Photo credit: UGA Young Democrats via Twitter.
Mayor Nancy Denson debated challenger Tim Denson for the first time tonight at a University of Georgia Young Democrats meeting.
Maybe the biggest news was that Nancy, like Tim, is in favor of legalizing marijuana possession for personal use.
“I would like to see small amounts of marijuana decriminalized,” she said. “This is the first time I’ve said that publicly. I’ve talked about it a lot privately.”
[UPDATE: Nancy’s campaign released the following statement this afternoon:
For years, I have spoken privately about decriminalizing possession of small amounts (less than one ounce) of marijuana and last night, in response to a question on this issue, responded that I would support such efforts.Though supporting legislation at the state or national level to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, I do not plan to take any action at the county level.
While I do not support legalizing marijuana, I find it unconscionable that we ruin the lives of young people by creating criminal records for possession of small amounts of marijuana that follow them for the rest of their lives.
I absolutely encourage legalizing the use of medical marijuana to provide help for those suffering and hope that the state House and Senate can find a compromise on this issue before the end of the legislative session.]
And Tim proposed requiring stores to charge a fee to shoppers to use plastic bags, an environmental measure that’s gaining steam in other progressive cities.
Nancy, though, said such a fee would drive grocery stores out of Clarke County and primarily affect the poor, not “the little yuppies who get in their SUVs and go to EarthFare.”
Tim replied that businesses would keep part of the fee to offset any additional costs, and shoppers could avoid it by bringing their own bags or asking for paper.
We’ll let the tweeters take it from here.
Mayor Nancy Denson emphasizes her business friendly platform and history in her opening statement #DensonDebate
— UGA Young Democrats (@UGADemocrats) March 19, 2014
Tim Denson up for opening statements. “I have a 21st century vision for Athens.” #DensonDebate
— Tim Denson (@TimForAthens) March 19, 2014
Mayor Denson says that child care can’t be addressed at the county level and that she has helped fight poverty her whole life #DensonDebate
— UGA Young Democrats (@UGADemocrats) March 19, 2014
Tim: “Crime and graduation rates can be connected to our poverty levels in Athens. Poverty is something we shouldn’t accept.” #DensonDebate
— Tim Denson (@TimForAthens) March 19, 2014
Tim Denson says that he would combine UGA and Athens Transit and accept credit and debit cards #DensonDebate
— UGA Young Democrats (@UGADemocrats) March 19, 2014
#densondebate Mr. Denson has logical ideas but lacks monetary sense. “It all comes down to dollars.”- Mayor Denson
— Taylor Murray (@teesmurf) March 19, 2014
Things the candidates agree on: four Athens is cool, Denson is a good last name #DensonDebate
— Eli Watkins (@likeyouropinion) March 19, 2014
@TimForAthens just called out the Board of Regents for discriminating against undocumented students. Bold move, sir. #DensonDebate
— David Schick (@ReportSchick) March 19, 2014
Mayor Denson with the gutsy plug for the 2nd Amendment. I like it. #DensonDebate
— Cody Hall (@CodyHall09) March 19, 2014
@nancyformayor: if you don’t want to get broken into, never leave your house. #paraphrasing #densondebate
— Clarkatello (@Clarkatello) March 19, 2014
Mayor Denson talks about marijuana a lot privately #densondebate
— Hannah Godwin (@hannahbanane2) March 19, 2014
Yuppies shop at @EarthFareATH? #DensonDebate
— David Schick (@ReportSchick) March 19, 2014
Every two minutes someone is a victim of sexual assault. We are not doing enough. -Tim, on sexual assault. #DensonDebate
— Tim Denson (@TimForAthens) March 19, 2014
@nancyformayor says we’re doing what we should be doing as a city to stop sexual assault. Good job Athens! #densondebate
— Clarkatello (@Clarkatello) March 19, 2014
We can choose to have more of the same or go towards making an Athens for everyone, @TimForAthens says in closing statement. #DensonDebate
— David Schick (@ReportSchick) March 19, 2014
Mayor Denson: Yes, you will get more of the same. You will get more of what you’ve been getting for 35 years. #DensonDebate
— Tim Denson (@TimForAthens) March 19, 2014
And finally, perhaps the most important question:
Which candidate will give me free beer? #DensonDebate
— Hannah Greenberg (@hannahgre) March 19, 2014
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