Bill Gillespie Wakes Up the Candidates' Forum in Valdosta

Bill got applause for saying what needed to be said:


Video by Gretchen Quarterman

A few of my favorite bits from Bill Gillespie's speech at the south Georgia Political Forum in Valdosta, Oct 14:

"going from analog to digital ... new leadership, new opportunities; I want to be one of those new leaders that put people first",

"Iraq war... wrong war, wrong time; it's a money pit, money that we could be better spending right here on our own economy",

"it's sad to see our number one export, our children... we need to fix that",

"I knew when America was right, because we were respected around the world and we were respectful, and I want to able to be a Congressman that reinstates that around the world with our allies",

"we're not set up for the 21st century; why don't we make something again?"

"Lowndes County, you know about service industry jobs, because you have the lowest wages ... compared to the sixteen counties that come to Lowndes County for services",

"there are things we need to do with ... 21st century in terms of education; 40% high school dropout rate; we've got to do better",

"No Child Left Behind left many people behind",

"if the Blazers had a failing season, we would get rid of the coach. It's time for a new coach, I'd appreciate to be that next coach."

The audience loved it.

VSU-TV shows South Georgia Political Forum

The South Georgia Political Forum of Tuesday 14 October is appearing repeatedly on VSU-TV, today, tomorrow, and Wednesday, and more times after that. Both Bill Gillespie and Jack Kingston spoke, so this should be of interest across GA-01. Here's the schedule:

Sat Oct 18: 6PM
Sun Oct 19: 12AM, 9AM, 6PM
Wed Oct 22: 8:30PM
Sat Oct 25: 9AM, 6PM
Sun Oct 26: 12AM, 9AM, 6PM
Wed Oct 29: 8:30PM
Sat Nov 1: 9:00AM, 6PM
Sun Nov 2: 12AM, 9AM, 6PM

Maybe VSU would agree for other south Georgia universities, such as SSU, to rebroadcast this show, as well.

Dennis Marks, Lowndes County Democratic Party Chair, says:

Thank you to AAUW and all the co-sponsors for presenting the South Georgia Political Forum at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center. Special thanks to the Conference Center and to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Conference. It was a wonderful opportunity for voters to meet and greet the candidates and to hear their speeches!

A special thank you to the candidates with opposition on the ballot who participated: John Monds and Jim Powell for Public Service Commission; Jack Kingston and Bill Gillespie for 1st Congressional District; Sanford Bishop and Lee Ferrell for 2nd Congressional District; Freddie Taylor and Chris Prine for Sheriff; Terry Hawke and Bill Watson for Coroner; Norman Bennett and Ashley Paulk for County Commission Chair; David DeMersseman, Earl Wetherington, Steve Davis, Ronald Miller, and W. G. Walker for Tax Assessors; Jim Tunison and Greg Voyles for Superior Court Judge; and Jeff Spradley for Lake Park City Council. Thank you also to all the public officials and unopposed candidates in attendance.

Vote early. To quote Dennis: "I'll say it often: vote early."

Oh, and vote for Bill!

South Georgia Political Forum

Bill Gillespie, plus almost all the state and local candidates for office, will speak at the South Georgia Political Forum, Tuesday 14 October 2008, at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center, One Meeting Place (off Norman Drive), in Valdosta.


View Larger Map

According to the Lowndes County Democratic Party:

First, candidates will stand at tables around the large meeting room at the conference center, answering questions and having free-form conversation with voters. Second, there will be scheduled microphone time during which each candidate can make a three minute speech. The microphone time will be moderated by Dr. Sharon Gravett, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and longtime member of the AAUW. The American Association of University Women (AAUW), Valdosta Branch, organized the forum working in conjunction with Myrna Ballard of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, Julie Greenhaw of the Lowndes County Republican Party, and Dennis Marks of the Lowndes County Democratic Party. For more information contact Christine James at chjames@valdosta.edu.

I don't know whether Jack Kingston will attend. Ah, looks like Jack has confirmed after all. Jack and Bill in the same room: should be interesting!

Busses and Trains for South Georgia

Bill Gillespie will work for mass transit for south Georgia, including busses. This dovetails nicely with Valdosta's new Comprehensive Transportation Master Plan which contemplates a bus system for Valdosta. Bill goes beyond local mass transit:

I will also seek to commission a study to research the impact and cost of developing a light-commuter rail system for South Georgia, with lines connecting our centers of trade and education. I envision a “coastal connector” with a line to Savannah, Richmond Hill, Hinesville, Jesup, Darien, Brunswick and Kingsland. I also envision a “mid-south connector” with a line extending to Baxley, Waycross, Douglas and Valdosta. A goal would also be to use commuter rail to someday interconnect our region with other parts of the state: Athens, Augusta, Macon and Atlanta. No private property would be taken through eminent domain. Commuter trains could use current commercial tracks, or rails could be constructed through interstate medians. The trains would be clean, safe, fast, reliable and affordable, and would run on bio-fuel, produced in the First District, or another form of clean, efficient alternative energy. As your Congressman, I will connect South Georgia.

Much of south Georgia exists because of railroads. The Atlantic and Gulf Railroad connected Savannah to Waycross (shown as Tebeauville), Valdosta, and beyond by 1870. (A&G map from Official Guide of the Railways 1870. Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage by Steve Storey.) Residents of Troupville actually picked up and moved 4 miles to found Valdosta on that railroad.

Other railroads were added, mostly to exploit turpentine and logging, plus passenger trains. (GS&F map from Official Guide of the Railways, April, 1918. Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage by Steve Storey.) By the early 1900s, you could take a train to most sizeable towns in the state, and this remained true through the 1940s. Ask anybody over about the age of 70, and they'll remember.

The beauty of it is: most of those railroads are still there and still in use for freight. South Georgia doesn't need to buy rights of way; it just needs to make deals with the owners of the existing railroads. We know this is possible because Central Florida Commuter Rail is doing it with CSX, which is the owner of one of the main lines through south Georgia and north Florida.

The price of gas may be temporarily down right now, but $3.50/gallon is still more than twice the price of 2000 and there's every reason to expect gas prices will go back up, and even higher. People are already driving less. They'd drive even less if they had another way to get places. It's time for mass transit. Bill Gillespie can help bring back busses and rail for 21st century south Georgia.