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Dear Friend,

I appreciate you taking the time to learn more about me and my vision for our district. As one of the fastest growing areas in this region, we have a tremendous opportunity to help this area develop in a controlled and logical manner. With proper planning and wise decisions, we can maintain the quality of life we have enjoyed for many years. Properly controlled growth can provide opportunities for all of us as well as future generations. The challenge facing us in our area is that we control growth and not let growth control us. Having served as Mayor of Pooler during one of the most prolific growth periods in the history of any City, I feel I have the experiences and qualifications to deal with what lies ahead for us in our district. Ten years ago Pooler was at a crossroads, a one traffic light town at a crossroads, today Pooler is one of the most vibrant, growing Cities in this region. We have achieved all of this while lowering our property taxes, increasing our reserves and maintaining the highest bond rating possible. With all of the improvements in infrastructure and growth we have maintained our much loved hometown atmosphere. I have often said that our area is rich in heritage and tradition, but perhaps our greatest times lie ahead of us. I am convinced we are in the midst of those greatest times. I want to be your District 159 State Representative in Atlanta so that I can help protect the rich heritage and tradition within our District while taking full advantage of the exiting opportunities ahead.

President's Forum

My two oldest sons and I had the chance to attend the Senior Citizen Forum that President Bush hosted in Atlanta a few weeks ago. I thought he did an excellent job and covered the subject matter well. He seemed to be able to get his message out and make the points he felt were important.

The President was very relaxed and made me feel relaxed as well. For whatever reason, I feel like George W. Bush is one of us. You know what I mean- he doesn't come across as slick or scripted but as a common guy like you or I.

The President spoke on two subjects, the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan and Social Security. Obviously, being a pharmacist, I was very interested in what he had to say about the Drug Plan. This will have a big impact on my business and on our customers, so I wanted to hear what he had to say. The President did a good job explaining how the new system would work even pointing out that the enrollment application was only 4 pages. His mother, Barbara Bush, chimed in that even though it was 4 pages the print was large and there were only 16 questions total.

That's one of the reasons I like our President- his mother. She's a grand lady, obviously proud of her son, but quick to put him in his place if need be. Like all mothers do from time to time, she embarrassed him big time. When introducing her he asked her why she was there. She responded by telling him she wanted to see how good he looked in his new brown suit. I felt for the guy!

After discussing the Drug plan the President then started talking about Social Security. He stressed to the Senior Citizens in attendance that their benefits would not be affected. In fact he repeated that fact four times during his talk.

He pointed out that the Social Security fund should remain solvent until around 2017. At that time the fund would be paying out more that it takes in. He said it would be easy for him to avoid this issue and leave it for future administrations to work out, but that's not what he feels he was elected to do. You have to admire a person with such tough resolve.

All President's have to make tough decisions while serving and George W. Bush is no exception. Former President Jimmy Carter said that every decision he made as President was difficult because all the easy decisions had been made at the lower levels of government. Whether you agree or disagree with President Bush, you have to admit that he doesn't back away from tough issues.

During his discussion of Social Security, President Bush talked about the private accounts and how younger workers could direct 1% to 2 % of their paycheck and invest it on their own. He acknowledged that this was a stumbling block for some but was quick to point out that Congress voted a few years ago to allow themselves this same option.

I've been following the Social Security debate with a certain level of interest but that changed during the forum. As I turned and looked at my sons sitting next to me and thought about their brother back home, all of a sudden I realized that what our President was talking about was their future. Like all dads, I can get over just about anything someone says or does to me, but mess with my kids and that's another subject.

At ages 20, 18 and 15, my sons have their whole life ahead of them. The decisions made about Social Security today will impact them in 2017 and well into their future. George W. Bush understands what our children's future means and I for one am glad that he's not backing down from this issue.

State Symbols

By now most of you know that we have a new state amphibian in the state of Georgia. During this past legislative session SB 41 designated the green tree frog as the official state amphibian. The bill passed the legislature, was signed into law by the Governor and became effective on July 1, 2005.

A little history behind this bill may shed some light on how all this came about. Throughout the year, and especially while we are in session, we have various groups visit the Capitol for tours and to observe the

General Assembly in action. A few years ago, an elementary class from the Rome area in Northwest Georgia visited the Capitol and upon their return home realized that Georgia had no official state amphibian. As a class project they asked their State Representative to introduce this legislation so that they could follow and study the process by which a bill is introduced and ultimately becomes law. After a few failed attempts in previous sessions, the bill was finally passed this year and, before croaking, the green tree frog leapt ahead as the official state amphibian.

So you're feeling pretty good about knowing the official Georgia state amphibian, but what about the other state symbols? Let's take a test to find out how well you really know your state symbols.

1) The official state bird of Georgia is the  

  a) Pigeon   b) Brown thrasher  c) Blue jay

2) The official state flower of Georgia is the  

  a) Day Lilly   b) Chrysanthemum  c) Cherokee rose

3) The official state wildflower is the 

  a) Azalea  b) Gardenia c) Wisteria

4) The official state tree is the 

  a) Pine   b) Live oak c) Sweet Gum

5) The official state fish is the

  a) Crappie  b) Trout c) Largemouth bass

6) The official state fruit is the

  a) Apple  b) Strawberry  c) Peach

7) The official state song is 

  a) “Rainy night in Georgia” b) “Georgia on my mind” c) “Sweet Georgia Brown”

8) The official state vegetable is the 

  a) Butterbean  b) Garden pea c) Vidalia onion

9) The official state crop is 

  a) Cotton  b) Peanuts c) Soybeans

10) The official state prepared food is

  a) Apple pie  b) Peach cobbler  c) Grits

Not as easy as you thought was it? And they say politicians don't get anything done! Now for the answers- 1) b: 2) c; 3) a; 4) b; 5) c; 6) c; 7) b; 8) c; 9) a; 10) c. If you got 2-6 correct answers you're a pretty good Georgian. If you got all 10 right you need to get a life. If you didn't get any right you need to move back to Alabama… AND QUICKLY.

 Smokefree Georgia  

One of the more controversial bills to pass the recent Georgia Legislature was the “Georgia Smoke-Free Air Act of 2005.” The bill will require most publicly accessible buildings to be smoke-free by July 1, 2005.

The bill created quite a bit of controversy between those who viewed it as a health issue and those who viewed it as a violation of personal rights. As is the case with most bills, this bill started out much more stringent than it ended. While the final product is a good start, it does include exemptions and stops short of eliminating indoor smoking altogether.

While I am certainly sensitive to and respectful of the personal rights of all Georgians, I strongly supported this legislation since I viewed it as a health issue and nothing more. Second hand smoke is the third most preventable cause of cancer in our nation, killing over 53,000 people every year. Second hand smoke contains over 4000 chemicals, 200 poisons and over 50 known carcinogens. To me, this one was a no-brainer.

Many people have asked me specific questions pertaining to the new law. I will attempt to answer some of the most often asked questions.

Will all restaurants and bars be smoke-free? No. While there will be certain exemptions, essentially any restaurant or bar that allows access to minors (17 or under) will be required to be smoke-free. Restaurants such as Applebee, Carey Hilliard's, Longhorn, Ruby Tuesday, Spanky's, Outback and all fast food restaurants will have to comply.

Exactly who will be exempt from this new law? Essentially any businesses that are “Adult only” or do not allow access to minors (17 and under) can still allow smoking. “Private Clubs” are also exempt. Private rooms in restaurants and bars that are fully enclosed with independent air systems (not part of the main air system) and private residences are also exempt unless there is a daycare center at the private residence. Hotel and motel rooms can allow smoking in up to 20% of rooms. Smoking areas can be designated by an employer (with the exception of estaurants and bars) as long as they meet specific requirements such as non-work area, separate air system, and used for employees only. There are also exemptions for private places of employment, for businesses open to the public by appointment only, and for military officer clubs and noncommissioned officer clubs. In order to qualify for exempt status all exempted areas (except for private residences) will be required to post conspicuously at every entrance a sign indicating that smoking is permitted

Will this law allow some restaurants and bars to allow smoking during certain hours? No. The law says that smoking is not allowed in areas where minors have access. This includes any restaurant or bar that allows access to minors at any time.

How will this law be enforced? Every public place and place of employment where smoking is prohibited by this law will be required to post ‘No Smoking' signs or the international ‘No Smoking' symbol. All ashtrays will be required to be removed from any area where smoking is prohibited by this law. The Department of Human Resources and the county boards of health will be authorized to enforce compliance with this law. They will provide education to explain the law and will have the authority to enter and inspect the premises of any establishment or business. They can seek further support from the police department or fire chief.

Is this a criminal offence and if so how much is the fine? Yes, violation of this law by an individual is a criminal offence contained in the criminal code. A person in violation is guilty of a misdemeanor and, if convicted, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00. While other states and cities such as Florida and New York City have passed even tougher smoke-free legislation, Georgia is the first state in the Tobacco belt to pass such legislation. There were adjustment periods in those places just as there will be here in Georgia, but it has actually been shown to increase tourism and restaurant business.

Friday, July 1, 2005 has been designated as “Smoke-free Restaurant Appreciation Day” by members of health organizations all over Georgia. Georgians are encouraged to go out to their favorite restaurants on this day to eat and thank the management for being smoke-free.

For more information on Georgia's Smoke-free law you can visit www.gatobaccoprevention.org or call 1-800-LUNGUSA.

Sales Tax Holiday

Thinking about buying a new laptop? What about those new shoes or the new dress you just can't do without? And that old calculator Junior's been using sure does need replacing. Well you're about to have a little more incentive to make those purchases.

Four years ago the State of Georgia implemented the sales tax holiday. This is a period of time when all sales tax (state and local) is exempted on certain merchandise.

The sales tax holiday originated to allow families to save money on the purchase of clothing, footwear and computer hardware (and accessories) in order to help prepare children for the right start to a new school year. Whereas it has served this purpose well, it has also been a great boost to local economies, driving up sales from discount seeking consumers. This past session the State Legislature voted to extend this hugely popular program again this year. The sales tax holiday starts Thursday, July 28th and ends at midnight on Sunday, July 31 st .

Among the merchandise exempted are articles of clothing and footwear with a price of $100 or less per item. While there is no limit on the number of clothing items or pairs of shoes that an individual can buy, it's important to note that if an article of clothing or pair of shoes exceeds $100, then the item will be taxed at its FULL retail price. In other words if a pair of shoes costs $115, taxes will be charged on the full $115 and not just the amount over $100.

Clothing accessories such as jewelry, handbags, umbrellas, watches, etc. are not exempt from sales tax during this tax-free period.

Personal computers and accessories are tax exempt up to $1,500 per transaction. This includes monitors, personal computer base units, modems, printers, keyboards and handheld computers. Non-recreational software is also exempt. Again, if any single purchase exceeds the $1,500 maximum limit, then the ENTIRE purchase price is taxable.

Cell phones, digital cameras, recreational use software, etc. are NOT exempt.

General school supplies such as pens, pencils, notebooks, book bags, calculators, dictionaries, children's books and books listed on approved school reading lists for pre-kindergarten through 12 th grade are exempt as long as they cost $20 or less per item. There is no monetary limit on the purchased amount as long as no single item exceeds $20.

The sales tax exemption is intended only for individuals for personal use. It does not apply to purchases made by a business, items leased or rented, or items sold at sports facilities, theme parks, restaurants, public lodging establishments and airports.

Internet and catalog sales are exempt as long as the sale is completed during the four-day holiday period.

So now that you have the reason you've been waiting for, go out and Shop till you drop!

Joshua's Law

On July 1, 2003, 17-year-old Joshua Brown from Cartersville was involved in a single-vehicle collision that claimed his life. His parents, Alan and LuGina Brown created the Joshua Brown Foundation in his honor to provide Cartersville High School students with simulator driving training.

Earlier this year the Browns' carried their efforts to Atlanta to propose similar education for all Georgia teens. As a result of their tireless work, SB 226 passed the legislature this year and will become law on July 1, 2005.

SB 226, referred to as “Joshua's Law,” creates the Georgia Drivers' Education Commission, and allows the use of public and private donations to fund placing driver's education simulators in high schools in Georgia.

The Driver's Education Commission will be a nine-member body serving 4-year terms. They will meet to make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly and will have oversight of driver simulator implementation into high schools. It is important to note that the decision to put simulators into ALL high schools has not been finalized. The Commission may recommend using private agencies in some areas of the state. Also, the Commission may accept federal funds and private donations without committing state funds or obligating the General Assembly with unfunded mandates.

Beginning July 1, in order to help fund purchases of the simulators, a 5% surcharge will be added to all traffic fines. Unless extended by an Act of the General Assembly, this provision will sunset on June 30, 2008.

While the goal of “Joshua's Law” is to raise the necessary funds to place a driver's education simulator in high schools in the State of Georgia, this new law also will have provisions that will take effect on Jan 1, 2007. At that time 16-year-olds will have to pass a driver's education course before receiving their driver's license. They will also be required to complete an alcohol and drug course. If they do not meet those requirements, they must wait until age 17 to receive their license.

Sound Science

While serving as Chairman of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Planning Commission in 1995, I first became aware of the challenges facing our area in regards to water withdrawal from the Floridian Aquifer. Before that time I really never thought much about our water supply. Like so many people then (and now), I only new that I turned my faucet on and the water flowed, I flushed my toilet and the water went away. Aside from the occasional increase in my water bill, my interest (and concern) in water was very shallow. Little did I know that for the next decade I would be submerged in this issue.

In the mid 1990's, alerted by wells in Brunswick and Hilton Head becoming salty and therefore unusable, officials feared the Upper Floridian Aquifer itself might be at risk for saltwater intrusion if nothing was done. Because the cones of depression (areas where the problem is worse) were in Chatham and Glynn counties, we were the first two counties required to submit Water Supply Management plans to the State. A short time later, the area was expanded to include 24 counties in the Coastal Georgia region and a moratorium was placed on further withdrawals from the Aquifer.

The moratorium or “cap” on withdrawals from the Aquifer has been painful to say the least. It has pitted cities against states, cities against cities and neighbors against neighbors. At some point everyone involved in the process has felt abused and mistreated and deprived of their rights.

However painful, the cap has served an intended purpose of allowing Scientific Studies to be performed in order to gather more data pertaining to the Aquifer. With some of the initial results available, a legislative study committee has been appointed to review the research on saltwater intrusion. I have been fortunate to be named to this committee and participated in our first meetings during the last week of May. While the charge of this committee is to review the studies and recommend any action or legislation the committee deems necessary, the final strategy for the state will be submitted by the EPD later this year.

While it is impossible to cover all of the details brought out during our first round of meetings, there are a few points I would like to mention. First and foremost, it is important to note that the studies reported in our first meetings are preliminary and more detailed studies will be available during our next meetings in Brunswick at the end of August. This is an extremely important point, especially for those of us in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham Counties.

Secondly, and perhaps most encouraging, EPD director Carol Couch has acknowledged that leaving the cap for withdrawal from the Aquifer in place is a ‘no go.' Again, while this is obviously good news for us in this 3 county region, we should not ignore the fact that more results are due and that Dr. Couch has tempered her comments by saying that “other aggressive strategies” will be necessary in certain areas. While we should approach this announcement with caution, we are delighted to hear EPD acknowledge our obvious need for more water.

Another interesting point that needs to be mentioned is the findings that seem to indicate that Hilton Head's saltwater intrusion is created more by its own pumping that by Savannah's. These findings were somewhat surprising and important for a number of reasons. Part of the intent of the original cap on the Aquifer was to prevent a threatened lawsuit by South Carolina claiming Georgia was over pumping from the Aquifer and causing the wells on Hilton Head to become salty. These finding would seem to dispel that assertion and remove that potential threat.

During the time that the moratorium on withdrawal has been in place, many people have suggested that Industry be forced or subsidized to convert to surface treated water and save the Aquifer for residential use. While industrial withdrawal has decreased over the past few years, it has been noted that even if Industry were to be removed from the Aquifer, we would still have a significant problem. With the demise of the paper industry and the increase in tourism as a primary economic force in this area, this suggestion still has merit, but is not the fix-all solution.