The Citizen Newsletter

The Conservative Voice of Henry County

Issue # 345

May 12, 2012

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Contact The Citizen at hc.citizen@hccitizen.org

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT

In This Issue:
Page Feature

2 3 3 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 11

Marty Smith for Carroll Co Sheriff Democrats for Dale Rutledge Meet Mr. Moderate Stamey Disputes Claims Stanley for Henry BoE High Point Christian Academy Chris Vaughn for Congress GOP 4th Congressional Debate Constitution Party of Georgia Vincent Lotti for D-2 Commissioner VOTE NO on T-SPLOST July 31st Henry College Preparedness LOW Henry 912 Project Meeting

HTTP://WWW.HPCACADEMY.ORG/

It is the purpose of High Point Christian Academy to educate the whole child by teaching the mind to understand, the heart to love and the hands to serve. Standards have been set very high, as we expect academic excellence and strive daily to encourage students to work hard in order to succeed. As we instill a high moral standard in each child, we develop a natural sense of confidence that is both wholesome and Biblical.

Do you have a story to tell? Become a Citizen contributor. Submit your opinions, commentaries and articles to hc.citizen@hccitizen.org

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CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE
WANTS TO BRING UNITY TO

BOC
by Winston Jones / Times-Georgian, 5-12-12 A Carrollton businessman has announced his candidacy for Carroll County commission chairman, saying he wants to bring a new level of energy and unity to the board of commissioners.

bring everyone together to work with outside groups to see what we can do to make Carroll County grow. Smith said he plans to take his campaign out in the county and meet people in the coming days. I can t wait to get out to meet and greet businessmen and people who can help perfect the county, he said. Smith grew up in Carroll County and graduated from Carrollton High School in 1982. He attended University of West Georgia and graduated in 1987 with a business administration degree in management. After college, he managed a local auto parts store for a year and spent three years working with his brother in a joint venture business in Gaston, S.C. While in South Carolina, he and his family contracted with CSX Railroad and for three years maintained gondola rail cars that serviced the eastern seaboard. He returned to Carrollton and joined the family grading and development business, primarily establishing multiple residential subdivisions and small commercial developments. Smith also sold insurance for Carroll County Farm Bureau and J. Smith Lanier Insurance Co. during the 1990s. Since 2007, he has maintained a development company and has specialized in negotiating leases of small box retail centers. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, representing Culpepper Development Inc. He has maintained a level 1 B/A certified inspector card with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission for erosion control and has obtained four certified levels in wetlands mitigation through the Continuing Education Department at Auburn University. Smith has been a member of the Rotary Club, served as team captain for the Hutchins Family Relay for Life cancer benefit and past board member of March of Dimes. He has served on the education committee of the Carroll County Chamber of ~2~

Marty Smith, 48, is making his first run for a

public office. He said he plans to qualify for the July 31 Republican primary during the May 23-25 qualifying period. So far, he is the only announced challenger to incumbent Republican commission Chairman Bill Chappell. The winner of the Republican primary will face the Democratic primary winner in the Nov. 6 general election. I have no animosity on what s gone on in the chairman s position, Smith said Friday. I think they ve done a good job with that position at the current time. They have a six-member board in place and I d like to work with that board, more as a unified group to see what we can accomplish as a whole. Smith said he feels there s times the board doesn t work together and he d like to bring more unity to the group. Obviously, when you bring that many people to the table, it s about working with each other, he said. I know each commissioner has different opinions and I d like to make use of what they bring to the table. I m for unity and transparency among the board and agreeing to work together and using a lot more input as a whole. Smith said he wants to be an ambassador for the county, to work with the chamber for economic development. My nature is to work with people and I ve always had people skills I like to use, he said. I want to

Commerce, steering committee for the start of a Carroll County Symphony Orchestra and coached Carrollton and Carroll County recreation teams for more than 10 years. Smith is a graduate of the chamber s Leadership Academy, served 12 years with the Carroll County Mentor Program and is an active member and deacon at First Baptist Church of Carrollton. He is married to Pam Russell Smith and they have three children: Taylor, 16; Andy, 13; and Sydney, 9. -Carroll County Tea Party Association WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CCTPA

Meet Mr. Moderate

He says Conservative . Democrats say: We need a practical

moderate.
Mr. Moderate promises everything to everybody. He stands in the middle of the road. He sticks his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. Conservatives know that Mr. Moderate has no core principles; he cannot be trusted. He will do anything that is politically expedient, which means IN HIS OWN BEST INTEREST.

Democrats For Dale Rutledge

HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/DEMOCRATSFOR-DALE/200651170056438

Dale is the Man with the Democratic Plan! Let s Beat Right Wing, Reaganite STEVE DAVIS! Democrats for Dale is a grassroots movement to support Dale Rutledge. For too long Henry County has suffered under the right wing ideology of Steve Davis. Davis has single handedly kept Marta from expanding to Henry, killed future funding to Planned Parenthood, and even co-sponsored the state amendment to ban gay marriage.
SWARLES MCSWAIN I know you support Davis, but he is too fringe. We need a practical moderate.

The true picture of Mr. Moderate

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Stamey disputes claims

Henry County District III Commissioner Randy Stamey is fighting back against what he calls a fabricated story, with false claims, posted on a social media web site, about his level of involvement in the purchase of county property. I don t usually respond, but this was so blatantly false that I felt like it was my responsibility, said Stamey. I owe it to the citizens. I have the proof. I have the facts, and one thing about the facts the facts don t change. Stamey s comments came after recent assertions by Joanie Scott, an author on the Proof of Right blog site. At a recent meeting, the commissioner, who works as a realtor, said Scott posted incorrect information online, regarding a 2009 purchase of property for a new E911 center, adjacent to the Henry County Jail. I can promise you, Randy Stamey had nothing to do with this deal, period, said Stamey. When we bought this property, it was bank-owned. There were no realtors involved. The county is set to unveil the E911 center in the coming weeks. Scott recently forwarded allegations against Stamey and Henry County Zoning Board Member Terry Echols to the Henry County District Attorney s Office. She alleged that Stamey committed ethics violations by profiting from the sale of the property without recusing himself from the 2009 commission vote approving the purchase. A full accounting must be made on how it came to be that Zoning Board Member Terry Echols profited $34,500, as well as Commissioner Stamey s refusal to recuse himself from voting on the purchase, and whether or not he, too,

profited on the backs of the taxpayers of Henry County, said Scott, in the allegations. If, as Mr. Stamey claimed Monday, the work Echols performed related to the County s purchase of this property was as a liaison to the reconditioning and marketing of the property, why does the HUD 1 purchase contract clearly state that Echols Enterprises, Inc. was paid $34,500 as a sales commission? Scott said. At Monday s meeting, Mr. Stamey claimed he did not profit from the County s purchase of the property in question. However, the HUD 1 purchase contract clearly indicates that Echols Enterprise, Inc., received $34,500 as a sales commission. Since Mr. Echols was not a licensed real estate agent until 2011, and since Mr. Stamey advertised himself as the broker for Echols Enterprises, Inc., on their web site, a reasonable person might conclude he may have participated in the transaction, she continued. I never worked for Echols, Stamey declared. He said he had no knowledge his name was on any web site of Echols. Whit Echols is his broker. I am agent, not a broker, and I ve never worked for Echols, Stamey reiterated. Scott said another question which must be answered, is whether Stamey violated an ethics ordinance by not recusing himself from voting when the county purchased the E911 center property. If he had a financial interest in Echols Enterprises, Inc., at the time he voted, it would appear that he violated the County ethics ordinance, and this should be investigated by the appropriate authorities, she said. Mr. Stamey made a concerted effort to make it clear that he is not a licensed real estate broker and said [he has] never been involved in Echols Enterprises as a broker. Why, then, did he allow himself to be advertised as one on their web site? Echols company, Echols Enterprises, was assigned, by the bank, solely to clean up the building, according to Salena A. Brantley, vice
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president at the Newnan-based Bank of Georgia, which owned the property prior to the 2009 purchase. In a recent statement, Brantley confirmed Stamey s position on Echols involvement in the project. Mr. Terry Echols ... was engaged by The Bank of Georgia to recondition and clean up the ... property, Brantley said in a statement. He also assisted the bank during the inspection process. At no time was there a realtor discussed or involved, Brantley s statement said. The fee paid was for work performed, and as liaison for the bank through the reconditioning/marketing period, she added. He [Echols] was cleaning the property up to prepare it for inspection, Stamey emphasized. I am not a broker. I have never been involved in Echols Enterprises as a broker ... I cannot broker a deal. Stamey added that the same local social-media outlet, falsely implicated his wife, Rhonda, in purchases of county property. Scott, last week, claimed Stamey s wife, Rhonda, profited as a real-estate agent from homes sold in the county s Neighborhood Stabilization Program. County Finance Director Mike Bush told commissioners, on Monday, that Rhonda Stamey did not represent the county in any sales in the program. On the web site later, Scott retracted the claim, saying she clearly erred in naming the commissioner s wife. The Henry Daily Herald HTTP://WWW.HENRYHERALD.COM/NEWS/2012/M AY/07/STAMEY-DISPUTES-CLAIMS-LOCAL-WEBSITE/

Larry Stanley for Henry Board of Education

Your Support is Appreciated!

CLICK HERE to support the campaign

Meet the Director

Mr. McNorton has twenty-two years experience as both a teacher and administrator in elementary and middle grade schools. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Atlanta Christian College in 1984, majoring in Bible and Practical Christian Ministry. In 1990, he continued his education by completing the Master's degree program of Middle Grades Education at Georgia State University as well as earning the Specialist degree in Educational Leadership by 1994. Mr. McNorton is happily married with two beautiful children. Their oldest child,
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Elizabeth is a nursing student at Brenau University; their son, Christian, is very active in his high school s marching band and is currently studying computers. The McNorton family resides in Hampton, Georgia and has been a part of the Henry County community for many years. After years of work for the state schools, Mr. McNorton answered his calling to open a school that would offer each child the opportunity to develop a life that is positive, confident and Christ-centered. Over the last two years, student enrollment has flourished from the inaugural group of 25 to the current enrollment of 100. Classroom involvement is important to the success of the academy. Even though his position at High Point is "Director," he understands the importance of student interaction and leads by example. Mr. McNorton is often found in the school library reading to a group of students or in a classroom teaching a lesson. His favorite subjects are Bible, language arts and history. Mr. McNorton loves teaching and working in the classroom. Whenever possible, he coordinates with teachers to come teach in their class. His passion to educate children and to serve the Lord by following His will is the driving force behind the growth of High Point. It is the purpose of High Point Christian Academy to educate the whole child by teaching the mind to understand, the heart to love and the hands to serve. Standards have been set very high, as we expect academic excellence and strive daily to encourage students to work hard in order to succeed. As we instill a high moral standard in each child, we develop a natural sense of confidence that is both wholesome and Biblical.

J. CHRIS VAUGHN FOR US CONGRESS GA-4

Blog post from a friend, using our Congressional Campaign as a teaching lesson: I have a friend who is running for a congressional seat during this 2012 election year. His campaign branding is Vote Your Values. Although I am certain he wants the people of his district to vote for him in November, I appreciate him not simply implying vote for ME! He challenges citizens to vote in accordance with their values; according to the regard, importance and preciousness that they hold something to deserve. What worth does social responsibility and justice hold? What worth does a balanced budget hold? What worth does truth and freedom hold? If we don t, how can we anticipate the direction we would travel as individuals or as a nation? If we don t, what will be our destination? ~ Anthony Juliana

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EdwardCTracey.com TV Live Announces

The FIRST Republican 4th Congressional Debate of the 2012 season. With the reapportionment taking place this year, the demographics have shifted a little more towards the conservative side of the aisle. More of Gwinnett and Rockdale Counties were added to the district as well as the western part of Newton County was added for the first time to the 4th District. DeKalb County lost a substantial portion of the 4th District to the 6th District. With Cynthia McKinney running as a Green Party Candidate, basically the Communist Party of America, a three way race will favor the conservative when you include Independents which are the fastest growing voter segment in the 4th amongst the 35 and under voters. Three Democrats including the Incumbent, three term congressman Hank Johnson. First time candidate, Copy Machine Salesman, Lincoln Nunnally, from Porterdale in Newton County, and former unsuccessful candidate for Post 2 Commissioner in Rockdale County, Courtney Dillard round out the field. The three Republicans all with tremendous backgrounds are Catherine Davis of Stone Mountain, GA, who ran for the republican nomination in 2006, a retired Human Resource Manager; Pastor Chris Vaughn, of Rockdale County, GA who ran for local office while he was a talk show host in North Carolina and Greg Pallen of Oxford, GA and business owner in Rockdale County. Visit our new 2012 primary page http://www.edwardctracey.com/2012primaryinfor mation.htm

The debate is sponsored by EdwardCTracey.com and there is room for up to 100 people in the audience. Each Candidate will be allowed 20 people each and the rest of the seats are first come first serve. If you are interested in attending, the cost to attend is $5.00 per person and 20% of the ticket price will be donated to one of EdwardCTracey.com charities. Look at our Charities page for more information on those charities. Here is the link. The debate will take place at the new Media Messenger facility at 2050 Honey Creek Drive, off of Honey Creek Road in Rockdale County, GA.. Follow this link to the live show on Monday night beginning at 6:30 for pre debate talk. . http://www.ustream.tv/channel/edwardctraceycom To see archived shows please follow this link. http://www.edwardctracey.com/apps/videos/chan nels/show/3487294-edwardctracey-com-tv-livearchives Coming Events on EdwardCTracey.com TV Live on May 24, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. will be a debate between Republican County Commission Candidates Executive Director of Mercy Heart, Ed Conway and Former Post One Commissioner and Manager of his Family owned business Still Lumber, Jason Hill. Watch our events Calendar for more debates. http://www.edwardctracey.com/apps/calendar/

CONSTITUTION PARTY OF GEORGIA

HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/1058569

6930/?REF=TS#!/GROUPS/10585696930/

The Constitution Party of Georgia Statement of Principles embodies the core beliefs of the party.

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We recognize and affirm the God-given dignity of the individual and believe that the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America, and each sovereign state s Declaration of Rights most clearly articulate this basic principle. To restore and preserve that fundamental human dignity, we proclaim:

Vincent Lotti for District 2 County Commissioner

* That every individual has a paramount right to life from conception until natural death, and the government shall not infringe upon that right; * That the right of citizens to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and others shall not be questioned; * That the freedom to own, use, exchange, control, protect, and freely dispose of property and other assets is an inseparable extension of the individual s inalienable rights; * That the primary unit of society is the family (persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption), and that it must be accorded all rights and responsibilities to direct the care of its members, particularly in the areas of education, health care, discipline, and the upbringing of children without government interference; * That the United States of America is a sovereign nation and, therefore, must maintain control over its own affairs; * That guided by Divine Providence, our Founding Fathers established this nation on Christian principles and, therefore, the right to the free exercise of religious beliefs is inviolate; * That our government is one of limited, delegated powers operating as a Republic within the confines of the Constitution of the United States of America. The federal government derives its authority from its sovereign citizens and is to be their servant, not their master.
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US NEWS RANKS NATION S BEST SCHOOLS FOR 2012 Henry County high schools averaged 24.86 out of a possible 100 score
Remember the annual U.S. News list, ranking the 1,000 best high schools in the nation. This year the list grew to 2,008 with 500 gold medals awardees; it was only 100 in 2009. In evaluating almost 22,000 high schools, U.S. News awarded more than 4,850 gold, silver, and bronze medals to the topperforming schools. While looking for the Henry County High Schools results, I expected a continued presence on the list. Regretfully, my search brought to mind this Tom Landry Quote, I've learned that something constructive comes from every defeat. We did not make the top 4,850 high schools. So where are we? Tom Landry said, A coach is someone who tells you what you don't want to hear, who has you see what you don't want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be. We read about college readiness in the news and how important it is, until now we were not provided a national measurement to compare how well we prepare students for post-secondary education. While I do not entirely agree with the methodology used, it was applied universally.

Student College Readiness was scored from 0 to 100. For more

detailed information about each school follow the link. Listed alphabetically:
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DUTCHTOWN college readiness score 25.7 MS. DWALA NOBLES, PRINCIPAL Phone: 770515-7510

game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn. We can improve upon three basic strategies: One, we need to involve parents in ways that we are not normally accustomed. First School Councils need to do the job for which they were intended. Second parents need to attend the Academic Parenting Classes our schools are supposed to be teaching. Third, parents need simple tools to work with their kids at home. Forth, Parents and schools need to build nontraditional partnerships to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

EAGLE S LANDING college readiness score 28.4 MR. GABRIEL CRERIE, PRINCIPAL Phone: 770-954-9515 HENRY COUNTY college readiness score 8.9 MR. SCOTT JOHN, PRINCIPAL Phone: 770957-3943 LOCUST GROVE college readiness score (N/A this year) MS. ROBYN MULLIS, PRINCIPAL Phone: 770-898-1452 LUELLA college readiness score 27.0 MR. JERRY SMITH, PRINCIPAL Phone: 770-8989822 OLA college readiness score 27.2 MR. ROSS IDDINGS, PRINCIPAL Phone: 770-2883222 PATRICK HENRY college readiness score (NA) MR. GEORGE ECKERLE, PRINCIPAL Phone: 770-507-6414 STOCKBRIDGE college readiness score 16.6 MR. ERIC WATSON, PRINCIPAL Phone: 770474-8747 UNION GROVE college readiness score 40. 4 MR. TOM SMITH, PRINCIPAL Phone: 678583-8502 WOODLAND college readiness score 24.7 MR. BRET COOK, PRINCIPAL Phone: 770389-2784 You can follow the links to rank schools by COLLEGE READINESS, MATH (AVG. PROFICIENCY), or ENGLISH (AVG. PROFICIENCY). Can we improve our results? I know we can, and looking to Tom Landry for guidance, When you want to win a

Two, Build Better Students by focusing on the scholar and discipline skills needed to be successful in the classroom and the workplace, and not on the test. Three, just accept the fact that Teachers are not masters of their profession upon graduation from college. Like any profession, they must be mentored, and developed. Something that education does the worst of any field of endeavor I have had the privilege of association. If you are prepared, you will be confident, and will do the job. -- Tom Landry Despite the facts, I continue to meet teachers who are dedicated to their profession, and I am hopeful. However, teachers cannot do this alone, they never have. This must be a community effort, and it will be interesting to see where our Superintendent leads us.

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Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control. -- Tom Landry The point of this commentary reminds me of, yes, another Tom Landry quote. The quality of a man's life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence. If we make a commitment to excellence, and focus on mastering the basic academic skills needed by our students, parents, teachers and community we will accomplish what few have ever accomplished. Greatness! Bruce Kendall

how it will impact Henry County over its 10 year life. The up or down vote on T-SPLOST will be held on July 31st of this year. Every citizen has the responsibility to cast the most informed vote possible. Ten years is a long time to live with a mistake.

HENRY COUNTY 912 PROJECT MEETING

MAY 14, 2012, 7:OOPM COMMUNITY ROOM HENRY COUNTY GOVERNMENT ANNEX 116 ZACK HINTON PARKWAY McDONOUGH, GEORGIA The Henry County 912 Project will have Fayette County Commissioner Steve Brown as its guest speaker. Commissioner Brown has been actively involved with the T-SPLOST (TransportationSpecial Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) since its introduction to the Atlanta Region. This will be a great opportunity to find out the facts concerning this most important issue and

Clouds of myst'ry pouring Confusion on the ground. Good men through the ages, Trying to find the sun;
I went down Virginia, Seeking shelter from the storm. Caught up in the fable, I watched the tower grow. Five year plans and new deals, Wrapped in golden chains. And I wonder, Still I wonder Who'll stop the rain. ~ Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1970

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Henry Citizens for Responsible Government Larry Stanley, Editor Please report broken links or other problems Email: HC.CITIZEN@HCCITIZEN.ORG To Unsubscribe: send email to HC Citizen Write UNSUBSCRIBE in Subject: line

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