Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Millar, Taylor Win; Handel, Deal in Runoff

Congrats to Dunwoody residents Fran Millar and Tom Taylor, both of whom won their primary races on Tuesday, and for all intent and purpose, will win election in November. Millar is in line to replace retiring State Senator Dan Weber, while Taylor, the former Dunwoody City Councilman, is a virtual lock to win the State Representative seat vacated by Millar. Millar won with 63 percent of the vote (click here to see vote total) against opponents Jamie Sibold and Jim Duffie, while Taylor collected better than 70 percent of the vote (click here to see vote total) in his race against Tammy Anderson. Both Millar and Taylor have served the community well. There was never a serious option to Millar, meantime Taylor's experience was clearly the difference in his race (it's too bad that Anderson was trying to paint Taylor as a career politician, even though he has served less than 3 years in public office).


While former Governor Roy Barnes cruised to victory in the Democratic primary in his attempt to regain his old job, getting almost 66 percent of the vote, the Republicans are headed to a runoff. Former Secretary of State Karen Handel, who got 34 percent, will face former U.S. Representative Nathan Deal, who garnered 22.9 percent. Deal nosed out former Georgia Senator President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson, who finished with 20.1 percent. The favorite going into the election, State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, finished 4th with 16.9 percent. A valuable lesson was learned here - never trust the polling. According to Sunday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll, Oxendine was ahead in the race with 31 percent of the vote. I even know one person who switched their vote from Johnson to Handel simply because they didn't think Johnson had a chance, and wanted to ensure that Oxendine didn't win outright! Turns out, a few more votes and Johnson, who co-sponsored the senate bill that made Dunwoody a city, would have been in the runoff. The runoff will take place on August 10.

10 comments:

DunwoodyTalk said...

Bob.

A person does not get my vote simply because they co-sponsored a bill for Dunwoody. The poll I mentioned had Deal in 2nd with Ox (behind Handel), and that poll was correct. The 11ALive / V103 poll is the one that had Ox in the lead. I think V103 voters are less likely to vote in the Republican primary, thus why that poll had it all wrong. The last small Republican AJC poll had Ox and Deal behind Handel. I think more people switched from Ox to Deal than from Johnson to Deal. Nice writing by the way, your journalistic traits are popping out a little. Keep up the good work and Dick might hire you to write a public relations/news column weekly for Tom and Fran, covering the General Assembly.

Bob Fiscella said...

Rick,
I think you're making an assumption that I was referring to you about the vote change.

As for writing for Dick - you think it pays well?
I'm not sure I would be very good as a PR person for Tom. When Tom was on council, I called out him and the rest of the council for spending too much money on police and not enough on roads. But I do give him credit for his work in starting up the police department and gaining control of the parks.
As for handing PR for Fran - in this race that would have been easy. I think Fran has invested a lot of time (and his own money) in this community over the past decade. I can't say the same for Jamie Sibold. And honestly, I really don't know enough about Mr. Duffie.

Chip said...

Oh, you two!!!!

C'mon--- your both good writers. Bob doesn't have a sense of humor in his writing....try as I might to encourage him....and Rick tends toward polemic and irony, but he does have humor.

But, you both make my day!!!

Now, go on you crazy lugs....gettouttahere!!

DunwoodyTalk said...

all is well, Bob just emailed me, inviting me to Mellow Mushroom; he's buying us a medium cheese pizza and a pitcher of Hoegaarden! Thanks, Bob.

Chip said...

If he'll spring for the large Greek salad, I'll join you!!!!

Bob Fiscella said...

I will buy the cheese pizza and Greek salad, but I'm passing on the Hoegaarden. I need a much more simple beer!

DunwoodyTalk said...

Bob, Hoegaarden is simple. Very few ingredients. Your Coors Light has all sorts of preservatives and such added. Hoegaarden has only water, hops, wheat, and yeast. Come on, buck up for a couple pitchers.

Chip said...

You should let Bob F. know that it also comes in raspberry (Rosee) and Citron (orange) and that the whitbier variety you're so fond of has the slightest tang of coriander and orange peel. Yum!!! It's also now brewed by Anheuser Busch through its European interests.

Myself, I prefer a good Yeungling or Warsteiner...myself.

DunwoodyTalk said...

Chip,

I can't make it to all of Monday's meeting. Can you cover it for me?

Chip said...

Rick:

I have a dinner appointment this PM, but I can be over to the Council after 8:30 PM. Will that work?