Lee, you realize that Jerguson not only supported, but helped CREATE the T-SPLOST, correct? He was on the Advisory committee, and failed to do a THING for Cherokee Citizens in that role. http://www.ledgernews.com/news/weekly_news/article_e9af7c96-66db-536b-b875-a3fac0908cdd.html?mode=jqm

He later bailed on supporting the tax (flip flop much?) and is now hailed a hero by his buddies like Steely Dan, who like to whine about Beach supporting 'the largest tax increase in Georgia'... even though their Pied Piper was not only a supporter, but a CREATOR of the tax and project list. It's almost comical. Only in Cherokee (where the voters put a 'Chip Rogers the Great' in office time and time again)!

Jerguson owns TSPLOST. Why would he even be on a board to come up with a project list knowing that it would increase taxes. He dic s terrible job looking out for Cherokee County the ran as fast as hd could pointing fingers. Can you say "hypocrit"? I would have loved to ask Jerguson about his $700,000+ lawsuit as well. Pretty crappy that the people setting up the debate asked Jerguson when he was available before even considering Beach's schedule. Brandon is always available via phone for anyone to call. Maybe you should try it sometime... But then again, you aren't a very good live speaker are you?

Ah, Monty - always resorting to the personal attacks. First sign of a lost argument! Not sure what my 'live speaking' skills possibly have to do with this...but I can assure you that they're better than your spelling skills. Not only can I say "hypocrite" but I can spell it as well.

Looks like they tried to contact both the Fulton Cty coward Beach and Jerguson and that only Jerguson had the courtesy and professionalism to return the call. Apparently your reading comprehension is laughably worse than your spelling skills? LOL.

But that's Beach for ya - he's a Fulton County First, Big Gov't Second, MARTA ALL THE WAY liberal who doesn't give a crap about the county he's running to represent. His continued disdain for all of Cherokee County is merely foreshadowing of the type of "representation" he'd bring if elected.

Jerguson bailed on TSPLOST long ago...after listening to his constituents. Beach listened to his constituents and yet still backed loser TSPLOST. Beach owned TSPLOST and stood to pocket/pilfer millions of tax $$$ if it passed via his position on the GaDOT, which thankfully it didn't. The man's a coward, a liberal, and was a huge loser on both TSPLOST and his anti-Amendment 1 stance.

bottom line: This "Beach" is like the type you'd walk on in New Jersey. Watch out for the syringes!

Sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Dan. Seems you like to dish it out, but can't take it in return. Then you resort to spelling corrections when you have no defense or argument.

Jerguson bailed on TSPLOST knowing that he didn't do his job and knowing that Cherokee could suffer repercussions if we voted it down. That is negligance. If he was a true conservative, he would have never supported the existance of the largest tax increase in state history, yet he voted for it several times.

He also voted to amend our state's constitution. That is straight from the liberal handbook. "First and foremost, a conservative bears a firm commitment to the US Constitution as well as the State Constitution. The rule of law."

If you supported Amendment 1 and voted to amend the State Constitution, you are a RINO. Sean Jerguson is not a true Conservative. He's not even an ethical businessman as he has a lawsuit for almost $1,000,000 over a trailer park he defaulted on. This is more money that taxpayers will end up having to put up for a crooked politician.... just like Chip Rogers. DISGUSTING! Brandon Beach is an ethical leader. Please find ANYTHING on him that is unethical. You can't because he is an honest man with morals. Something that our state legislature is in great need of...

Brandon Beach is a tax&spend, SPLOST-loving politician 100% beholden to his transportation special interest groups and lobbyists.

You claim that 'Cherokee could suffer repercussions if we voted it down' as a reason Jerguson bailed on the rotten pork-filled, MARTA-loving subsidy known as TSPLOST. How does Cherokee suffer from voting down a pkg that benefited us not-at-all?

You gave your own thinly-veiled love of TSPLOST away there, Monty. Jerguson rightfully bailed on TSPLOST because it was clear that it did absolutely nothing for Cherokee County, other than transfer our tax dollars to Beach's DOT and MARTA buddies, and likely Beach's own pockets.

Conservatives have amended the Constitution many times - not sure where you're getting your nonsense from there.

As far as wasting taxpayer $$ goes...how's that loser anti-Amendment 1 lawsuit (doomed to failure, btw) coming along? I doubt you sore losers are footing that bill yourselves, ya (sic) 'hypocrit'.

Face it- the only thing you like about Beachis that he's a charter hater like you. What's amusing is that you liberals think electing Beach would get magic $$$ thrown at the school district, when it's clear that he's got no interest in helping anyone in Cherokee County out at all, including the school district.

He's Mr. MARTA and Fulton County, first & foremost and he's sure got you fooled, Monty. Not that that's a particularly difficult task.

You seem to have a few misconceptions about me, or just a short term memory. I've stated several times that I did not support TSPLOST and voted against it. I've also stated that I believe charter schools, when they are actually serving as a real charter school, have a purpose and can be helpful. But that is for a different forum.

Here's what you are not addressing - Jerguson supported a tax increase. Regardless if he bailed or not, he supported it. We obviously have differing opinions on why he bailed. Fact is that he did support the state's largest tax increase.

You apparenlty missed the clause in the TSPLOST that said any county voting down the TSPLOST would be penalized if TSPLOST were to pass overall. Did you not read that part?

Another question for you (and Jerguson) - Jerguson supported and was on the executive committee of the TSPLOST for two years yet failed to help Cherokee in any way whatsoever. What was he doing? He obviously was not watching out for his constituents when he had the chance. So why should I vote for him now? He has done nothing to help improve Cherokee County in the time he has been allowed to represent us.

Jerguson is anti-public schools. He's even got the endorsement from an out-of-state organization led by Betsy DeVos - http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/4/20/232844/831

Looks like Jerguson is the one representing the special interest groups.

I like our exchanges, Brian. You're willing to discuss ideas (often unpopular ones) in public forums. I can't say the same for Brandon Beach. He believes spending time discussing issues with voters isn't worth his time. Wow. So kudos to you, seriously. Perhaps you should be running for this Senate seat, not Mr Beach.

I pay sales tax in Fulton County everyday. I'll gripe about MARTA all I want, thanks.

You ignore the media coverage of a debate, which would reach hundreds/thousands more undecided/uneducated voters via coverage posted here, the AJC, the Ledger, the Tribune, etc.

Which is why Beach chose to crawl under his Fulton County rock rather than have his obvious liberalism & anti-Cherokee County policies exposed by the light of a debate.

Dan, you have a LOT of time on your hands to doodle on the Patch and Facebook all day. Instead of whining about liberalism and RINOs in a forum under a moniker, why don't you 'roll up your sleeves' and actually DO something? Or is it because the voters didn't want you to?

Common Sense proves again to not be so common.

Common, what exactly are you doing to accomplish anything, other than stalking me here and elsewhere?

Your continued usage of personal attacks rather than debating Beach's qualifications speak volumes though. You know that Beach is a tax & spend Democrat in disguise and you only share his complete hatred of charter schools and the children they educate. Your hatred of charter schools clouds your perspective - Beach would be terrible for Cherokee County. Tell me one reason why this man - who clearly has no interest in Cherokee County - should be elected to represent us?

Try to do so without insulting me if you can. Remember - I'm not the one running for office.

Private conversations with voters don't compare to a public forum. There are little consequences to what is said privately versus a forum attended by journalists.

Most politicians strive to be problem solvers. If that's the case then Beach and Jerguson need to find a way to make this debate happen. There is still time to pull this off if folks would come together. Let's not discuss Debate-gate, let's talk issues.

Common, once again your hatred of charter schools, the children they educate and their parents clouds your perspective. You've got serious issues here and are a terrible loser, as you'd rather sell Cherokee County's immediate future down the river (due to the crushing defeat you rec'd 2 months ago) and elect a Cherokee County hater in Brandon Beach rather than someone who's got our interests at the top of his platform in Sean Jerguson.

Beach's unwavering support of failed TSPLOST and his anti-Amendment 1 stances are "smears" only to the whiny liberal. To the informed voter, they're facts about the man's voting record - Brandon Beach may be a nice guy but in politics, the man's a loser. His loyalty is to the DOT, MARTA, and his Chamber of Commerce buddies first...and the citizens of Cherokee County last.

Or is his refusal to debate in Cherokee County just another "smear" to you whiny charter-school haters?

Hate leads to suffering, padwan. Open your eyes or admit you plan to vote for a Big Tax & Spender in Brandon Beach. Stop pretending you're a 'conservative' if you do.

Your obsession with me is flattering but it's a waste of time. Tell me why I should vote for a Cherokee County politician who refuses to have a debate in Cherokee County and who stubbornly supported a measure that provided no benefit to Cherokee County whatsoever (TSPLOST). Just tell me one single thing that's remotely conservative about Beach.

Dan, what you are experiencing is called psychological projection. You are projecting your negative feelings of public education on others saying they "hate" charter schools. To help you resolve these feelings, you need to give specific examples of what makes you believe Common Sense "hates" charters.

Monty, perhaps your memory needs to be checked out. Common Sense was a vocal opponent of Amendment 1 last fall. That person is clearly still upset over the absolute drubbing the NO crowd experienced, to the point that they will support a blueblooded Democrat over a conservative.

of course, I suspect Common Sense is likely a district lackey and simply following orders.

have you cast your vote for Natalie Bergeron (D) yet, Monty? She's a big charter hater too. Right up your alley.

If voting against Amendment 1 means that you hate charter schools, then voting against TSPLOST means you hate roads. Please provide actual proof and not more of your status quo talking points.

No Monty - voting against TSPLOST means you're against subsidizing the failure that is MARTA and asinine ideas like "light rail", and other crap Atlantans won't use nor that benefit other areas of GA being taxed to pay for it.

The vast majority of proposed TSPLOST spending was for MARTA and other "alternative" transportation options.

Please, Dean, point out my inaccuracies. You can't, because you know that I am right.

Was it my rounding? Sorry - Sean is currently being sued for the exact amount of $611,670.95 plus accrued and unpaid interest of $28,956.52 as of December 2012.

The amount that Sean Jerguson accepted from Obama's handout was $755,000.00. If he defaults on this one, he is not held accountable, but rather the taxpayers are! What a flaming hypocrite!

Sean Jerguson "served" to represent Cherokee County on the executive round table committee for TIA/TSPLOST - http://www.ledgernews.com/news/weekly_news/article_e9af7c96-66db-536b-b875-a3fac0908cdd.html?mode=jqm

This would have been a good opportunity for Sean to actually prove that he was in this to help Cherokee County residents and he did not. He completely failed to do so and then he bailed on the TSPLOST knowing that his lack of representation would not sit well with the people he is supposed to be representing. Scot Turner would have destroyed him in that election.

Sean Jerguson voted FOUR times to support TSPLOST as well as supporting an additional tax that voters would not be able to vote on.

Sean even used his constituent email list to SPAM his gun store on them - http://www.blogfordemocracy.org/2012/04/spring-sprung-cherokee-county.html

Please, please, PLEASE, Dean... which of these is untrue? And then please correct my inaccuracies in lieu of just saying that I'm wrong. What has Sean done for us?

So... no inaccuracies then?

Monty,

The $755,000 in Federal money Jerguson took for his business was not Obama stimulus money. The U.S. Small Business Administration loan program Jerguson took advantage of has been in existence since the 1950s. The Obama stimulus did, however, sweeten the pot for such loans.

Best,
Justin

Monty, pointing out that Brandon Beach was/is a huge supporter of TSPLOST in the face of 80% disapproval isn't a "personal attack" but merely a stating of political fact.

Your lies on Jerguson accepting "Obama Stimulus money" however, are completely untrue and have been properly corrected by Justin.

Am still waiting for something resembling a "conservative credential" about your candidate: Brandon 'Big Tax, Big Tollbooths' Beach.

Which candidate actually lives in the district he's running to represent?

The Obama stimulus affected the amount available for Sean to 'borrow' from the taxpayers...

Danny- what you're saying sounds strangely familiar. We should vote for Jerguson because of where he lives? We shouldn't have a choice, unrestricted by where someone lives? Seriously? You and your Amendment 1 "choicers" should be ashamed... trying to limit choice by zip code. Tsk tsk tsk...

Yes - I'd rather vote for the candidate who lives in the district he'd represent than one that doesn't. Not sure why you'd vote for someone who lives elsewhere and has no interest in actually representing 70% of his constituents. There are choices - this election is about choosing between 2 of them. Really not sure what the heck you're babbling about in terms of 'not having a choice', as there will be 2 names on the ballot.

Monty, explain why I should vote for a candidate who has run and lost numerous elections in Brandon Beach....and yet still thought it was OK to just pocket people's campaign contributions for his personal wealth.

If Beach has run for office that many times and still doesn't know Basic Campaign Law, he's unfit for office.

If Beach has run for office that many times and DOES know Basic Campaign Law, then he's little more than a common thief and completely unfit for office.

So Monty - do you believe that Beach is so incredibly ignorant of campaign law and naive to think he could just keep campaign money? Or do you believe that Beach is a well-qualified candidate who knew all about campaign laws, given how many elections he's run (and lost)?

which is it, Monty? We know 2 things: Keeping campaign money is a crime...and Beach freely admits to keeping campaign money.

So much for your "ethics" claim. That, or admit your buddy Beach is incompetent.

Wow. Can't believe the Patch allowed you to post something that intentionally misleads readers. Beach pocketed funds for personal wealth? You mean like Chip Rogers did? From my understanding, the funds were left in the campaign account? Which is definitely not illegal, and a practice that most politicians follow.

You may also like to know that Brandon does in fact live in District 21.

But now that you've brought up ethics- Sean's contribution report seems a bit funny. Seems the contributors have more of a political representation than local. His expenses didn't reflect much at all. Didn't even have the qualification fee on there. The link I posted below is also very informational.

His supporters over on the Republican Women of Cherokee County are also a good reflection of Sean's anger issues.

Dan, have you ever run for office? Ever won?

Monty, you need to drop your obsession with Chip Rogers. It's unhealthy and he's out of office.

The Patch printed my post because it's the truth: Beach kept that campaign money and regardless of your insistence to the contrary, it IS against state campaign law (i.e. it's ILLEGAL), as the Patch's article makes clear.

It's interesting that you've no problems with breaking the law, as long as it's your candidate or side doing the law-breaking. You took a similar stance back during your A-1 thrashing by backing the district using taxpaid facilities to back a specific political stance and you clearly want to overlook Beach's law-breaking here.

It's OK When You Do It, right Monty?

I've never run for office so I've never won an election. But technically, I've never lost one either. Am unsure of the relevancy of my complete lack of political experience to the discussion on the unethical lawbreaking of your candidate Brandon Beach?

Why do you always resort to a personal attack or query when cornered? Just answer the question, Monty:

Is Brandon Beach merely ignorant of the laws governing the several elections he's lost? Is he just kinda dumb when it comes to reading the fine print? Or is he a smart politician, well-aware of the election laws but just decided he's hang on to $13,000 of the people's money?

Which is it, Monty? Not that it matters, as either makes him unfit for office.

From the Transparency and Campaign Finance Act -

Under § 21-5-33. Disposition of contributions:
(B)(1)(D)For use in future campaigns for only that elective office for which those contributions were received. With respect to contributions held on January 1, 1992, or received thereafter, in the event the candidate, campaign committee, or public officer holding elective office has not designated, prior to receiving contributions to which this Code section is applicable, the office for which campaign contributions are received thereby, those contributions shall be deemed to have been received for the elective office which the candidate held at the time the contributions were received or, if the candidate did not then hold elective office, those contributions shall be deemed to have been received for that elective office for which that person was a candidate most recently following the receipt of such contributions;

Now... what were you saying about someone being ignorant of the laws?

You're posts are about as true as you saying you've never run for any elected position. You said that Beach pocketed campaign funds for personal use (like Chip Rogers did). That is a straight up LIE. Now you're saying it was the "people's money" when they are campaign contributions. Another misrepresentation of the facts.

The only reason I bring up Chip Rogers is because you shielded him like you are now doing for Sean Jerguson.

Since you brought up A1 - funny how you went silent when the emails from the charter school Principals to all staff and families about supporting A1 went public... Kara Martin, one of the loudest voices of the lawsuit against all the School System Superintendents, fell off the map after that too. Wonder why? The loser who ran against Read for School Board Chair said he had copies of emails from Dr. P to CCSD employees. Where are those? He never produced them. You should sell red herrings and straw men. You'd make a fortune.

Monty, I wasn't asking if YOU were ignorant of the laws - I was asking if your buddy BigTax BEACH was ignorant. I hope you weren't taught Reading Comprehension in our awesome CCSD schools!

Monty - this link was in the Patch article just yesterday - Are you accusing the Patch of misreporting the facts?

http://atlantaunfiltered.com/2013/01/05/beach-campaign-kept-unused-donations/

"When Brandon Beach ran for the Senate in 2010, he raised $13,600 to be spent on the general election once he became the Republican nominee. He didn’t make it that far, though, losing a primary runoff by a thin margin.
State law requires candidates to refund contributions raised for an election in which they’re not on the ballot. Beach’s campaign kept those donations in his campaign account, using some for expenses and rolling the rest over to his 2012 race. State law may allow some of that money to be reallocated after the fact to cover 2010 primary or runoff expenses, but at least $8,400 could not be redesignated since it came from donors who had reached contribution limits for those races.
Beach said he had no idea the money should have been refunded."

So...if Beach was as astute of the law as you are, he's guilty of willingly keeping money that he should not have. Else, he's an ignoramus. Those are the absolute, only 2 options available here. Beach himself clearly takes the "I AM STOOPID MY BAD!" excuse above. The guy's a clown.