Here's What's at Stake in the November Election

In Athens, we have two races for seats in the Georgia General Assembly.

In the 118th State House District, Habitat for Humanity Director Spencer Frye defeated incumbent Keith Heard for the Democratic nomination. Republican Carter Kessler beat political newcomer Chris Perlera to win that party's nomination. The district is a heavily Democratic district, contained completely in Athens, and a Republican win seems highly unlikely, but Kessler is campaigning hard.

In the race for the 47th Senate District seat. Democratic challenger Tim Riley of Athens-Clarke County is taking on incumbent Frank Ginn, who’s from Madison County. Riley is an openly gay candidate, the first from Northeast Georgia. He ran for the General Assembly in 2008 as well but lost.

Given the way new Congressional districts have been drawn, only a few Athenians have been included the 9th Congressional District. In it, Republican Doug Collins defeated radio personality Martha Zoller. He now takes on Democrat Jody Cooley in November.

Candidates aren't the only things we vote for this November. Amendment 1 should be of grave concern to anyone with a child in public school in Georgia, a neighbor working in a public school in Georgia or someone who drives past a public school. It asks if Georgia should set up a separate commission to approve charter schools in communities, bypassing the local board of education, if need be, and giving public money to those charter schools.

Athens Patch has a topics page devoted to the debate over this amendment and charter schools in general. Perhaps more than any other, this issue triggers very emotional responses from those commenting--after all, it concerns two central issues: children and money.

Of course, we will also vote for President and Vice President. In 2008, President Obama didn't win Georgia, so during this year's runup to the election, he's not devoting much time to campaigning our state. Georgia is expected to vote for Romney.

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