By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher, GwinnettForum | There’s nearly a dearth of candidates in the two main party primaries in Georgia today. Fully 80 percent of the legislative candidates have no opposition, while many Gwinnett offices also go unopposed.
Topping both party ballots this year is the race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Johnny Isakson, who is standing for re-nomination against two GOP opponents. On the Democratic ballot, four Democrats seek that seat.
The only other statewide balloting will be in the Republican primary, as three people seek a six-year seat on the Georgia Public Service Commission for North Georgia, though the balloting for this position is statewide.
With Georgia having its presidential primary early on in the year, it makes today’s balloting less exciting, and probably will draw a smaller turnout. And in reality, Secretary of State Brian Kemp may have been wrong in seeking to give Georgia more influence in the presidential preference by having the presidential voting on March 1.
Had Kemp not tampered with moving that date, Georgia would have been in the catbird seat in having more attention and influence in the presidential primary, that is, if it were being held today.
IN GWINNETT’S Republican races, there are eight legislative races, one for the District 40 Senate seat held by Fran Millar. For the House of Representatives from Gwinnett, there are seven contests.
The only Gwinnett GOP race for constitutional officers is the challenge by Keith Van Nus for the sheriff’s post held by Butch Conway. Whoever wins the primary will be the sheriff, since there are no Democratic candidates.
Gwinnett Democrats offer even fewer races contested than Republicans, only one for House District 99, near I-85 and Indian Trail Road. Two newcomers to that race are pitted for the Legislature, the only contested Democratic race.
IN THE NON-PARTISAN balloting for statewide judges, no one sitting on both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals drew any opposition.
However, there are three races for local judges, one for Superior Court, and two for State Court. All three sitting judges drew single opponents.
With all Gwinnett registered voters eligible to vote in these three races for judge, they may pull more votes than any of the other races. While the two parties are only nominating people to run in the General Election today, the non-partisan judicial races will be over after today, sitting the winners on the judicial benches.
Have you ever wondered why Georgians vote for non-partisan judicial offices during the Georgia primary, and not during the General Election?
We feel that the best time to vote for judges would be when the most people would be voting. Usually more Georgians vote in the General Election, especially in presidential election years, than they do in the primary voting. So why not vote for judges in the General Election, instead of the primary?
We have a theory.
We suspect that the sitting and influential judges would prefer to have an election when the fewest people are voting, thereby insuring their election.
Let’s face it: few incumbent judges are thrown out of office. Unless the jurist has come into the limelight for some misdeed, the people usually re-elect them.
GwinnettForum for years has stood for moving statewide non-partisan judge election runoffs to the General Election. That’s why it is at the top of our statewide Continuing Objectives. We stand by that again, and urge the Legislature to move election of non-partisan judges to the General Election.
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