BREAKING NEWS: Solution to Winder's voter-list debacle in the works; list of 2,900 names to be 'significantly reduced'

A solution to Winder’s voter-list debacle appears to be in the works.

Mayor Chip Thompson on Oct. 6 asked consultant and former city administrator Ernie Graham for his suggestions, and Graham on Friday submitted his written recommendations.

He recommended that the mayor float his ideas among members of the Winder City Council as well as to county and state elections officials. A member of the city council provided the Barrow Journal with a copy of the recommendations.

In his Oct. 7 memo, Graham expressed concern about the city making a large number of challenges to the registrations of Winder voters this close to the Nov. 8 election.

“I am concerned that a large number of challenges immediately prior to the election could cause confusion resulting in voters staying home, when in reality they may have been able to vote a regular or provisional ballot,” Graham wrote. “No process is perfect but in a limited time setting if we err, we should err on the side of the voter.”

He suggested that when city officials receive from the county elections office the current list of registered Winder voters on Monday, they not challenge any voter “just because their name is not on our utility billing list or they have a closed or inactive account.”

He said at this point the city needs additional documentation that “at least suggests the voter no longer resides in Winder.”

The additional documentation might include:

• A closed account with a forwarding address outside the city limits that is “provided by the customer.”

• Or a returned voter registration card that could not be forwarded and is “at an address that also has a closed or inactive account or no account at all.”

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#1 Anonymous on 10/07/11 at 07:38 PM [Reply]

Brilliant! why did'nt I think of that (sarcasm). The Mayor & Council can't think on their own. Sounds like another Board I know. Another example of laziness. Use your head and think, you may get a headache but you will be o.k.

#2 Matt Dillion on 10/07/11 at 08:53 PM [Reply]

Finally the Mayor is doing what he should have done in the first place and asked someone with some knowledge what to do. His clerk was certainly not the person to go to. She is playing the "poor pitiful me" card now and wanting people to feel sorry for her because the newspaper knows how to do its job. She can call it "trash" all she wants to, but readers and voters know different because they are alot smarter than she is!

#2.1 Fed Up on 10/07/11 at 10:22 PM [Reply]

Why is she still drawing her RIDICOULIS salary when she should have been fired a long time ago.

#3 georgia_pk on 10/08/11 at 10:14 AM [Reply]

Someone isn't telling the whole truth. According to the City of Winder website, these articles are inaccurate. Either the city is lying, or the Barrow Journal has inaccurate information.
http://htwww.cityofwinder.com/index.aspx?page=23&recordid=223

#4 Mike Buffington, Publisher on 10/08/11 at 11:53 AM [Reply]

Our articles are accurate. Because we exposed the city's mistakes, they have changed their plans. We stand behind our articles.

#4.1 Anonymous on 10/08/11 at 12:52 PM [Reply]

I think it's clear who's backpedaling now. The City is embarrassed.

I am a 29-year-old professional, have lived here since birth, and am disappointed that politics here are so out of line with reasonable, ethical behavior. I appreciate the Journal bring issues like these to light. There is a new generation taking notice now and voting accordingly.

#5 Anonymous on 10/08/11 at 03:04 PM [Reply]

Buffington said some of the same things in his editorial first that Graham is saying secound and Graham is being portrayed as a knight in shining armor riding in to save the town! It's the City's job to perform quality work and fix their own mistakes, yet here lately the newpaper folks have been getting to the bottom of things, exposing mistakes then solving the problems. The City and County should send the Barrow Journal a paycheck for doing their jobs. Keep it up Barrow Journal! you are working above & beyond the call of duty and at least you care and have a conscience.

#6 Anonymous on 10/08/11 at 03:20 PM [Reply]

Thanks, Barrow Journal!!!

#7 Anonymous on 10/08/11 at 10:49 PM [Reply]

Time for Chip and Sabrina to go. Enough is enough.

#8 Anonymous on 10/09/11 at 12:20 PM [Reply]

Chip clearly should be voted out.

And Sabrina Wall needs to be fired immediately.

#9 Beth on 10/11/11 at 05:01 AM [Reply]

I fully intend to vote for a write-in candidate: Mike Buffington or Susan Norman for mayor!
David Maynard is a nice guy, but if you think his brother's "slums" look bad NOW, just wait until David is Mayor!
This will NOT help The City of Winder! Wake up people! Nice as he is, he is STILL one of the Good Ole Boys! Comments on here in the past say we do NOT want someone in office that is in real estate, etc. He is a BUILDER, his brother is a Real Estate mogul, and his son in law is Buddy Ouzts Grandson! We are in for more of the same!

#9.1 goof on 10/11/11 at 06:11 AM [Reply]

I totally disagree and am willing to let his record in public office thus far be my guide. I am no more responsible for any member of my adult families actions than you are yours. Besides Jerry Maynard does not own all the building you seem to always complain about. Why don't you buy them and fix up a Winder Utopia.
Money is everywhere that is why they are rented out!

#10 tiredofbeth on 10/11/11 at 05:52 AM [Reply]

Beth, you need to leave the city and the county and move to idiotsville where you belong. If everyone in your family is judged by how you think, then there is already a whole town of just your family living there. You could not be more unfair in your postings. I would like for you to post an example of the "slums" you are referring to. I have tried to check out your claims on this and it just is not true.

#11 Richard Saunders on 10/11/11 at 06:19 AM [Reply]

I think Beth is Sabrina Wall and running an information operation against Mr. Maynard for the sake of her job. FYI - I own a block downtown...Beth doesn't enforce code; she's all conjecture and hot air.

#11.1 OMG on 10/11/11 at 06:51 AM [Reply]

Watch out! She will have you a real estate mogul too!!!

#11.2 Beth on 10/11/11 at 09:41 AM [Reply]

HA Ha Not Hardly! I WILL vote for Maynard over Chip any day, but am just saying: Is he the right man for the job???
I have never said anything negative about David, In fact my children went to school with his, and he is a super nice guy. He is honest and upright. Again, though: Is he the right man for the job?? I personally do not think so because of all the "influences" he has to deal with.
As for his brother's properties: Who do you think helped sink the county in debt 7 mill. for the "Airport expansion"? Duh... Check the Tax assessor's website and see who owns the other parcels....
and Richard you better be glad I don't enforce code, because I can bet your "block" is one of those that wouldn't pass either!

#11.2.1 I have and know on 10/11/11 at 10:17 AM [Reply]

totally blaming Jerry is beyond reasonable at this point. The airport...give us all a break. another story for a different day and off the topic here.
However David is his own man and was growing up.
All those Maynard boys were and still are.
Yes, I think he is the man for the job and did even before the Chip fiasco. So stop undermining him before he even takes the oath or before the election. I am voting for Maynard not against Chip. Chip got into office and forgot the voters that put him there and his promise to limit what was going on. Instead he started the new regime with even a bigger mess.
When a Mayor is too busy to talk to the people of the city, he is not able to do the job and has not found a balance.

#12 Yes a lot wrong on 10/11/11 at 10:41 AM [Reply]

Yes. Winder has alot wrong. We have on Broad Street over a 1 million dollar sound studio and product facility sitting empty. Stage cameras sound proof and booms and had the staff to do what they went to college to do; but we spent money re inventing our own. Then we have a new City Hall that is not large enough to provide space now for all the offices or jobs created to go there.
We have old buildings downtown that do not meet requirements for renting or leasing and that depends on whether you talk to the fire marshal, code inspector or someone else.
The owners no longer have businesses to go there and the cost to fix them out weigh the taxes. So what do we do? Let us now move onto the streets. The streets inside the city are a hole with gravel and dirt and then another hole, and it keeps on going. The streets around
WBHS are NOT user friendly. Meadowbrook from the high school to Ridgeway is one big patch, if you even want to call it that.
Try driving it.
All the side street in North Winder have a split asphalt and pine tree roots coming up in the road. Example of this is the south end of Dunahoo. We do not even want to talk about the washing on the south end of Preston and the patched side that meet the patched hole from the 3rd broken sewer line and
that is just one section of town.
But I live here. I plan on staying here and I am not going to blame others for what I have in my power to do. I am going to vote and keep voting and screaming and stomping if I have to until I get my town back.
I would suggest those of you who are unhappy do the same. because even for all that, there is alot here that is right.

#12.1 agreed on 10/11/11 at 10:58 AM [Reply]

I agree with you and want to say I want more police presence in the neighborhoods and if there is not enough man power, I want to know why the hell not. I want to go into city Hall and be greeted by a friendly face and not treated as if they are doing me a favor.
I would like to, if needed be able to call an elected official and have them have the time to with or set me up an appointment or talk to me on the phone and not to be toled just send me an email.

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BREAKING NEWS: Solution to Winder's voter-list debacle in the works; list of ...

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BREAKING NEWS: Solution to Winder's voter-list debacle in the works; list of 2,900 names to be 'significantly reduced'

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