The vote was so close that Shaw and Smith had to wait until Friday (Aug. 3) for the provisional and military votes to be counted before they knew which one of them had captured the run-off spot against incumbent Tim Bowden. Finally after EVERY vote had been tallied, 13 votes still separated the two candidates. Steve Shaw had 13 more votes than Carlton Smith. (It's a shame Smith didn't make the run-off. He would have made a terrific commissioner.)
D&B is not so sure what kind of candidate Steve Shaw is. We do know that he wasn't much into campaigning. He failed to show up at the candidate debates, he wasn't at the Lumpkin County Republican Party event for candidates, and he wasn't spotted at any fundraisers or campaigning at large county social gathering.
The next two weeks until the run-off will be interesting. Will Shaw continue his non-campaigning campaign? Or is Shaw's strategy one of hoping there will be enough anti-Bowden votes that he (Shaw) can cruise to victory? Only time will tell.
Perhaps there is another way to look at this race for the District 2 Commissioner.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a run off to pick between two candidates of which neither one is a favorable choice. However, either candidate can be challenged in the General Election by a Write In candidate.
Carlton Smith would "make a terrific ccommissioner". One thousand four hundred sixty eight Lumpkin County citizens thought enough of Carlton Smith to cast votes for him on July 31st.
So many times in our lifetimes, we, the citizens, settle for candidates that are the least of two evils. Right now, right here, in Lumpkin County, we, the citizens can make a difference. Let's get behind Carlton Smith as a Write In candidate and elect a leader for our county!
What a great idea. You're right. We don't have to "settle" for either Shaw or Bowden. Writing in Carlton Smith's name is the perfect option. However, doesn't a candidate have to file for a 'write-in'? I read that in Hall County that the only write-ins that truly count are for names where the person had petitioned to be a Write In candidate. If that's the case in Lumpkin, Carton needs to sign up for Write In. He'll have our vote
ReplyDeleteThe Write In campaign is for the General Election on November 6th. The basic qualifying paper work is the only requirement.
ReplyDeleteAre there any other Lumpkin County citizens who will support Carlton Smit? Let us hear from you!
By the way, I am not Carlton Smith.
I am a Lumpkin County citizen that wants a better choice.
Dear Lumpkin County Citizen,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Definitely we need a write in campaign for Carlton Smith for the Nov. election. This definitely sounds like a Dahlonega and Beyond post and call for votes. You're so right. We shouldn't have to 'settle' on our District 2 Commissioner.