Like Christmas at the malls, elections usually seem to start earlier and earlier every year.
With the exception of the 10th District race, though, 2008 has been way more laid-back than this time in 2006, when about 17 people had been running for mayor for a year, a bruising battle for a state Senate seat was already shaping up between Jane Kidd and Bill Cowsert, a three-way race for a state House seat was getting underway, and everybody just wanted to know one thing: Would Heidi run again?
But tis the season once again. Cowsert drew an opponent in the Republican primary when Oconee BOE member Tommy Malcom announced recently.
I haven’t heard many complaints about Cowsert’s performance. He’s been just what he said he’d be when he ran: a level-headed, moderate Republican. I can only imagine that Malcom will run to his right, but I haven’t spoken to him yet to say for sure. If anyone in my OC posse knows anything about this guy, throw it out there.
Barring huge upheavals like 2002 and 2004, it’s pretty much impossible for an incumbent state legislator to lose, especially in a primary, so Cowsert probably shouldn’t worry too much. Malcom is just 29, though, and there’s a saying in Georgia politics that you don’t run the first time to win, you run to get known.
In other news, Barry Fleming announced his chairmen today for each of the 21 counties in the 10th district. The biggest name is his House colleague, party-switcher Mickey Channell of Greensboro. Up our way, it’s former A-CC commissioner Linda Ford in Clarke County, Steve Ellis in Madison, Clay Huckaby in Oconee, Dwayne Ramey in Oglethorpe and Martha Martin in Jackson.
- Blake Aued's blog
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Malcom bridges gap in GOP?
I must also admit a great deal of ignorance when it comes to young Mr. Malcom. He is not so far right as to have been a part of the relatively recent book banning brigade (thank God). He was also not part of the Ivey apologists posse.
The Oconee Board of Education's biggest controversy had been hiring and firing of coaches and administrators, unless you subscribe to the point of view brought forth from Wendell Dawson's blog and believe that the BOE is paying its employees too much salary. Personally I think it is good to get some new view points and people involved, whether it is the Bogart City Council, Oconee County BOE or State Senate.
Mr. Cowsert is not all that revered out here in the land of Eagle Tavern, so he best be talking to Miss Vinnie and eating at Krimson Kafe a little more often. Cowsert would be making a huge mistake to underestimate Malcom's name recognition and ability to carve a large section of GOP voters from his base.
Like I wrote earlier, the worst thing the BOE has done is those horrible old-school rubberized gymnasium floors at schools such as Malcom Bridge Elementary that are a torn ACL waiting to happen. Perhaps Cowsert can take some new clients to court on that one.
Dan Matthews
I hate those rubber floors,
I hate those rubber floors, too. Y'all are rich down there. You should pony up for some parquet.
They'll give you a nice
They'll give you a nice floor burn too!!