21Dec
by Emily Lewy
The Lumpkin County Commission (BOC) unanimously voted to rescind county imposed requirements for collection of signatures on petitions. Commissioner Tim Bowden moved to add reconsideration of petition requirements to the agenda of the December meeting. Bowden made a motion to rescind the requirements. Commissioner Clarence Stowers seconded the motion stating that he believed what they had done was legal; but his research has led him to believe that people have a right to petition government without restriction or fear of penalty.
It is great that the limitations on the right of the people to participate in their government have been rescinded. Even more important was the participation of Lumpkin County citizens in demanding rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. First Amendment rights can be restricted by state or local governments only when the people fail to demand those rights. Continue reading »
Tags: petitions
16Oct
Commissioners graciously accepted the Blackburn Park petition at the beginning of their Wednesday evening meeting.
It seems that the official county form for petitions adopted in July by unanimous vote of the board was merely a recommendation and not a requirement. Quotes from Commissioners in The Dahlonega Nugget article on October 14 continue to verify that they did not agree on what they voted for.
It seems that they do now agree to accept petitions as required by the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution. Chairman Raber was quoted as saying, …All we did was ask that people follow a form so petitions could be legitimized. Yet, the commissioners blindly approved a document that provides for $1,000 fines and imprisonment of up to five years. Continue reading »
Tags: Blackburn Park, LCHA info, petitions
15Oct
This article highlights the chaos that can reign when the politicians embark on a plan to squelch opposition, but fail to make sure that they’re all on the same page:
While two Lumpkin County commissioners are under the impression that petitions not following the county’s form will not be accepted, two believe they will be, and board chair “Dr.” John Raber said it was never alleged they wouldn’t be.
“We never said we wouldn’t accept petitions. We’ve always accepted petitions. We’ve not turned down any petition ever. All we did was ask that people follow a form so petitions could be legitimized,” Raber said when asked about the board’s acceptance of the GOLD Dog Park petition at the October work session. That petition was not on a county form, but when presented, Raber asked that it be given to the county clerk to become an official part of the record.
The rest of the story:
Dahlonega, Lumpkin County: The Dahlonega Nugget. The local newspaper for Dahlonega, Georgia > News > Confusion complicates county petition ordinance
Tags: petitions
09Oct
County’s crazy petition rule should be tossed
[By Matt Aiken. Originally published in The Dahlonega Nugget Wednesday, October 7, 2009]
I’m not a person who’s prone to petitioning. In fact, if I see somebody coming my way with a large sheet of paper and an enthusiastic grin, I usually walk hurriedly in the other direction. Yet there would be one petition I’d be happy to sign my sloppy signature on. That would be a petition that petitions the county’s new petition policy. Yes, the time has come to petition the new petitions. Continue reading »
Tags: petitions
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