What an interesting and telling day this past Election Day was and will continue to be for the future of the Garden City.
While I will not comment on every political race, I do have a few to comment on.
Take the sheriff’s race for instance. Nearly everyone you talked with talked about how fed up they are with the current state of affairs in the sheriff’s department. As the outcome shows, that must have just been all talk or no action to go to the polls to vote.
There were two viable and experienced candidates who challenged for the position. Eugene “Gino Rock” Brantley and Bo Johnson. Yet, Roundtree nearly pulled off a win. He had the lead early, then it began to slip away. The other two just couldn’t pull it off alone, so a runoff is set.
The race will be between the incumbent Sheriff Roundtree and challenger Brantley.
Bo Johnson ran a race that he and his supporters should really be proud of, as did Brantley. Someone asked if I thought that Bo would endorse and back Gino in the runoff? While I have not had that conversation with Bo as yet, I do know his character and mindset for Augusta and our citizens. So, I will say yes, I believe that he will.
Now the same goes for the district attorney race. I don’t really think anyone expected Williams to pull off a victory with such numbers. But he did. How?
That is the big, big question. The only answer, in my opinion, must be that the defense attorneys, criminals and their families think he’s doing an outstanding job. And evidently so do the rest of Richmond and Burke counties.
Amber Brantly, you tried. Stay in Columbia County and do your job. Stay where you will be appreciated and allowed to do your job. Keep Columbia County safe. Guess we’ll have to fend for ourselves in Richmond and Burke counties. Best to you and your family.
In the District One race, there were four candidates. Only two proved to be contenders. Incumbent Jordan Johnson and challenger and past commissioner Matt Aitken.
Johnson pulled the victory with his usual style of charismatic speech. He took to the streets telling the people what he has done; even though he was only a single part of the product not the entire reason.
Johnson spoke of the glorious things to come by keeping the narrative going of what’s wrong, who’s to blame and how he’s going to fix it while looking for the next government giveaway.
Commissioner Johnson, you have another four years to do some much needed heavy lifting in District One. You have an opportunity to do some real good. So, you can stop the politicking and do the work that will benefit all of the citizens. It’s needed.
I have to give Matt Aiken kudos. He pulled many more votes than expected. I will mention that both candidates ran a respectful race. Being the gentleman that Matt always is, he did call Jordan and congratulate him on his victory.
The District Three race had three contenders. It ended in Catherine McKnight winning another term. Not really a surprise, being the fact that McKnight is what is called a “people’s commissioner. “
Commissioner McKnight has proven herself as someone who stands up for District Three and the concerns of the residents. Returning every call that she can and addressing their issues and concerns.
District Five had but two candidates. Incumbent Bobby Williams and challenger Don Clark. Clark managed to pull out a closer-than-anticipated victory.
Clark will bring an entirely different style to the commission. A more calm, settled and even tempered personally. Don, keep your head high, ears and eyes open and be a keeper of the gates.
Commissioner Williams leaves, but not without the community center he had rebuilt. Since it will have a sauna and, I think, steam room, Bobby will be sure to be there often.
District Seven had two viable candidates, each with their own set of abilities that they could bring to the table. Each are well respected by their peers. One is a relative new comer, and the other is a life-long resident. One learning the lay of the land while the other knows every hill and valley.
While Marshall Bedder ran a hard and well-funded campaign, it wasn’t enough to beat the “Hometown Girl,” Tina Slendak.
Slendak has been involved with community and local issues for years and years. She will bring knowledge of local history and of past debacles of the government to help prevent them from occurring again.
District Nine had incumbent Francine Scott and a past District Nine commissioner Marion Williams vying for that seat. Scott won by a large margin. Must be the voters in District Nine didn’t want a return of Marion Williams style of commissioner; one that votes the issue and no other reason.
Commissioner Scott was so confident of the win I was told she was out of town on Election Day. She was not in attendance for the Wednesday commission meeting.
Rumor has it that Scott wants to be the next mayor pro tem. Other bets are on either Alvin Mason or Wayne Guilfoyle.
The vote for the mayor getting a vote was an overwhelming YES. Even with the group that bemoaned the thought that he had gotten it on the ballot by less than honest means, it passed.
By the way, any citizen can solicit a state legislator to have something passed or put on the voter ballot. Mayor Johnson did just that.
Now, Mayor Garnett Johnson, you are Augusta’s 85th mayor; you have not only the trust of nearly all of the Augusta citizens, but many past mayors that have meant so much to Augusta.
Many of us went public for our support in and with you having an equal vote to help move our beloved city in the right direction. We did that because we have trust in you and believe in you.
You have been gifted the tool with which our mayor has needed but never had. Please use it with the best intentions. Continue to represent Augusta and us citizens and taxpayers with the honesty, integrity and due diligence that you have shown us you possess.
There are some things that I placed on the back burner while in the middle of the crazy and hectic campaign season. We will get back to them next column. Stay tuned.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
