Duluth Election Guide
The issues and races that will be affecting Duluth and Gwinnett County in upcoming elections.
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As we look ahead to this year's elections, Duluth Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need to vote. Here are some issues and races we'll be covering.
TSPLOST Vote: A one-cent sales tax has been proposed to fund transportation projects across the metro Atlanta region. Voters will vote "yes" or "no" for it in a referendum on the July 31 Primary ballot. For more information click here. Gov. Nathan Deal has endorsed the tax. A grassroots coalition has formed to oppose it.
Seventh Congressional District Race: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Lawrenceville, whose district includes Duluth, faces two challengers, a Republican and a Democrat, in his bid for re-election to a second term.
Georgia General Assembly Races: District 48 State Sen. David Shafer, R-Duluth, is running unopposed for re-election. District 97 State Rep. Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth, has attracted a Republican opponent. Mark Williams of Duluth and Mark Garmon of Norcross have qualified as Republicans to run against incumbent District 96 State Rep. Pedro "Pete" Marin, D-Duluth. District 5 State Sen. Curt Thompson, D-Tucker, is being opposed for re-election by Republican Gary Guan of Norcross.
Gwinnett Judicial Races: Three retiring judges have created vacancies for Gwinnett Superior Court, State Court and Probate Court. Five candidates each are running for the Superior Court and State Court seats on the bench. Two candidates have qualified for the Probate Court judge position.
District 1 Gwinnett County Commission Race: Former Suwanee Councilman Jace Brooks and Duluth resident Laurie McClain, whose accounting firm is based in Suwanee, qualified as Republicans to run for Shirley's Lasseter's seat on the commission in a race to be decided in the July 31 Primary. A separate election to fill Lasseter's unexpired term is scheduled Nov. 6. District 1 includes Duluth and Suwanee.
District 3 Gwinnett Board of Education Race: Incumbent Dr. Mary Kay Murphy of Peachtree Corners has been challenged by Jennifer Falk of Berkeley Lake. Murphy is running as a Republican and Falk as a Democrat, so the race will not be decided until the November General Election.
Primary Ballot Questions: Voters will find a number of questions on their Democratic and Republican Primary ballots July 31.
DontTreadOnMe
9:37 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
T-SPLOST Raises More Questions Than Answers.
1. The TSPLOST projects list has some ultra-expensive projects that are
only partially funded. Does the region plan to build a quarter of these
projects and leave them unfinished and useless? Or, if the region
plans to complete these projects, how will they be paid for without
coming back to taxpayers for even larger future tax increases?
2. Some of these projects will require large future operating and
maintenance costs with no identified long term future funding source to
pay for these expenses. How can these expenses be paid without
additional large future tax increases?
3. The pro-TSPLOST people keep trying to scare people into voting for
the TSPLOST by saying that there is no "Plan B," but the TIA legislation
provides that if any region votes against the tax, the region can then
put together a better projects list and bring it back to the voters in
2 years. Isn't that a Plan B?
Jane Wise
2:42 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
This is NOT a one cent sales tax; it is a 1% sales AND use tax.
Citizens, get ready, in this depressed economy, when wealth of all Americans has decreased by as much as 40%, if you vote "yes" and this passes, your expenses are going up by 1% on all your purchases (except gasoline). That includes food, AND you will NOT see a cost of living increase in your pay check.
The TIA (the law) says that it is "...imperative to use all available resources to alleviate the gridlock in and around the metropolitan Atlanta region." Out of the $8.5 Billion the ARC (10 county Atlanta Region) expects to collect, there are many projects on the list that in no way address the issue of gridlock. (Space prohibits further discussion.) Currently 55% will go to rail and buses, with only 5% ridership.
In addition, some listed projects will require billions more after this 10 year period has ended...where will these billions come from?
Unlike other SPLOST, this T-SPLOST, provides no opt-out for counties who do vote "no" because they do not want to participate.
Many local politicians have been lured to support this transportation referendum, with the promise of money coming back to their communities. While taxpayer money coming back to local communities can be a good thing, is it worth such a heavy burden for such small benefit?
The law provides for a Plan B: go back and write a better plan! There are many alternatives.
MSALLE
4:48 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Vote "NO" T-SPLOST
Timothy Hammond
12:51 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
I am voting NO to T-SPLOST and I would vote NO on any tax increase on anything. That's the last thing the VERY weak economy needs!