GCV Endorses State Reps. James "Bubba" Epps (D-Dry Branch), Sistie Hudson (D-Sparta) & Winfred Dukes (D-Albany)

The Georgia Conservation Voters, a political voice of the conservation movement in Georgia has endorsed Rural Democrats James "Bubba" Epps, Sistie Hudson & Winfred Dukes.

Each of the democrats are locked in battles against GOPers who hope to unseat them in November:

Epps, Allen Freeman, (HD 140)
Hudson, Charles Ashfield, (HD 124)
Dukes, Karen Kemp, (HD 150)

Peanut Politics rate HD 140, 124 races as likely democratic, while HD 150 is Safe Democratic.

Georgia Conservation Voters are not a partisan group, they have also endorsed republican members as well such as Mark Hatfield (D-Waycross), Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga).

Earlier in the day it endorsed Roy Barnes (D) over Nathan Deal (R) for governor at a Press Conference today along the Chattahoochee River.

Established in 2000, and representing over 200,000 Georgia voters, the mission of Georgia Conservation Voters (GCV) is to preserve and enhance the quality of life for all Georgians by making conservation issues a top priority with Georgia’s elected officials, political candidates and voters. In 2008, 12 out of 13 GCV endorsed candidates won in primary elections and 17 of 20 GCV endorsed candidates won in general elections.

Dukes ‘leases’ state House seat

State House District 150 Rep. Winfred Dukes took political heat during and after the 2009 legislative session when he went to the well of the House and derided his fellow legislators for what he said were poorly timed tax breaks for special-interest groups.

“Sometimes you just have to take a stand,” Dukes, a Democrat who is serving his 14th year as representative of some 45,000 Dougherty and Baker County citizens, said in a recent conversation
Continue to read: Dukes ‘leases’ state House seat

Winfred Dukes: ‘Tax hunt’ distracts from real issues

Every year during the Georgia General Assembly there seems to be an issue swirling around members of the House and Senate.

These issues which serve as little more than distractions, generally have nothing to do with the major issues impacting our citizens and take precious time away from the process of dealing with our most vital issues.

2009 seems to be the year of the “great tax hunt” — who has and who has not filed. Who has and who has not paid. Since my name has been one that, for whatever motivation, has been mentioned in relationship to the tax investigations, I will take this opportunity to set my record straight. Here are some of the facts

First of all, I have been filing and paying taxes, state and federal, for more than 35 years. I pay tens of thousands of dollars of taxes every year. I pay all types of taxes: corporate income taxes, personal income taxes, social security self-employment tax, FUTA tax, FICA tax, property taxes, and I file sales and use taxes.

and issues related to the tax issue.

State Rep. Winfred Dukes, D-Albany, represents House District 150, which comprises part of Dougherty and Baker County. He has served in the Legislature since 1996.

Duks was one of the democratic legislators that was rumored to not have paid his taxes. I agree, it is a distraction from real issues.