Think Globally, Vote Locally

originally published March 14, 2007

The Man For The 8th

We’ve had so many good people elected to the Mayor and ACC Commission lately, that we kind of take it for granted that a candidate as well qualified as Andy Herod is running for the vacant District 8 post. That he is running really should be no surprise, because he has already committed so much of his time and energy to neighborhood and community service. The Commission is a natural next step for Andy: he offers himself as one who has done his homework and is familiar with the problems that need solving around the corner and across Athens-Clarke County.

Andy has served for four years as the president of his neighborhood association (Green Acres-Crestwood) and for three years as president of the Federation of Neighborhoods. He was recently appointed by Mayor Heidi Davison to the Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission, a position demanding judgement and a thorough knowledge of zoning, land use and property rights; prior to that appointment, he served on the ACC Hearings Board, a body charged with fine-tuning the impact of our ordinances where they impinge on individual property owners. He also served on the committee that forged the tree ordinance and the one that helped devise the stormwater regulations. He has been active in the Partners for a Prosperous Athens and served on the UGA faculty committee that addressed the endemic working poverty of the lowest-paid university workers. That committee came up with the recommendation for a $24,000 salary floor that will materially help, not only those employees, but our whole community.

Commissioners, of course, serve a dual role, responding to neighborhood and individual concerns while at the same time helping to craft legislation affecting us all. Commissioners represent a district, and they also represent all of Athens-Clarke County. Andy Herod seems impressively well qualified for both roles. He has responded to down-the-street needs as president of his neighborhood association, and he has represented our whole town in the formulation of important public policy. He has also remained concerned about the needs of those who struggle to make a living.

Andy’s day job is teaching economic geography, and his expertise covers the grassroots workforce, perhaps the most important area challenging our community today. He’s a policy wonk who talks in plain language, a hands-on practitioner of good government who delights in communicating his vision to his neighbors. He’s bright, articulate, humorous, hardworking and likable: he’d make a great addition to the ACC Commission.

The other candidate for the District 8 job, David Hamilton, has followed the familiar Athens scenario of coming to town for the University (history major), playing in a band and going on to own his own business, the Accu-Rate Insurance Agency. David has impressive credentials in neighborhood work. He is President of the Cedar Creek Neighborhood Association, serves on the land use plan steering committee, has worked to support the efforts of people with disabilities to continue living in their homes and is running with the blessings of former District 8 Commissioners Ken Jordan and States McCarter—whose resignation created this vacant seat.

State’s endorsement has got to be considered a mixed blessing, and David did decline to debate Andy at a community forum. Nevertheless, David is a strong candidate from the largest neighborhood association on the Eastside.

That Andy Herod exceeds even the strong qualifications of David Hamilton is really a tribute to both men. The real choice lies with the voters of District 8, and their decision will affect not only their area, but the whole community. Here’s hoping they choose Andy Herod. Here’s hoping, too, that however they vote, voters will turn out on Tuesday, Mar. 20 and during the early voting through Mar. 16. (For Flagpole ’s Follow The Money® breakdown of campaign contributions in the District 8 race, click here.)

Meanwhile, In The 10th…

Well, Ralph Hudgens is out of the race and Doc Eldridge is not yet in, but meanwhile, Flagpole ’s capitol correspondent, Tom Crawford, has some interesting observations on the 10th District congressional race, including the following.

“Statewide polls conducted in January and at the end of February by Atlanta-based Strategic Vision, a Republican polling firm, turned up some interesting numbers… “Bush’s job approval numbers in those two polls weren’t very high either: 42 percent in January and 40 percent in February. ” The odds are overwhelming that a Republican will win the 10th District election—the real question is whether war weariness might enable a Democratic candidate to draw 40 or 42 percent of the vote. “That would tell us the American people really are ready to bring the troops home.”

Pete McCommons, Editor & Publisher

editor@flagpole.com