Jason Carter Blasts State of Georgia on Ignoring Education

Jason Carter is running for Governor of Georgia against current Gov. Nathan Deal. The election will be held in November.

And the School Board in DeKalb County will have all members up for election in May 2012.

From Georgia School Watch (in part):

A crucial school board election in DeKalb County has drawn 22 candidates. Missing from the list of candidates who emerged Friday after the week-long qualifying period were two people Deal appointed to rescue the district.

John Coleman of north DeKalb had previously announced he would not run, leaving an open seat. Only Stan Jester, of Dunwoody, signed up to succeed him, so all that stands between Jester and a board member nameplate is the formality of the May 20 election. Jester is married to the prior occupant of that seat — Nancy Jester, who is now running for state superintendent. This was a referendum on Nancy Jester’s service as a board member. The people have spoken and they want a Jester in that seat.

The other incumbent bowing out is David Campbell of south DeKalb. Five are vying for his seat, including one incumbent. Thad Mayfield was appointed by Deal to an at-large seat that was eliminated last week by the Georgia General Assembly, and lives in Campbell’s district. One of Mayfield’s challengers is Jesse “Jay” Cunningham, the only board member removed by Deal who is seeking a return to the office.

All seven seats are open because of the recent changes wrought by Georgia lawmakers. After several tries over the past few years, they shrank the board from nine positions by cutting the two at-large seats. That means northeast DeKalb incumbent Jim McMahan must defend his seat against incumbent Karen Carter, an at-large member who lives in his district. (Additionally, GTCO-ATL is in favor of former DeKalb teacher Ella Smith, a resident who has spoken up against the cell towers and who may be able to keep the school board focus on the achievement of students rather than the politics of the area that have ignited many tempers recently between Tucker and Lakeside High School families.) McMahan is one of only three incumbents elected by voters. The two other elected incumbents also have challengers: Marshall Orson will face Don McChesney, who previously held that seat in central DeKalb but lost it to Orson two years ago. And board Chairman Melvin Johnson will defend his southeast DeKalb seat against newcomer Bridgeman Bolger.

Whoever wins the seats held by Johnson, McMahan and Orson will hold office two years; the rest of the seats are for four-year terms.

What is not clear is why is a removed board member (Cunningham) able to run again for office after being "permanently" removed, as indicated in the language of the law that was used by the Governor to remove him?

And, will voters without children show up to vote in runoff elections even when they are not highly publicized in the media? The poor turnout for these runoffs in the past have led to big upsets for some contenders who were predicted to win, but had their margins reduced by close votes in the initial non-partisan election and special interest votes win out during the runoff.

Will we ever learn? Will DeKalb voters show up and do the right thing?

Time will tell. Meanwhile, please tell others about this website and how we all got to this point. Spreading the word to encourage others to vote is probably the best defense against irresponsible government. The larger the turnout, the more difficult it is for any one group to have control over the outcome. And never sell your vote in return for any favor. Vote your conscience. It's the only way to dig ourselves out of the hole we have been dropped in.

Children should never be pawns in a game, regardless of how much money is at stake. And school grounds are not a place for corporations to seek profit. Every child deserves the best education we can afford to provide them. If we are not accomplishing that basic goal, then the entrenched leadership needs to go. Fresh perspective is sometimes needed when the old guard refuses to see things in any other light than the one they have been using for decades. Our children do not have that long to recover from the bad decisions made by others. Action is needed now!