Good morning, all.

I hadn’t heard from Darryl Moss in a few months. But when I got a brief note from him yesterday afternoon, it packed some impact for not only his community, but our community as well. “Jason, an interesting development in Granville County, N.C.,” he wrote.

Now, I know you remember Darryl. If not, check out what I wrote about the Creedmoor, N.C., mayor’s story last month. He became a bit of a folk hero to the anti-National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility crowd when he publicly flipped his allegiance on the project. “I cannot say that I support this initiative,” he told a packed joint meeting between the community and the Department of Homeland Security. “I’m really struggling. I made some commitments to support it, and I'm going back on my word, to some extent.”

As you know, Homeland Security named a University of Georgia-owned site off South Milledge Avenue – one of two Athens sites pitched by the state – as one of five finalists for a federal biodefense research laboratory. In the end, the South dominated the selection process with four of the five finalists - Texas (San Antonio), Mississippi (Madison County), North Carolina (Granville/ Durham counties) and Georgia (Athens). Only Kansas (Manhattan) was outside the region. Creedmoor sits in the heart of Granville County.

At the time, Moss was the only public official to take such a stand against the project. But he now has company. Yesterday, the Granville Board of Commissioners unanimously withdrew its support for an animal disease research facility. The final straw, according to a couple of media reports, was when Granville County officials asked Homeland Security for a contact person and they were referred to the department’s Web site. Gotta love the government.

I guarantee you’ll be hearing a lot about this move (if you haven’t already). In fact, it opens up new rhetorical opportunities for both the pro- and anti-NBAF factions locally. And God knows these groups need some new material.

Proponents will see this as a thinning of the competition. “Heck, if North Carolina doesn’t want it, who cares?” That leaves only four other sites. And one of them is in Kansas. As I have said before: People are from the Midwest; they don’t go to the Midwest. Proponents know that all opposition is not created equal. The aftershocks of official government opposition vs. the caterwauling of the usual suspects are immeasurably disproportionate. Believe me, Homeland Security heard this vote loud and clear.

But this is also the break project opponents have been looking for as well. Instead of hammering away at the same talking points, many the public has tuned out long ago, or trotting out the same anointed experts, this is a concrete, Real World example. To their mind, the Granville Board of Commissioners will become the new moral center of this debate. They will be the elected visionaries who were able to cut through lofty federal government promises and chamber of commerce spin to see what truly matters: The safety of their residents. It’s a heck of a hammering point to use on local elected officials. It will be interesting if they respond or simply ignore the development.

Should make for some fun. Thanks, Granville Board of Commissioners.

FIVE-MINUTE READ

Georgia Trend Magazine recently released its 10th edition of the 100 Most Influential Georgians. A chunk: … Our goal is to illuminate, perhaps educate, by shining a spotlight on 100 different individuals whose influence may be long lasting or short lived, subtle or obvious. These are the people, we believe, who prove that influence is power, not the other way around. Not so much. It’s not exactly the most inspired or original list (you could probably list 75 of the 100 off the top of your head). Seriously, they came up with U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. Tell me, when exactly do you not pick a sitting U.S. Senator? With only two folks under 40 (not many more under 50), it’s the same old, same old from the same old, same old. Too old. Too white. Too many politicians. But what do you expect from a publication who named Sonny Perdue its Georgian of the Year. Three locals were listed. Here’s who and what Trend had to say about them:

* Jane Kidd, Georgia Democratic Party chairman: Kidd is growing a grassroots network on a county-to-county basis, combining 21st century technology with old-fashioned shoe leather as she tries to make her party relevant again in Georgia. Presidential candidate John Edwards spoke at last year’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner fund raiser (generating more than $500,000) and Kidd expects the entire field of candidates for this January’s event.

* Michael Thurmond, Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner: Under Thurmond’s guidance, Georgia’s labor department is considered one of the best in the nation at getting the jobless back to work. Thurmond has been a strong advocate for Georgians who have lost their jobs or need help with the training or education required in today’s changing labor market.

* Michael Adams, University of Georgia president: UGA continues to be recognized as one of the nation’s best business and public research universities. Adams’ efforts to improve student quality are reflected in the growing campus. Total construction initiated during his tenure has hit $1 billion, including the new $40 million Lamar Dodd School of Art scheduled to open next fall. …

Speaking of Big Mike, we know he loves a big stage. And nobody pointed it out with a better balance of surliness and sarcasm than Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com. Love the use of the word “planted.” A chunk: If Dr. Michael F. Adams, the president of the University of Georgia, is serious about waging war on the BCS, the proof will come in the amount of time and energy he decides to devote to it. It is one thing to create a media splash, which Adams did Tuesday with considerable skill. He planted a story in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the paper of record in the Southeastern Conference, calling for an eight-team playoff. He held two news conferences that attracted reporters and columnists from New York to California.” … If you’re interested in the dirty side of politics, and who doesn’t enjoy a little blood-boiling fun every now and then, you might want to check out former GOP consultant Allen Raymond’s new book. "How to Rig an Election: Confessions of a Republican Operative.” That’s the title. No joke. Raymond ran an illegal scheme to make hundreds of calls to jam the phone lines of the state's Democrats on Election Day in 2002. You can read an excerpt from the former consultant, who served three months in jail last year, here. I will say that it’s refreshing to read about Republican shenanigans that take place outside an airport men’s room. Makes you proud to be an American. … Another proud moment for the U.S. Military. Guess she didn’t realize that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell also applies to rape allegations. … So let me get this straight: You make $20 million a movie and the best gift you can come up with for your crew is a coupon good for one free backrub from the Church of Scientology. Nice. My favorite chunk from the article: (Will) Smith, who is best buddies with Scientology booster Tom Cruise, has never confirmed that he joined the church. But he told "Access Hollywood" last month: "I was introduced to it by Tom, and I'm a student of world religion. I was raised in a Baptist household. I went to a Catholic school, but the ideas of the Bible are 98 percent the same ideas of Scientology, 98 percent the same ideas of Hinduism and Buddhism." Presumably the other 2 percent is the part about the evil space emperor who put the hydrogen bombs in the volcano. … You gotta love Bill O. and his Fox News brothers.

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Take five minutes out of your day to join Executive Editor Jason Winders here each morning. Stand up and be counted.

(Originally published Jan. 9, 2008)