Analyzing Numbers plus

I pulled the details from the primary election as soon as they were available after the election and did a mini-analysis. They ran fairly true to form for most of the past primary elections as to which areas turned out, although Peachtree City usually has a higher turnout.

One of the things I think we had working this election cycle was the fact that so many of the folks running were friends and had a very strong political machine. A large percentage have a lot of family in the county. They grew up here and have roots. They have school friends, family friends and they all stuck together. If I were in their shoes I'd have run my campaign pretty much the same way so don't take that as a criticism, it's just a fact.

In any election there's a ton of factors that factor into the outcome. I'm sure that some people weren't enthusiastic about the candidates. I just happen to think more flat out didn't care. It would be interesting to do a real survey to see how it actually broke down... I can speculate and so can others, but we don't really have any facts to back up any assertion we might make.

Run-off elections are lower typically and I expected them to be lower, but you have to admit 10% is pretty pathetic.

When Horgan won initially there were four or five candidates running. I think it was two Republicans and three Democrats. Voter turnout, if I'm remembering correctly, was 12%. Could have been a bit higher, numbers have never been my forte although I can remember the phone number we had when I was in the fourth grade for some reason! It was a special election and was held at an off-time, but it wasn't summer vacation time. The kids were in school. No excuses on that turnout.

Some of my candidates won, some lost. Even with a 90% turnout the outcome could have been the same. I don't know that it would have made a bit of difference, although it might have. I just think it's sad that good, bad or ugly candidates, so many were ignorant of who was running. This past weekend I talked to one person and my husband talked to another who didn't even know there was a run-off. If we can run across two people, how many others were there?

Time will tell whether my view of the future is going to be right or wrong. I've watched this cycle in other places, just seems so familiar. My parents lived in Clayton County (Morrow) when it was "Delta country".

My grandmother (who ultimately ended up in Tyrone), lived through Ben Hill's decline and the East Point decline.

I had good family friends who lived in the Old National Hwy. area when it was rural.

I know the circumstances are somewhat different, but the change from a Peachtree City / Tyrone type area to the current is clear. I do think there's a cycle.

My son lives in Tucker. It seems to possibly be moving toward a higher cycle after going into an apathy slump.

I haven't been over there recently but the area around Zoo went down and now has become a desirable area (or so my friends are telling me).

I think we have a long ways to go and maybe people will open their eyes, get involved and we'll stay the shining jewel of Georgia. Over the years though I've been right-on the money when I've made my predictions regarding the best time to move from areas. I hope I'm wrong this time, I hope that being closer to this situation is clouding my vision. I love this county, I love the beauty, the people and what we have. My son is in his 30's and we moved here when he was going into the first grade... I've been here a long time and seen many changes.

I hope people will wake up, get involved, let their voices be heard. I know the level of involvement we used to have. We've had good people in office, dull people in office and downright bad people in office over the years.

Change is inevitable. I just think with good stewardship we can avoid some of the pitfalls. We can still be the shining star. I don't happen to agree with a large chunk of what's happening now and firmly believe we're headed in the wrong direction. I don't expect everyone to see eye-to-eye with me, but if people are involved, even when they have different views, it sure does make it harder for the wrong kind of things to slip through.

I think I've jumped from one topic to another this go around, not even sure if it flows at all. Just rambling from one subject to the next. It's a blog. I guess I can get away with it .