Candidate Spotlight: Dylan Patrick (D-Cartersville)

The Democratic Nominee for GA House District 015 is Dylan L. Patrick. Dylan is a Georgia native who grew up his whole life in Bartow County. He is one of the youngest candidates running on the November ballot in North Georgia at 26 years old, but that isn’t stopping him from thinking for himself. Patrick is a self-funded conservative leaning candidate although he is a loyal Democrat, pointing out he has been helping reorganize the county’s local chapter since 2010.

Dylan Patrick

"I feel like one of the most effective things someone can do if they want to be conservative for the interests of the middle class is to run on the Democratic ballot locally and reject all special interests says Patrick".

"The Republican Party is run by the donations of large, monolithic corporations, if not monopolies themselves. They sometimes stay true to their pledge to find savings in government or cut taxes, but that saved money and those tax cuts always go back to their largest contributors instead of the people. The middle class today is shrinking. Georgia has the highest unemployment in the nation. The state continues to lose more private sector jobs. Republican leaders here are having major ethics problems that reflect negatively on possible new business investment. They are unable to adequately fund education, causing local tax hikes here in Bartow and across the state while state tax rates remain level.” Patrick has been working since he was 16 years old, starting at a local family owned restaurant where he worked up from waiter to cook, and eventually helped manage the establishment. Dylan subsequently started his own small business in mobile vending, operating on the streets of Rome and Cartersville where he says he came face to face with the effects of poverty. Dylan went to Woodland High School and attended Georgia Highlands College where he plans to finish obtaining a degree in political science after the campaign season".

He now runs his own business, Paper Industry Communications Inc., based out of White, Ga., as an independent contractor for the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) headquartered in Norcross. Patrick believes his work producing the association’s newsletters relating breaking news in private industry will allow him to better understand how to help Georgia’s forest industry in the legislature, including possibly looking into a plan for harvesting state bio-mass (wood waste) potential for use as an in-state alternative fuel (cellulosic ethanol) for government vehicles, a plan Patrick says could save the state considerable expenses in the long run at the same time it creates in-state jobs and helps sustain rural economies. Patrick advocates for broad-based tax reform as opposed to limited, special interest tax breaks he believes are prone to abuse and corruption by legislators passing our budget. He would like to see a law passed allowing vehicles valued under $8,000 to be exempted from the new up-to 9% up-front value tax by having the option to go back to using the much cheaper yearly system for older cars.

Patrick says it is a regressive tax hurting our state’s poor, those who struggle with transportation, as well as middle class owners who would otherwise be able to sell their automobile on a healthier private market. Dylan would also like to see the state additionally aid municipalities the amount equal to what they get from their local sales taxes on groceries. He points out that the majority of U.S. states have absolutely no state or local taxes on groceries and that this is another tax that hurts specifically middle income families who are not wealthy and who also do not qualify for federal aid programs for tax-free food.

Patrick vows to work towards refunding K-12 education to full QBE standards so as to avoid local counties having to raise tax millage rates to bail out their systems even in non-recession years. He points out the state GOP continued to defund education in the bull market years of 2005-2007 and says their argument about needing austerity is far from being about the national economy which is continuing to slowly improve. Dylan says if we continue to have economic expansion, or even successfully avoid another major contraction in the national markets anytime soon that could affect state revenues, we should work to re-fund HOPE grants for technical colleges and expand the HOPE scholarship closer to what it was when originally passed under Governor Zell Miller. He doesn’t believe the Republican Party in Georgia ever has a vision to do so, no matter how well the economy performs.

This is his first run for political office. Dylan Patrick would be a much needed fresh voice of independent reason in the state legislature representing Cartersville and southeast Bartow County.

Mike Berlon: It's time to remove yourself and your baggage as Chairman of the Georgia Democratic Party

It's time for Georgia Democratic Party Chairman Mike Berlon to step down as head of the State Party so it can move on in preparation for 2014.Recently, Berlon had his law license suspended and received a reprimand from the state Supreme Court, and he's facing a lawsuit from a Gwinnett County man over missing funds, etc, etc. David Worley, a former chairman of the state party, said Mike Berlon’s legal woes tarnish the party’s image and hamper its abilities to raise funds. I agree with Worley who said he’ll ask the Democratic Party of Georgia’s executive committee to recommend Berlon’s ouster at next month's June 6 meeting.

Now Berlon has his staunch supporters who voted for him in huge numbers over former Secretary of State Candidate Darryl Hicks (who I supported) back in 2011 in a bid to take over as party chair from Jane Kidd.

But given his legal woes and the woeful state of the once-powerful Georgia Democratic Party, now is the time to remove Berlon as chair of the beleaguered Democratic Party.

The Georgia Democratic Party is in desperate need of a leader who can come in and knock some heads together. With 2014 Statewide & Legislative races right around the corner, the sooner State Dems can deal with this problem, the better.

Now who would take over as chairman and finish out Berlon's term? I suggest looking at current and former state legislators.

Former State Legislators such as Terry Johnson of Marietta, Don Wix of Austell, Kevin Levitas of DeKalb County Stephanie Benfield of Atlanta, Dubose, or Current Legislator Calvin Smyre of Columbus ought to be considered for serving out the rest of Berlon's term.

Gulf War Veteran & Peach Co Commissioner Mike Dinkins Endorses Tom Coogle for August 21 Runoff for HD 139

HD 139 Candidate  & current Peach County Commissioner Michael Dinkins (D-Fort Valley) has endorsed Businessman Tom Coogle (D-Montezuma) for the August 21 Runoff Election to be held next Tuesday. Dinkins, a graduate of Fort Valley State University, veteran of the Persian Gulf War & current Commissioner for Peach County who carried the city of Fort Valley with over 55% of the vote threw his support behind Coogle after his unsuccessful bid for HD 139 seat which covers Peach, Macon, Dooly & Taylor County.

Dinkins in a statement (which you can also see on Coogle's Campaign Mailer) said: "I am formally endorsing Tom Coogle as the best candidate for State House District 139. Tom has the right path to help our district and our state. He will help to bring jobs and serve all the citizens in our district. So join me in voting for my friend Tom Coogle on Tuesday August 21".

Coogle who hails from one of the poorest counties in the state, (Macon) is what you consider a 'Rare" Breed in today's politics, a rural white, christian democrat who's socially & fiscally conservative who's managed to build a solid coalition of Black & White Voters in his first bid for public office. Gerrymandering has basically wiped out the majority of Georgia's Rural White Democrats; (Only Debbie Buckner, Rick Crawford & Barbara Massey-Reece remain as the last rural white democrats in the Georgia State House of Representatives)  The runoff election is next tuesday!

Rumors of Race Baiting in Democratic Contests across the state

Race-baiting is an ugly art. But a struggling candidate is often tempted to practice the dark arts if he or she isn't doing among the voters he or she is trying to persuade. We’re doomed to see a lot of those dark arts between here and November. Of a matter of fact it has already started!

Far too often, race baiting (Smear Campaigns) in political campaigns has been used as a way to appeal to the latent racist sentiments of voters. By playing off of people’s fears, candidates try to grow their popularity and, hopefully, sweep into office. We’ve come too far in society for politics to revert back to these tactics.

A smear campaign is an intentional, premeditated effort to undermine an individual's or group's reputation, credibility, and character. Although they are not very popular or well-liked, they are very common.

Desperate candidates use desperate tactics such as race baiting in order to turn voter's attention away from the real problems facing a community or district. Contrary to what others say, black candidates also use race baiting toward white candidates as well by playing up his/her skin color or spreading rumors that he/she does not like minorities or racist for that, such as the case in a few State House races, as well as a few countywide races as well across the state.

It's sad that candidates would stoop so low just to discredit a candidate, black & white because his/her campaign is going no where & like always they pull out the oldest trick in the book,that's the use of the race card. I despise the use of the race card in any contest. A candidate willingness to spread outrageous rumors about another candidate shows what kind of character he or she has>

State Rep. Sistie Hudson (D-Sparta)....The End of a Era & The Beginning of Another One

Last Thursday we saw the retirement of long time Rural Democrat Sistie Hudson (D-Sparta)


Hudson who was elected in 1996 will be returning home to run for Hancock County Commissioner, which is the poorest county in the State of Georgia, with Randolph & Macon Counties after that. She has been in public service going on 30 years from City Councilwoman to State Representative. Her experience on the county level & state level will be a huge asset in her quest to get Hancock County moving in the right direction. If there's one person who can grab the bull by the horns & give Hancock the shot in the arm it desperately needs, its Helen Hudson, b.k.a "Sistie" to many of us.


Hudson was the last remaining Conservative' Blue dog Democrats remaining in the House of Representatives after the massacre 2010 elections for the Georgia Democratic Party. Her charm, wit, blossoming personality & work ethic will be sorely missed in the democratic caucus & the legislature as a whole.


Hudson now will run for the County Commissioner's seat (which she served from 1995-96) which is elected by a countywide vote. Hancock County residents need to ask themselves... Are WE better off today than we were last year or the year before, or the year before that? The answer is so easy.....NO!


Voters up there will have the chance to do something about come July 31 & that's to elect Sistie Hudson as the next Chairman of the Hancock County Commission.

Robert Patillo Announces Bid For State House

Press Release from the campaign of Robert Patillo

Democrat Robert Patillo Enters Georgia's State House District 44 Race


Atlanta, GA – As the 2012 Georgia Legislative Session opens and just days before the nation celebrates the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., former democratic operative and attorney Robert Hillard Patillo, II has filed his campaign committee paperwork, Patillo for Georgia, with the State Democratic Party. Patillo told supporters, “This election is about working towards an agenda to restore Jobs, Justice and the American Dream in Georgia. It is time we put our dreams into action with new ideas and fresh leadership. Voters want to see leaders who will fight for their best interest. They realize candidates in the Democratic Party went to the Capitol and voted to cut programs like the HOPE Scholarship fund should be disqualified from representing this party and the needs of our community.”

Patillo's committee Treasurer Janice Mathis currently serves as the Executive Director of RainbowPUSH Coalition Atlanta Bureau as well as the RainbowPUSH Coalition National Vice President. Mathis noted, “I've worked with Robert on several legal issues. I know no one better to serve the citizens of Georgia. “Dwayne Brown will be serving as Campaign Chairman for Patillo's state house bid. “It is an honor to help elect a democrat that won't forget our shared ideals when he gets to the capitol. The top issues in this state are to restore jobs and support education and we need Democrats who won’t compromise in our pursuit of the American dream.”

Robert Patillo is a graduate of Clark-Atlanta University and Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2009 where he served as President of the Black Law Students Association. Previously, Patillo served as a Field Manager for Grassroots Campaigns, Inc. in fundraising for the Democratic National Committee in 2004, lead workers’ rights campaigns during the Student Labor Week of Action in 2005 and assisted Rainbow/PUSH in the 2005 initiative to re-authorize the Voters Rights Act in addition to working on issues of corporate diversity and minority representation in Fortune 500 companies. He recently served as the Statewide Field Director for Ken Hodges Campaign for Attorney General and currently works as a practicing attorney in Atlanta at The Patillo Law Group, LLC.