S'mores

So, missed a few predictions, a few wins (like Turner / Caldwell Internet broadcast) and some are outstanding.  You must be especially proud and excited about Sam Moore, Cherokee county!  We shall see if his tenure is short-lived, and Biello takes the seat in the May primaries.  I'd suppose that in a non-special election, Moore won't take it, but am not willing to commit to a guess.  Frankly, since anti-gay (well, anti-everything) crusader and Christian reconstructionist Carolyn Cosby has come out against Moore, that would tend to bring favor to Moore.

This blog still holds that the theocrat from Bartow county, Barry Loudermilk, will take the HD 11 Congressional race, but really don't have a clue on the U.S. Senate race.  Kingston is likely the strongest Republican, but he's got some intense competition from Democrat Nunn.  It's all about turnout here.

County chair Ahrens and commissioner Johnston are probably "safe," if anything is in Cherokee, but the school board will probably be taken over by the fundamentalist terrorist crowd.  With the "Concerned Women for America" pushing anti-standards bills at the state level, the religious right has education by the short hairs.  Expect prayers for Jesus in Cherokee schools soon. 

Back to the future

Admitting you're from Cherokee county can sometimes be embarrassing.  For well over a decade, there has been a palpable, negative force in this community's politics.  Yet, We the People have allowed the demagogues and ideologues to continue their invective.  This has provided a largely apathetic community of voters with exactly the effect that should be expected:  a small group of incompetent, self-serving nincompoops that disrupt the good work done by the majority of those who serve the public.  

To come back to the future, we see that Rogers and Jerguson are gone (for good, let's hope), the Election Board failed miserably with its decision on one commissioner (more in an upcoming post), there's a whole new crew of legislators to consider, and a fresh batch of nastiness from the ultra-far-right.

But by far the most interesting story is that of school board member Kelly Marlow.  She's gotten herself into quite a pickle with her tales, and Cherokee is back in the news again.

Marlow has been a divisive figure on the board, making claims of financial impropriety by the district, and has requested a SACS investigation.

The big news, though, came when Marlow and others made the statement to police that, after a contentious school board meeting, School Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo tried to run them down with his vehicle.  Canton police investigated, and felt that the evidence they have was enough to charge them all with the felony of making false statements.  So they did just that, and issued warrants.  Marlow and her friends then proceeded to turn themselves in to law enforcement.

This has shattered the community into two broad camps:  one which insists on privatization of our schools, and the other which demands we protect the integrity of publicly-managed schools.

In the privatization crowd, there are the religious zealots and a more secular "choice" bunch.  While they are in the minority, they resort to loud, bombastic rhetoric to get their point across.  This is Marlow's support group.

The public school advocates - largely teachers and parents - have so far remained more fact-driven in their efforts and are a more monolithic group.  They have assembled a fairly impressive presence within Facebook, and had a good showing at a recent rally.  Many in this group have called for Marlow to resign.

The next school board meeting will be this coming Wednesday, July 24, 7PM, at Cherokee High School auditorium, 930 Marietta Hwy in Canton.  One can only imagine the histrionics to which we'll all be treated.

Let's allow Marlow and her gang to move through the process of justice now, without interference from outside agencies.  But if she is indicted, Marlow should do the right thing and resign, or be removed.  Let this community heal, once again.

Rogers consistent in support of kitchen sink approach to education

Chip Rogers has drawn the ire of voters after comments about his support for vouchers at a recent debate.  Support of a state-wide voucher system would likely not pass constitutional muster, highlights Rogers' disdain for public education and shows his wanton delight in forcing taxpayers to finance religious organizations.

What is left out of his rhetoric is any concrete plan - other than "kitchen sink" - to improve education.  There is no evidence that broadly supports his privatize and outsource approach, whether it's charters, vouchers or virtual academies. 

We need real leadership that has the political courage to look at what has worked - in the United States and worldwide.  Weak-kneed corporate lackeys who can only parrot their masters' "choice" rhetoric need not apply.