FLOATING• BOATS WHO’S RISING AND WHO’S SINKING IN GEORGIA BUSINESS AND POLITICS Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell of Warner Robins upgraded her title to Miss America— the first Georgian to be crowned Miss America since 1968. A student of vocal performance at Mercer University, she was raised on 700 acres of land and can drive a full-size John Deere tractor, plow and seed fields and handle a shotgun! This young lady has been a great representative for Georgia and will continue to be a great representative for the USA…RISING State Rep. Mike Glanton, D-Jonesboro, was forced to apologize for appearing to use his public office for private gain after getting a warning from House Ethics Committee Chairman Joe Wilkinson, R-Sandy Springs. Glanton was trying to arrange a meeting with the Atlanta school superintendent in an attempt to save a $1.1 million contract between the school district and his company. School officials took his email exchanges as strong-arm tactics— and they rebuffed him. It’s also not the first time Glanton tried to use his position as a lawmaker to influence getting work. Wilkinson warns all House members that using public office for private gain is against state law. There was not enough evidence to prosecute Glanton, but he may not be so lucky if there is a next time. His boat is definitely…SINKING Georgia Gwinnett College graduated its first class in 2008 with 17 students. Since then it has built a Library and Learning Center, Student Center, Allied Health Building and student housing. GGC now has 14 majors including nursing and over 12,000 students— and it has graduated over 3,000 students (with some going on to Harvard). That’s pretty good for an open access college! And, by the way, it is the only college in the University System of Georgia with NO tenure for its professors. This fine school is definitely…RISING The University of Georgia School of Law received a $500,000 gift to create the Stacey Godfrey Evans Scholarship for first-generation college graduates attending law school there. The gift comes courtesy of UGA law school alumna and state Rep. Stacey Evans, D- Smyrna, and the first Evans Scholar is expected to be named this fall. Her investment in future law students underscores a commendable commitment to service to our state. Her boat within Georgia’s legal community, and within the state’s Democratic Party, is certainly…RISING 6 <strong>JAMES</strong> Atlanta-based Southern Company is merging with AGL Resources, a move that creates the nation’s second largest electric and gas utility company by customer base, with over 9 million customers across nine Southern states. It’s another bold move by the Southern Company to add to its diverse portfolio to meet the ever-growing energy demand in the Southeast, so its boat is…RISING Georgia’s success in luring businesses has been well documented in recent years, but one potential relocation looms over them all— General Electric and its top 15 ranking as one of the largest and most profitable corporations in America. Suitors have lined up following GE’s announcement that it was considering a move from its Connecticut headquarters earlier this summer, and Atlanta with its favorable tax climate, skilled workforce, and location as a transportation hub appears to be one of the front-runners. Acquiring GE would be the big blue and white jewel in Georgia's business crown, so being in contention at this stage in the game sees the state’s ship…RISING The Georgia Republican Party was looking for a good fundraiser and it found one. Former U.S. Congressman Jack Kingston, R-Savannah, now heads the Republican Foundation (assisted by his longtime fundraiser Alexandra Kendrick). With party funds depleted after last November’s statewide victories, the appointment of the affable Kingston is perfect timing. And it doesn’t hurt that this keeps him in front of donors, and in the news, as he possibly eyes future public office. For both Kingston and the state GOP…RISING A growing number of Georgia sheriffs and legislators oppose President Obama’s choice of DeKalb State Court Judge Dax Lopez for a lifetime federal judgeship. A main objection is his longtime position as a board member and speaker on behalf of the illegal immigrant lobbying group Georgia Association of Elected Latino Officials. Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren, for example, says: “GALEO has insulted the front line of law enforcement officers that protect our nation’s borders while aggressively lobbying against legislation intended to protect our citizens.” Lopez must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, so focus turns to both Georgia senators to see where they stand. And it could be that the GOPcontrolled Senate may simply delay any more Obama judicial confirmations. Lopez so far is…Drifting
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