Republicans make historic gains

Check out the National Conference of State Legislatures for the news on historic gains in state legislatures.
For example:

• “Republicans have added over 675 seats to their ranks in this election, dramatically surpassing 1994 gains.
• The chamber switches thus far are all Democratic to Republican except for Montana House which was tied and is now Republican, and the Oregon House which was Democratic and is now tied. …
• This is the first time in Alabama that Republicans have controlled the legislature since reconstruction.
• The North Carolina Senate has not been Republican since 1870.
• And Republicans have reportedly taken over 100 seats in the New Hampshire House.
• For the first time in history, the Minnesota Senate will be controlled by the GOP.”

See more http://www.ncsl.org/tabid/21253/default.aspx

Vote TODAY for Mary Helen Moses for Superior Court - call your friends

Dear friends, if you haven't voted yet, please vote TODAY for Mary Helen Moses for Superior Court Judge.

If you HAVE already voted, please call 2 or 3 people who know and trust you - in Glynn, Camden, Appling, Wayne, and Jeff Davis County and ask THEM to vote TODAY for Mary Helen Moses. Believe me, people get busy. They don't pay attention. It's not too late until the polls close at 7:00 pm - in little over 17 hours.

 

It is the MOST IMPORTANT vote I will cast today.

Glynn, Camden, Appling, Wayne, and Jeff Davis voters in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit have a RARE opportunity to vote in the FIRST contested race in 16 years and the first competitive challenger vs incumbent race in my memory.

I will vote for Mary Helen Moses for Superior Court Judge because I like that she (1) advocates open and modern court processes for the legal community and the public; (2) stresses the importance of listening and applying the law vs. advocating social policy; (3) conducts herself professionally with a temperament that inspires confidence; and (4) is not involved in court transactions which may raise questions of nepotism.  I think she is objective, courageous, fair & fit for the court. (And for the record she is a conservative Republican)

If you know Judge Williams from 10, 20, or 30 years ago you might be mystified at the opposition to her now. You might only remember her distinguished career and first 3 or 4 terms as Superior Court Judge. Since becoming Chief Judge (due to seniority) her circuit administrative responsibilities are much larger. And approximately concurrently, she has managed the Drug Court from its inception to its daily operations. A SIXTH term is too much. It’s time for a change. Electing Mary Helen Moses to the Superior Court will allow many changes. It will make Judge Wilkes the new Chief Judge. It will allow reassignment, reorganization, and a fresh look at the court administration.

From what I've seen personally at forums; the calls and emails I am getting from attorneys, reporters, activists, and a variety of people in criminal justice; and from the advertisements I've seen in the paper, I am very concerned about the openness and appropriateness of operations in our Brunswick Circuit Superior Court in recent years. Maybe it’s just a workload and micromanagement problem. I see an "out of touch" royal incumbency after Judge Williams 20 years in office. In Judge Williams most recent tenure, I see someone:

▪        Insufficiently concerned about the appearance of propriety. Judge Williams says if all parties agree it's perfectly ok for her to hear cases before her attorney family members. Could it be possible that parties could be too INTIMIDATED to speak or object? Wouldn't someone concerned about abuse of power avoid even the appearance of abuse of power and nepotism? Why not simply recuse herself from any cases involving her family?

▪        Insufficiently concerned about the appearance of intimidation.   I do not think it’s appropriate to use the names of Sheriffs and particularly the Chief of Police in a paid political advertisement.  Of course those law enforcement individuals are citizens with the right to vote and contribute $$ as they wish. But it's too readily perceived as intimidation. Does the Judge not recognize this?

▪        Who doesn't seem to recognize the truth if it doesn't suit her.
Judge Williams says in a Fri Oct 29 paid advertisement regarding the jail location "I have not been involved in anything about site selection, site discussions. I have never been involved in that.”  In the Mary Helen Moses radio spot, you can hear Judge Williams words in her own voice speaking to the County Commissioners "To me it just doesn't make any sense to move this jail away from the Courthouse"

▪        Who must control every drug case and administer the drug court - unlike other counties where the cases rotate among judges.

▪        Who can't tolerate open discussion or q&a in public.

▪        Who uses public funds, law enforcement, and jails to enforce her vision of social good - at a more extreme level than other similar courts

▪        Who frightens attorneys and others into silence.

I want fresh air in the Glynn County Courthouse.
We don't get to vote on federal judges. We do get to vote at the state level. Let's take this opportunity seriously and make sure no one gets too comfortable or powerful. Call someone you know in Glynn, Camden, Wayne, Appling or Jeff Davis County. Remind them to vote for Mary Helen Moses TODAY.

Mary Helen Moses for Superior Court - fit, fair, able to take the heat, willing to air the issues

Mary Helen Moses for Superior Court - fit, fair, able to take the heat, willing to air the issues

by Karen Ross on Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 8:50pm

Brunswick Circuit of Superior Court has it's first contested race in 16 years and first competitive race in my memory.
But has the incumbent been willing to campaign in PUBLIC where she might be asked questions or where she might be seen side by side with her challenger? NO.

When asked in the Brunswick News, Judge Williams said she debated at RUPA debate.  The St. Simons Island Residents United for Planning and Action (RUPA) forum was NO debate. There were MANY candidates. Each candidate could field questions from the audience but there were no panels, moderator questions, or questions between the candidates. I'm glad for that one event; to my knowledge it is the only time they have appeared together.

Judge Williams also said she accepted an invitation to a Brunswick Kiwanis "forum" which Ms. Moses did not. It's too bad the reporter didn't ask follow-up questions. I wonder if it was in the middle of the week. Ms. Moses teaches law school out of town and is not here to campaign in the middle of the week - unlike the Judge who is available to campaign full time.

Ms. Moses preparing remarks at the Oct 23
Conservative Values Rally
in St. Mary's (photo by Melanie Spencer)

What about the many other forums and meet & greets where both were invited, both accepted, and at the last minute Judge Williams would decline and not show if she knew Ms. Moses would be there? If you doubt what I'm saying check with the Golden Isles Tea Party, Camden County Tea Party, and the sponsors of the Conservative Values Rally -- all events that Ms. Moses attended.

There are at least 3 other similar incidents I know of personally. Further Ms. Moses rented space at the library and invited Judge Williams to a debate. No show. No response.



Knowing how difficult it has been for interested voters to see the candidates side by side and knowing that some don't subscribe to the Brunswick News or don't have time to collate all the paid advertisements, I have collected the entire series of Judge Williams' 5 full page advertisements and Ms. Moses 3 advertisements. You will probably need to zoom the Moses advertisements.
See https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9p3TJzco4oJMmYwMzk2ZTQtM2I3NS00OTg5LTkwNDAtNjVkOWMyNjZiOGQ3&hl=en


It is a large file. You will get a message that Google Docs couldn't scan it for viruses. I did scan it and there are no viruses.

Sam Olens for Attorney General

Joey Strength, Sam Olens, Charles Taylor

Sam Olens stood out in the GOP field for Attorney General - and thankfully won the nomination.
Deservedly, he has broad support across the state.

We can count on him to (1)fight Obamacare, (2)protect communities of interest in redistricting and Georgia's rights to draw district lines, and (3)continue his work with local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws. Now he needs to count on us to elect him Georgia's next attorney general in the first OPEN seat race in Georgia in 68 years.

Learn more in this 2 page summary of the office he's seeking, his background, and his commitments. https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9p3TJzco4oJOTE2NGIzNjUtYzRlMC00MTRjLWFkZmYtM2M2YzFkMzllY2M5&hl=en

Listen to this 17 minute interview -- and if you like personal excellence, competence, personal choice and competition, local control and respect for the states, you'll love what you hear in this Oct 14 interview.
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/418/0/1713085/WABE.Election.Coverage/WABE.Candidate.Interview..Sam.Olens..Republican.for.Georgia.Attorney.General

Mary Helen Moses for Superior Court Judge (Brunswick Circuit)

A rare choice this year.
Glynn County and the Brunswick Judicial Circuit voters have a RARE opportunity this year to vote in a contested race for Superior Court Judge. This is the first contested Brunswick Circuit Superior Court race in 16 years and the first competitive challenger v. incumbent race in my memory.


I will vote for Mary Helen Moses for Superior Court Judge because I like that she (1) advocates open and modern court processes for the legal community and the public; (2) stresses the importance of listening and applying the law vs. advocating social policy; (3) conducts herself professionally with a temperament that inspires confidence; (4) is not involved in court transactions which may raise questions of nepotism.
 
Who are the candidates in this non-partisan race?
 
Both the incumbent and the challenger are impressive Republican women. Using Political Data Sources and Open Secrets.org, I checked primary voting records and donor reports:

• Judge Williams regularly votes in GOP primaries. Ms. Moses voted in both 2010 GOP primaries. Neither has voted in Dem primaries. 
• Neither has donated reportable amounts to federal political campaigns in 2006, 2008, or 2010 (according to the Center for Responsive Politics) nor to state candidates (according to Political Data Systems).
• In addition Judge Williams was an active Glynn Republican in the 1980’s. And Ms. Moses is a member of the Golden Isles Republican Women.
   

What have I read/seen firsthand about Ms. Moses?

I first heard of Ms. Moses when she wrote to the Glynn County Commission in Jan 2010 recommending the jail expansion move to a new location – outside downtown Brunswick. And she was later the attorney in the federal lawsuit to block jail expansion in downtown Brunswick. When I met her, I saw a Southern “girl next door” woman who introduced herself “I am not a Yankee”. She has deep South Georgia roots in Vidalia, is Atlanta born, and South Carolina (Furman) and Georgia (UGA law school) educated. To those roots she added a rich career as trial attorney, mediator, and professor in NC, Washington DC; Albany NY; and here in Glynn County since 1999. She has a “preeminent” AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. She has the firm and gentle demeanor of a very nice person who happens to be a very fine and experienced lawyer and law professor.

I’ve listened and/or spoken to her at a meet and greet; 2 GOP breakfast programs which she attended (but which she was never invited to address as the program speaker); and at the Conservative Values Rally in St. Mary’s. I also questioned people I’ve known decades – people whose views I know and trust and who also have personal ties to Ms. Moses which predate any campaign. They said she was highly competent, conservative, and reputable – confirming what I’ve seen.

What have I read/seen firsthand about Judge Williams?
I first knew of Amanda Williams when she supported Mack Mattingly in his 1980 US Senate race. We’ve had a cordial acquaintance for decades. But I was away nearly 20 years and have nothing to do with the court system – unless called for jury duty – so our paths rarely cross. In August, she spoke at the Coastal Republican Women’s Club and told a very impressive story about her background, her family, and her pride in the drug court. During the Q&A session I asked her a few questions about the drug court. I was particularly interested if it could be thought of as a middle approach between “legalizing” some recreational drugs and prosecuting every offense to the fullest. She answered and elaborated on experiences around the country. The exchange seemed friendly and open.

She also was the program speaker at the October 16 GOP breakfast forum. Again her primary topic was drug court and drug court had been in the news that week so during Q&A I wanted to continue the friendly discussion. It wasn’t a good day to ask questions about the drug court or related policies. Judge Williams angrily berated me and went into a tirade “I don’t care what YOU think. You can express your opinions at the ballot box… I’ve seen how you ask questions in public and I don’t like it.” Our host Kevin Gough stepped in and added that she had yelled at him far worse in court. I said “so now I’m in the club?” and the mood lightened. Q&A continued and she answered at length – apparently willingly. But when I approached her after the program in a friendly way and said I didn’t know why she was so upset about questions, she again bellowed in my face and said “I have never been so insulted in 20 years.” I said “But it’s a Public meeting. Q&A is what we do” and she suggested I should come to her office at court to ask questions. Her anger was stunning. I have attended candidate forums since I was 8 years old (that’s a LONG time) and I have never before seen a candidate react this way.


News of her outburst generated calls to me asking what happened. I was told she frequently acted this way around professionals in court but this was the first angry outburst in public. It also made me start asking others about their experiences. Some verified and some disputed the claims you can easily find in various anonymous forums. Obviously some are reluctant to speak publicly. The best I can do is rely on my own experience and findings or experiences of people I trust. Anonymous rants can’t be trusted.


Judge Williams is a super achiever; a very strong person; very dedicated to her family and her mission in life. But her passionate social advocacy and temperament do not represent the objective, analytical, dispassionate demeanor I expect in court.


This year we have a choice. It’s time for a change.


Learn more about both candidates:
 
Mary Helen Moses

1. http://www.mosesforjudge.com/
2. http://www.martindale.com/Mary-Helen-Moses/388425-lawyer.htm
3. http://www.ethics.ga.gov/Reports/Campaign/Campaign_ByContributions_RFR.aspx?NameID=7141&FilerID=C2010000437&CDRID=29428&Name=Moses,%20Mary%20Helen&Year=2010&Report=September%2030th%20-%20Election%20Year – (Sept 30 – contributors)
4. http://www.ethics.ga.gov/Reports/Campaign/Campaign_Name.aspx?NameID=7141&FilerID=C2010000437&Type=candidate (all reports)
   

Judge Amanda Williams (Incumbent)

1. http://www.reelectamandawilliams.com/
2. http://www.martindale.com/Amanda-F-Williams/874141-lawyer.htm
3. http://www.ethics.ga.gov/Reports/Campaign/Campaign_ByContributions_RFR.aspx?NameID=1111&FilerID=C2006000460&CDRID=29000&Name=Williams,%20Amanda%20F.&Year=2010&Report=September%2030th%20-%20Election%20Year (Sept 30 – contributors)
4. http://www.ethics.ga.gov/Reports/Campaign/Campaign_Name.aspx?NameID=1111&FilerID=C2006000460&Type=candidate (all reports)

Objective sources about this race:

1. Court judge faces first challenge since 1994
   http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2010-10-24/story/superior-court-judge-faces-first-challenge-1994
2. RUPA video Sept 20
   http://ournetnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=910&Itemid=84
3. League of Women's Voters survey
   http://www12.thevoterguide.org/v/ajc10/race-detail.do?id=196623570&sfr=1287957286387