidential debate.

The event starts at 8 p.m. The restaurant will be open and there's a cash bar. Also, Sen. John McCain's local campaign coordinator, Bill Knowles, wants people to know that the local GOP headquarters has expanded its hours. The headquarters, located at 2720 Riverside Drive behind Natalia's, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Telegraph staff writers Amy Leigh Womack, Travis Fain and Jennifer Burk contributed to this report.