Thursday, November 8, 2012
Wilbanks' statement on Charter School Amendment cites 'efforts by some to ... dismantle public education.'
Updated November 9, 2012 Gwinnett Schools Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks has issued a statement expressing disappointment that Georgia voters passed the Charter Schools Amendment on Tuesday (November 6). The state's voters, by a strong majority, approved Amendment One, which allows for state officials to approve publicly funded charter schools, without the permission of local school boards. Wilbanks' statement said the amendment "is not in the best interest of students and public education in this state." -- How do you feel about the Charter Schools Amendment passing? Do you feel the Gwinnett system should remain the sole authority for charter schools in this county? Share your thoughts in the comments below. "We are disappointed that with …
A look at Suwanee and Gwinnett voting results for president.
Courtesy of Gwinnett County and state elections officials, we bring you a precinct by precinct breakdown of Tuesday's voting for president. The city was in line with Gwinnett County as a whole -- it backed GOP nominee Mitt Romney over President Obama. Overall in Gwinnett, Romney received 53.9 percent of votes -- 159,536 of 295,560 ballots cast. Obama received 44.6 percent (131,879 votes), and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson received 1.3 percent (4,118 votes). But some areas of the county were quite different. As reported by Norcross Patch, one precinct in Norcross solidly backed Obama -- with 79.11 percent of the votes. Suwanee results: Suwanee A Barack Obama: 356 Mitt Romney: 528 Gary Johnson: 17 --- Suwanee B Barack Obama: 756 Mitt …
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
The new laws could bring those states millions in new revenue. Share your thoughts.
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Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Want to use marijuana at home? Move to Colorado, or Washington state. Those states passed historic ballot measures Tuesday (November 6) that allow use and possession of marijuana at home for recreational purposes. In Washington, as of December 6, it will no longer be illegal for adults 21 and over to possess an ounce of marijuana. A new "drugged driving" law for marijuana impairment also begins then, according to the Seattle Times. Also, it begins a lengthy process for Washington authorities to set rules for heavily taxed and regulated sales at state-licensed marijuana stores, which are estimated to raise $1.9 billion in new revenue over five years. In Colorado, the amendment will allow people 21 and older to purchase up to one ounce of …
How the president's 2012 victory played out online.
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Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Though President Obama did not win Georgia's electoral votes Tuesday, he got more than 300 electoral votes nationwide to win re-election. As noted, the president not only ran well in the swing states, but he also captured a majority of women and Hispanic voters. Here's a summary of how some news organizations covered the event. -- How do you feel about President Obama's re-election? What do you think were his keys to victory? Share your thoughts in the comments below. You might also enjoy reading:
Patch coverage of Election Day matters throughout Gwinnett County.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The constitutional amendment grants the state authority to approve charter schools, whether local school boards want them or not.
Georgia voters gave the state more authority over charter schools on Tuesday, passing a constitutional amendment empowering a commission to overrule local school districts that reject charter school petitions. With all counties fully reporting, the hotly contested amendment had support of 58.5 percent of voters. See selected county results below. It was an emotionally charged issue that in some ways united Georgians across political and demographic lines. A Peach Pundit poll from late October had found "no significant difference [in support] based on whether a voter is a Republican or a Democrat, a male or a female, or based on race." Camille Cottrell, an Emory University instructor and card-carrying Democrat, is an example of the …
The Republican incumbent easily overcomes challenger Falk.
Updated November 7 Incumbent Dr. Mary Kay Murphy easily defeated challenger Jen Falk in the race for the District III seat on the Gwinnett County school board. With all 35 precincts reporting (60,144 votes), Murphy, a Republican, had 60.73 percent of the votes to 39.27 percent for Falk. District III includes North Gwinnett, Peachtree Ridge, Duluth and Norcross high schools. Falk, a Democrat, is a Berkeley Lake resident. Murphy, a school board member since 1996, lives in Peachtree Corners. The results are from the Georgia Secretary of State website. -- Patch will have updates on the Gwinnett District III school board race.
Several online vote-tracking maps are included. Follow them on Election Day.
The legal action had raised the possibility of voting irregularities.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, November 6, 2012
A federal judge Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio, dismissed a lawsuit that had sought an immediate halt to the use of voting equipment in several Ohio counties, according to a media report. According to politico.com, federal judge Greg Frost said in a 10-page opinion that a voting right activist couldn’t prove “actual and imminent harm” in his lawsuit. The suit challenged a contract that Secretary of State Jon Husted, a Republican, had with Election Systems & Software to use new equipment that helps move vote results from county to state computers. A political science professor in Columbus, Ohio, filed the lawsuit Monday against the state and the software company. The suit alleged that the new equipment could lead to changes on the voting machine…
The Libertarian candidate also finds a supporter. Share your thoughts.
There was no voting line at midday Tuesday at George Pierce Park in Suwanee, unlike the recent early voting. But there still was plenty of voter reaction as Election Day 2012 progressed. Jeff Gough used this election to change his normal voting pattern and back President Obama. The reason? His girlfriend has Crohn's Disease, a digestive disorder, and he believes Obama's policies would make insurance for her easier to obtain. "(His girlfriend) didn't have it when she was diagnosed, and now there's a pre-existing condition," he explained. He noted that such insurance still would be expensive -- $300 monthly, with a $1,500 deductible. -- What are you seeing and hearing on Election Day? Share your experiences in the comments below. "But I …
Stephanie Wright
7:13 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
Grassroots campaign?! He sent propaganda home with students and used taxpayer dollars to campaign against it. I hate to think how much our classrooms would have lost if he'd stepped up his efforts. more ›