I tell ya…that’s a lot of last names to fit in a post title!

Decatur city commissioner candidate Kyle Williams announces that he’s received two regional endorsements today.  Here’s the press release….

June 30, 2009 – Decatur, GA – State Representatives Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (House District 85) and Stacey Abrams (House District 84) endorsed Kyle Williams for Decatur City Commission today, and urged District 2 to vote for him. Kyle Williams is running for Decatur City Commission, District 2, which includes South Decatur and part of the downtown business district. Representatives Abrams and Stuckey Benfield represent District 2 in the Georgia General Assembly.

“I know Kyle. I know his commitment to South Decatur. As a mother, I appreciate his work to improve early childhood learning in Decatur. I am proud to give Kyle my full support for his campaign. Kyle will make a great City Commissioner and will fight hard for us. I will work to elect Kyle this fall,” said Rep. Stuckey Benfield.

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Helme pasted this article of unknown origin in a comment…

The city’s (Avondale) request of the Georgia Legislature to allow it to annex 23 commercial properties bordering East College Avenue and Maple Street, west of its city line to Sams Crossing, won’t happen this year under the Gold Dome.

State House Representative Stephanie Stuckey Benfield informed the city on Monday that she was unable to secure the required 10 signatures to move the legislation forward by yesterday’s 4 pm deadline.

“I’ve never gotten the 10 signatures in the past,” Rep. Benfield was quoted in Monday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding the signatures needed from 10 members of the DeKalb County House Delegation. “But it makes sense, and it’s something that is important for that area.”

Also stalled is the City of Decatur’s request to annex 10 commercial properties bordering Sams Crossing, east of its city line to Sams Crossing. The goal of both cities is to extend its borders to meet at Sams Crossing, eliminating the unincorporated island that currently separates the two cities.

The Board of Mayor and Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution at a March 18th Special Called Meeting in support of the proposed annexation. Rep. Benfield represents both cities and said Monday night she will continue to champion the effort during next year’s legislative session.

Question:  Does anyone know when we’ll have some idea of the impact of Dunwoody incorporation on DeKalb’s taxes?

Over on the Oakhurst Message Board, DeKalb Superior Court Judge Candidate, A. Thomas Stubbs, Esq., announces a Candidates Forum at Winnona Park Elementary School on September 16th at 7pm.

Present will be State Representative Stephanie Stuckey Benfield and State Senator David Adelman, along with their respective opponents, Ken Quarterman and Altaf Galeyev.  Decatur City Commissioner Kecia Cunningham is scheduled to moderate.

I’m sure all the Winnona Park folks are already well-aware of this event, but for those of us who don’t live in the neighborhood or who have been uncerimoniously declined from joining their list-serv without even an explanation, it may be of interest.

Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield recently responded to being included among a list of the AJC’s Top “Truant” Legislators in a letter to constituants that is now also posted on GoDeKalb.

Here’s a clip…

If you woke up Monday, March 10, morning and saw the front page of the local newspaper (as I did), with my photo among ten state representatives who were described as missing the most votes in the Georgia House of Representatives, you would have been treated to about half of the real story. If you don’t mind, I’d like to fill you in on the details that the newspaper story failed to mention.

Vote Tally Misleading. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s method of tallying voters is misleading because it failed to count the actual number of total votes missed, choosing instead to count only “unexcused absences.” Given that excused absences are automatically given upon the request of a legislator without any explanation, there is no meaningful distinction between excused and non-excused absences. The reality is that I missed a couple of mornings at the Legislature this session to take my children to the doctor during the cold and flu season. I made the technical mistake of not calling in for an excused absence. Had I done so, I would not have been included in the AJC’s ranking.

I’m still a little unclear why you wouldn’t call in if you were going to be out. We are all expected to do the same in our jobs or face the consequences. Perhaps this is the first time anyone has run a story like this and there never was really any incentive to call in. I would think that everything changes now that the AJC has decided to count only “unexcused” absences.

One benefit of this story has been that it has prompted me to discover Benfield’s excellent website, which gives weekly updates on everything that’s going on in the GA legislature. As a fellow web poster, I can say that these extensive updates must take considerable time and effort.

Kudos to her on this front. I’ll be checking in often.

(photo courtesy of stephaniestuckeybenfield.org)