Athens-Clarke Commission candidate Jared Bailey has a website up at www.jared-acc5.com.

Bailey is citing his experience as a 30-year Athens resident who founded AthFest, ran small businesses, worked in economic development and is involved in many community organizations. According to the site, he is in favor of strong neighborhoods, sustainable land use, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, big hunting dogs and plaid.

He faces lawyer Dave Hudgins and homebuilder Tom Ellis in District 5.

Facebook. Twitter. E-mail.

One of Georgia’s last remaining rural Democrats says he might switch parties if Republican Nathan Deal becomes governor.

It’s not because state Rep. Alan Powell, D-Hartwell, is facing stiff opposition and might pull a reverse Arlen Spector. Republicans tried to take him down in 2006, failed miserably and haven’t bothered since. It’s also not because, like Deal and others before him, he now identifies more with the GOP.

“If Roy Barnes doesn’t win it in November, you can probably stick a fork in the Democratic movement, because we will not be able to come back for a generation or more,” Powell said in a phone conversation today.

If Barnes loses, Powell said he would “seriously consider” switching parties because Democrats would not only have no influence, but no hope of regaining power. He also said he thinks he could halt the Republicans' drift to the right and bring it back toward the middle.

Democrats went on the attack Monday, accusing Nathan Deal of only releasing his tax returns to his “buddies.” But there’s a twist.

Roy Barnes has released 25 years’ worth of tax returns and called on Deal to do the same. On the Sunday-morning political talk show “Georgia Gang,” conservative pundit Phil Kent claimed he’d seen Deal’s tax returns – which he has declined to release yet because his spokesman says still hasn’t filed his 2009 form – and they’re clean. The Democratic Party of Georgia sent reporters a transcript:

Dick Williams: “Quiet week in the governor’s race. Nathan Deal still being dogged by Roy Barnes to release his taxes.”

Phil Kent: “Well, he did.”

Dick Williams: “He did?”

Phil Kent: “Yeah, he released them.”

Dick Williams: “He did? When?”

Phil Kent: “Well, it wasn't in your liberal newspaper. But he released them yesterday.”

Dick Williams: “Really?”

Jim Galloway’s Sunday column in the AJC profiles Republican Public Service Commission candidate Tim Echols of Winterville and his efforts to make conservation a conservative value.

Echols is different — in the way he has placed environmentalism and consumer protection at the center of his campaign, and the way he explains himself.

Take solar energy, for instance.

“For conservatives, it’s all about saving money. For conservative business people, it’s all about being able to make a profit. And I embrace both of those,” Echols said. “But I believe — especially with solar here in Georgia — there is a profit-making potential for entrepreneurs and individuals. And there are energy savings available to the average consumer.”

When Rep. Paul Broun voted last month against banning crush videos, which are basically porn for people who get off on women in heels stomping on small animals, opponent Russell Edwards accused him of “siding with sexual deviants.”

The fact-checking website Politfact rated Edwards’ statement false today.

Athens mayoral candidate Charlie Maddox has revealed the answer to one of the greatest mysteries in local politics, according to Pete McCommons.

Maddox told McCommons that, contrary to popular belief, he is not a Republican and never has been.

Charlie says that myth got started in the last mayoral race because local Republicans supported him, thinking he would be more receptive to them than the other candidates. Charlie wanted to pick my brain about why some people just don’t get his candidacy. The way he sees it, he would make the perfect mayor for Athens: more an independent than a party-label guy, with a long and impressive record of volunteer public service. Charlie shrugs off the reminder that he’s never been strong on issues by suggesting that he’s good at getting people together to solve problems—that solutions are more important than issues and results better than party labels.

My illustrious colleague Jim Thompson, in his Monday column, attempted to paint Kelly Girtz and other Athens-Clarke commissioners as out-of-touch with happy motorists because they are pursuing a New Urban template for development.

In talking about (a proposed rezoning for a restaurant on North Milledge Avenue), Girtz was initially clear he was talking about intown neighborhoods, but he went on to suggest - whether consciously or not - that "we're not in the era that we want to be in, in terms of communitywide behavior, we're not all walking to restaurants, coffee shops (and) grocery stores to the degree we wish we were as a community."

Candidates for Athens mayor really got into the nitty-gritty about their plans for jobs at a Democratic Party forum this morning. You can read more about the forum in the paper tomorrow, but here’s a quick look at the details of how they’ll create jobs.

STEP 1: Make everything green.

STEP 2: Be business-friendly.

STEP 3: ???

STEP 4: Jobs!

Facebook. Twitter. E-mail.

Nathan Deal’s birthday is Aug. 25, and what better present for the man who has everything than a campaign contribution?

For a mere $25 per family, you can attend Deal’s birthday bash from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center in his hometown of Gainesville. Team Deal says they’ll have barbecued chicken, trimmings, live music and entertainment for the kids. No word on whether cake, ice cream and a clown are included with your generous donation.

Deal, as Karen Handel not-so-subtly pointed out, is turning 68 years old.

Athens-Clarke mayoral candidate Glenn Stegall is under investigation for giving away an iPad, according to Beyond the Trestle. Someone complained that Stegall ran afoul of a law regulating raffles, but the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office has cleared him of wrongdoing.

Personally, I’ve never seen a political campaign give away anything but barbecue, and as Marvin Griffin could tell you, that’s often an ineffective tactic.

Facebook. Twitter. E-mail.