April 27, 2011
Elections Advisory council
Thomas Sowel, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and well known columnist, said "When politicians want to do nothing, and yet look like they are doing something, they appoint a blue ribbon committee.......hoping that the issue will be forgotten by the time (the committee) reports back. That is what Brian Kemp is doing. He is kicking the can down the road, hopefully forever. Brian Kemp and his colleagues do not want fair ballot access in Georgia. Brian Kemp does not want verifiable voting machines in Georgia that will leave an audit trail.
Richard Winger, the editor of Ballot Access News, located in San Francisco California, states unequivocally that Georgia is the worst state in the union for fair and proper ballot access.
I have said many times that every registered voter in every state in the union for every elected office should have the same opportunity to be on the ballot if they meet the minimum standards required for the two major party candidates to appear on the ballot. It is that simple, and it should be the law in Georgia and the Nation.
I was denied the right to appear on the November 2, 2010, ballot for Governor of Georgia because Brian Kemp and his legislative friends play with a stacked deck.
Sincerely,
Ray Boyd
We The People Advocate
March 28, 2011
Saving Georgia
To my fellow Georgians,
The current political situation in Georgia is not much different from the elitist dictatorial leadership in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Yemen that has ignited their citizens to decide enough is enough. They will settle now for nothing less than new leadership. Georgia's Gold dome has been and continues to be controlled by a handful of corrupt politically powerful politicians (the CP3s) that has become a self perpetrating body greased by an uncontrolled money funneling machine. The harsh reality is that the citizens of Georgia are not represented by the 236 members of the General Assembly-- 80% of which returned to office, and 60% of which had no opposition during the last election. It is past time that Georgians realize, just as in the countries mentioned above, there is power in numbers-- tremendous power. We can make a positive difference in our state if we unite behind a drive to deny these CP3s the ability to control Georgia's destiny.
The General Assembly can't be fixed under existing ethics legislation, and the CP3s have clearly shown they have no intention of even allowing a discussion on the topic. The CP3s and the infected tissue surrounding them must be surgically removed, either now by the courts or next year at the ballot box. The Coalition for Ethics Reform in Georgia, now at crossover day, should know that it is a losing proposition to bring a knife to a gun fight. CP3s will kick the ethics can down the road indefinitely if not boldly challenged.
Casey Cagle is a CP3 of long standing. It is unfortunate that a small part of Cagle's corrupt activities involves marital infidelity. I could care less if Cagle conducted his personal affairs in a motel, but the sex bothers me when he uses his government office like a frat house. Cagle and former Speaker of the House Richardson both are morally challenged, but in the final analysis it was the abuse of political power that cost Richardson his job. Cagle should have lost his job at the same time and for the same reason.
Nathan Deal, under congressional investigation, failed to disclose his dire financial situations, took illegal campaign contributions from the same people that ultimately caused the Gwinnett Chairman to resign, loaded his transition team with lobbyists and CP3s from Perdue's team, and put his half vast holdings in a "Blind Trust" with a supporter far away from Atlanta's few curious observers. He is now our Governor. This is another rag to riches story in the making.
Purdue, who left office in a down economy, left richer than when he came into office. He and three political buddies, Brian Kemp, Tommy Hills, and Greg Griffin, and two deer-in-the-headlights citizen members of the State Properties Commission voted unanimously to pay $29,000,000.00 for one half of Oaky Woods to bail out a failed investment by Purdue and his friends. This was after he had forced the State DOT to spend a $100,000,000.00 for a new road to surround their investment, a proposed "New City", and conveniently placed horse and fish boondoggles in Houston County. As a parting shot, Perdue provided new higher paying jobs for his key staff.
One of those parting shots is particularly galling to me. Wesley Tailor who, under the corrupt leadership of Brian Kemp, helped keep all the independent candidates in Georgia off the ballot last year from his position as Chief of the Elections Division. Tailor, former attorney at Troutman Sanders and former attorney for Karen Handel was put in that position as a temporary holding spot. When he and his subordinate, Ann Hicks Dickerson, were being less than helpful to me in my attempt to be an Independent candidate for Governor, I followed up on my gut feeling about the situation. I discovered Tailor was making only $81,000.00 per year. I figured he was in a holding position waiting for his reward. Tailor's wait was short. Perdue made Tailor a Judge as he walked out the door. Kemp moved Dickerson up to Tailor's old job. She was already making almost the same amount of money.
Larry O'Neal, current House Majority Leader, was the CPA and attorney for Perdue who with the able assistance of Eric Johnson and Casey Cagle orchestrated the legislation that allowed Perdue to retroactively scam Georgia out of $100,000.00, and possibly scam the IRS out of $300,000.00. O'Neal handed Perdue the retroactive bill and his completed tax return on the same platter just a day or two before tax day, April 15. O'Neal, before this year's legislative session began, made this brilliant suggestion, a spontaneous loyalty oath: "I suggest that each of us, prior to opening day, write a short letter to both Speaker Ralston and Speaker Pro Tem (Jan) Jones pledging our vote, loyalty and support for their respective elections by the whole House on opening day." What about a loyalty oath to the citizens of Georgia? It is obvious O'Neal and his cronies only need the other house members to route campaign funds to avoid campaign limits. In return they get the crumbs from the fat-cat's lobbyist cake.
Speaking of fat-cats, Speaker of the House Ralston "makes no apology" for his status as leader of the pack. He and Joe Wilkinson blew all proposed semi-decent ethics reform bills off the table last year including one by Wendell Willard, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Willard's bill had 40 sponsors. Obviously, Willard was told not to even vote it out of his own committee. Sadly, Willard liked his power position enough to bow to Ralston's demands. Ralston then rammed through Wilkinson's milque-toast bill so that the "leadership" clique would have NO restraints on the dollar amounts of their world travels, gifts, fine dining, and other first class perks for themselves and their families.
Actually, to call Ralston a fat cat is somewhat misleading. He is an obese cat. He has said repeatedly that during all those meals he has shared with lobbyists that legislation is never discussed. He says it is just good friends enjoying a meal together. I suggest he cut the number of meals per day down from 36 to just 6 or 7. The Speaker is ambidextrous, eating from several plates with both hands at the same time. Richardson is gone, but the corruption of power remains unchanged.
Back to the subject of ethics, I need to address Patrick Millsaps, Chairman of the Transparency in Government-- formerly the State Ethics Commission. Before he blasted me for my ethics complaint against Cagle, he said very proudly that he had been reappointed for a new term by Governor Deal. He boasted that his prior appointment was by former Governor Perdue. Two of the most ethically challenged individuals in the State of Georgia selected Millsaps for the ethics commission. I wonder if Deal, Perdue, and Cagle gave him a standing ovation for his grandstanding comments when they made the local news. The TV reporter said the vote to dismiss was unanimous. The vote was actually three for dismissal with two abstentions. When you slant a story like the reporter did, correctness is not a big concern.
We are in the worst economic times since the Great Depression and the General Assembly is debating a birth certificate law which had 60 co-sponsors initially. There are only two items that warranted any discussion in the legislature this year during this catastrophic failure of our federal and state government to perform any function successfully. First, the strongest ethic's law in the country should have been adopted on day one of this session and sent to the Governor for immediate signature. I personally mailed and e-mailed a copy of just such a bill to all 336 candidates running for the General Assembly so obviously all 236 current members had a personal copy. I received zero responses. The only people in Georgia who have trouble with ethics proposals are the CP3s and those who seek to unfairly influence them.
Second, the budget should have dominated this session of the legislature. Not one single new bill should have been introduced not directly related to the budget. The General assembly should have looked first at every program initiated by Sonny Perdue or any of his cronies to withdraw any funds not already spent. The Oaky Woods theft of $29,000,000.00 in a financial crisis should be reversed. Next, every Government Office in the State, starting with the 660 jobs under the Governor's Office category, should have been scrutinized with the minimum objective of deleting at least 30% of the employees and reducing the salary of those left by a minimum of 20%. Every function, program, board, or funds consuming entity that could not justify its absolute necessity in these difficult financial times should have been cut from the budget. Not a nickel should have been taken out of the Hope Scholarship program or the Pre-K programs budget until the operation of the Lottery Program had been examined from stem to stern. It was not enough to finally limit outrageous bonuses. The Lottery Board will simply raise the salaries instead.
The standing joke in Georgia has been that the General Assembly is in session-- what will those self serving CP3s do this session? Unfortunately, we the taxpayers are the punch line. Their pathetic performance gets worse with each passing year. Their brazen conduct is no longer just isolated behind closed doors. Now, it is right in your face. They have grown to feel bullet proof, and they have good reason to feel bullet proof. We voters keep sending 80% of them back every two years regardless of their historical conduct. We citizens get what we will accept. Ralston actually spoke for all his colleagues when he said, "I make no apology for my action".
We need a peaceful rebellion in Georgia. As I said in the beginning, until we stand up to this sad state of affairs, we will continue to be treated like the oppressed people we have become. I cannot fix this decades old, but growing, problem by myself. I ask my fellow Georgians: what will it take to motivate you to act in your own best interests, and the best interests of your children and grandchildren? Doing nothing is a choice, but together, we can make the choice to get these CP3s out of office.
Sincerely,
Ray Boyd
We The People Advocate
February 28, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
The rest of the story
The State Ethics Committee has decided to dismiss the complaint We The People Advocate, LLC, filed against Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle. For reasons I will explain below, I did not reveal in that complaint all of the information about Casey Cagle that I was aware of at that time.
In the course of supporting Carol Porter for Lt. Governor, I was introduced to Dubose Porter, her husband, a 28 year State Representative and gubernatorial candidate. Dubose, Carol, and I were discussing Casey Cagle, the incumbent, in her campaign office. I made a comment about the numerous people in and around the Capitol who had knowledge of Cagle's escapades. He asked if I had seen the book, and I said, "What Book?" He said the book on Cagle that has videos included. I said no. He then said he needed for me to meet Michael (Mike) Berlon. He is an attorney who was serving as Carole Porter's Campaign Manager. He is now serving as the Chairman of the State Democratic Party.
I met Berlon sometime later at Carol's campaign office on 14th Street downtown. He told me that their campaign had been contacted by an intermediary who could provide them with a book prepared on Cagle by a private investigator. This detailed book came with videos he said. Berlon was told by the intermediary that they could purchase the book and videos for $200,000.00. He said he told them he needed to see the book and videos personally for discussions to continue. A meeting was arranged according to Berlon, and he was permitted to see the book and videos. He said the videos showed Cagle and a female having sex in his office at the Capitol. He said someone had clandestinely installed a hidden camera in Cagle's office. The videos revealed more than one episode according to Berlon.
I inquired if he thought the video could have been photo cropped or manipulated in some way. It was his strong opinion they were the real thing. Berlon said he questioned the price, and it came down rather quickly to $125,000.00. He said they elected not to pay even the reduced price. He then asked me if I would be interested in purchasing the book and video. I said yes I would be very interested. Berlon said it may take a day or two to arrange a meeting and that he would call me. We talked several times in the next few days, and I was informed the meeting may happen on short notice. I told him I could respond quickly if I had to, but I wanted to meet in a public area that afforded a level of privacy coupled with a level of personal security for me.
Days turned into weeks. The election came and went. Berlon's and my calls got fewer and further apart until they stopped when I asked him if he would be willing to put in writing what he had told me. He said he would have to think about that. When I did not hear from him, I called and had to leave a message. He never returned my call. I have had this problem repeatedly when I ask folks to put in writing what they tell me in person.
I filed the complaint against Cagle with just the information I had gathered myself because I felt like I would end up with the book and video at some point in the near future. I had hoped that my complaint would cause Cagle enough concern that he would do the honorable thing. I viewed him as many others did at the Capitol - a power hungry womanizer not morally qualified to be in any public office. His reputation in and around the Capitol was appalling.
It is obvious Governor Nathan Deal is in on the Cagle joke. Deal said when he announced to run that Georgia needed a governor who could "tie his own shoes". For the uninformed, when he was allegedly caught with a woman on her knees in front of him, Cagle supposedly claimed that she was just tying his shoes. Deal wanted Cagle to know he knew what was occurring at the Capitol. The list of people who know about Cagle's follies are long and extensive.
I am amazed that the long arm of the law has not intervened in this saga. As Jim Galloway has reported, I spent a lot of time at the Capitol last year. I can see how any office at the Capitol could easily be bugged. If I had an office there, I would not have an expectation of privacy in my office. Current occupants may find Cagle's office was not the only one that was of interest to some people. Corrupt conduct obviously attracts corrupt interests.
The only law involvement that Berlon told me about was the episode where two female admirers of Cagle showed up at the Capitol at the same time. The hair- pulling brawl required State Patrol intervention. A copy of the incident report was in the "book" according to Berlon.
The truth has a way of bubbling to the surface. In this case, I hope it happens soon. The citizens of Georgia deserve better than they are getting from state government.
Sincerely,
Ray Boyd
We The People Advocate
February 9, 2011
To All Georgia Voters and Their State Representatives & Senators,
The Georgia General Assembly is in session. You can tell by the smell of money in the air around the Capitol, and money is the key that will get you access to the powerful political players (P3s). The P3s are quick to tell us simpletons that lobbyist's money does not sway their votes, and would have us believe that millions upon millions of dollars are spent on political lobbying with zero financial return.
While the P3s will claim that you cannot legislate morality, it is important to remember that ethics laws are intended to punish immorality. They serve as a deterrent, and they set a minimum standard of conduct that must be met. While the typical Georgian has no difficulty living under a code of conduct and being subject to various laws, the P3s act as if subjecting themselves to reasonable standards of conduct via ethics laws is an unjustified intrusion into their power party in Atlanta and other exotic European travel destinations.
There is not a single issue facing the General Assembly more important than passing comprehensive ethics legislation. All the other issues - including education, budget, water, transportation, and other critical matters - pale in comparison to the need for ethics reform. More importantly, however, ethics reform will serve as a foundation to insure that the members of the General Assembly will evaluate the aforementioned issues in a manner that best serves the taxpayer, rather than for personal gain or for the benefit of the lobbyists with the deepest pockets.
If you have any doubt about the immediate need for comprehensive ethics reform, consider the following:
(1) Governor Nathan Deal (gotta love that last name) assembled a transition team comprised of numerous lobbyists. One of them, Pete Robinson has an extensive client's list ranging from Coca Cola to General Motors. He was reportedly being paid over $320,000.00 a year, which in my estimation is a conservative figure. Deal, who undoubtedly views the public as incredibly gullible, reported that Robinson was putting his lobbying duties on “hold” while working on the transition team. Robinson's telephone, along with the other lobbyist engaged by Deal, will be ringing off the hook. There is no need for yellow page advertising for this select group. Deal lets you know who to call, and it's not Ghostbusters!
(2) David Ralston's recent European excursion to ride the rails in Germany and the Netherlands with his wife, family, and friends was a perk protected by Ralston's own ethics bill, with Commonwealth Research Associates paying the $17,000.00 tab. It burns me that he said he makes no apology for taking the families on the trip because it was Thanksgiving, and they wanted to be with their families for the holidays. Why didn't he tell Commonwealth that, instead of spending $17,000.00 on a sight-seeing trip, they could simply make a PowerPoint presentation in Atlanta, and use that money to bring 17 military troops home from Iraq or Afghanistan to be with their families for Thanksgiving instead?
(3) Ralston's son, Matt Ralston, has been hired to work as an intern for GeorgiaLink Public Affairs Group, which is one of the most prominent lobbying groups under the Gold Dome (or “Golden Parachute”). Ralston's niece, Sarah Ralston, has been hired to work as an intern for Georgia Heath Care Association. Their industry already gets over a billion dollars a year from the state. The same group has hire Deal's son-in-law, Clint Wilder. Wilder has filed for bankruptcy twice, but I "smell" success in his future.
(4) Lobbyists have spent over $250,000.00 wining and dining the P3s just through January. There can be little doubt that the P3s and Ralston are very happy with the status quo. Joe Wilkinson, Chairman of the House Ethics Committee and “Liar of the Week” according to the AJC, managed to ram a castrated and phony version of ethics reform through last year. Wendell Willard, Chairman of the Judicial Committee in the House, had a better (not good, just better) version of ethics reform than Ralston and Wilkerson last year. Willard had 40 co-signers. Willard could not get "permission" to even get his version voted out of the committee he chairs. It is sad to see how the game is played under the Gold Dome. Ralston and Mubarak have a lot in common. Ralston just has not heard from the people......yet.
(5) Senator Jack Murphy, who recently became chairman of the Senate Banking committee, is being sued by the FDIC. There are over 300 failed banks in the United States, yet the FDIC has only initiated legal actions against a very limited number of individuals. Murphy, who is supposed to regulate the soundness of the banking industry, is one of them. He should resign or be forced to resign.
(6) Deal said he was putting his "considerable assets (my term-- not his)" in a blind trust. It seems that the transparency advocated under the Gold Dome is limited at best. If there is anyone in government whose financial dealings should not be in a blind trust, it is Deal. He misled the public before the election about the severity of his personal finances. He sought the highly visible job of Governor, and we the people should see exactly how he solves the problem. I can see a weekly reality TV show....It's a Deal!
On a positive note, amidst the rampant moral decay and ethical debauchery that is plaguing this state; other concerned citizens and groups are starting to take notice. I was invited to join a coalition, The Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform. The participants in this alliance are disappointed in Ralston's artificial vision that a little transparency is the only ethics that the citizens of this state deserve. While the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform and I share a profound goal of ultimately providing true ethics reform in Georgia, we disagree as how to achieve it. Accordingly, while we remain allies, we have parted ways.
I personally believe that the P3s will only take ethics reform seriously by repeated exposure of their current mode of operation to the citizens of Georgia. For over thirty years in Georgia, we have witnessed a growing concentration of power in the hands of a few governmental P3s, and we have seen their conduct become more egregious by the year. We cannot stop such shenanigans through appeasement, and trying to negotiate with the public officers that are supposed to represent us, the people. Legislators are sent to the Capitol to act for our benefit and best interests not to pledge allegiance to the P3s as Larry O'Neal demands they do in writing. Georgians must rise up peacefully, but convincingly, and demand accountability. There is no other way to achieve this goal from the P3s. They play hardball, and so should we.
Sincerely,
Ray Boyd
We The People Advocate
(AKA - Government Watchdog)
December 7, 2010
To: DNR Land Acquisition Committee and Board Members
Subject: OAKY WOODS
It is very appropriate that today Is Pearl Harbor day. The taxpayers of Georgia are being financially ambushed without warning or provocation by Oaky Woods Properties, LLC , comprised originally of the following "known" players Charles Ayer (Manager) Charlie McGlamry, , Scott Free, Donald Free, Sr., and Gary Bishop. This group is being assisted by a Trojan horse to be named below.
The facts:
- Weyerhaeuser announces in early 2004 its intention to sell the Oaky Woods Tract totaling approximately 20,000 acres.
- Oaky Woods has been leased by DNR for over thirty years as a Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
- DNR and most every Georgian viewed Oaky Woods as a crown jewel for permanent protection due to its unique flora and fauna.
- Around May 2004 The Nature Conservancy agreed to offer $26 Million for the entire tract and ensure its permanent protection if the State would give them assurance they would acquire the tract from them sometime in the future.
- Governor Sonny Perdue and then DNR Commissioner Lonice Barrett said "no" to the very generous offer.
- Oaky Woods Properties, LLC, (the "group") seemingly from out of nowhere bought the tract for $32,145,000.00 on August 27, 2004. The Limited Warranty Deed is recorded in Deed Book 3149, Pages 146-161, in Houston County.
- Columbus Bank & Trust loaned the "group" $23,000,000.00 and recorded their Deed to Secure Debt at Deed Book 3149, Pages 162-184. It had a maturity of March 2, 2006. It was signed only by Charles Ayer as Manager.
- The day before Purchasing Oaky Woods, the "group" also bought 1,500 acres from T. S. Hardwoods for $2,234,000.00 and financed the entire amount separately through the same bank. (DB 3543, Pages 122-131 and DB 3543, pages 132-143). The "group" has made other land purchases of little individual significance.
- On March 3, 2006, one day after the $23,000,000.00 loan matured, the bank modified the loan documents to reflect a reduction in the loan balance to $16,496,351.56. The maturity date was extended to March 3, 2007, and Charles Ayer was released from his personal guaranty of the debt. (DB 3860, pages 98-106)
- On March 3, 2007, the bank increased the debt to $18,047,000.00, and extended the maturity date to "LESS THAN THREE YEARS". The borrows wanted the "LESS THAN THREE YEARS" to avoid paying $54,000.00 in intangibles tax for a mortgage term of more than 36 months. This is just another little permitted scam of the Georgia taxpayers by the "group". (DB 4236, pages 63-81)
- On May 16, 2007, the bank designated Charles McGlamry, Donald Free, Sr., Scott Free, and Gary Bishop as "Guarantors" of the loan above. (DB 4334, pages 338-343)
- The above $18,047,000.00 loan would have matured no later than March 3, 2010. There are no further recorded transactions concerning the "group" other than a sale of 200 acres to the Houston County Board of Commissioners on November 17, 2009. (DB 5097, page 85)
- The current status of the loan may be dependent on what happens here today and tomorrow.
- Attached to this letter are 8 copies of the Houston County Tax Assessors records current as of yesterday relating to the "groups" ownership of Oaky Woods.
The total number of acres shown is 20,103.37. The total fair market value is $22,825,000. The price per acre is $1,135.38.
As a real estate professional with over 37 years of experience in the business and after personally viewing the property, I concur with the Houston County Tax Assessor that this particular tract of 20,103.37 acres is properly valued at $1,135.38 per acre.
The Georgia Department of Natural resources should acquire this entire tract for not a nickel more than the fair market value of $22,825,000.00. This entire tract of land should be protected now as a wild life sanctuary for generations to come.
I have been using the term "group" to describe Oaky Woods Properties LLC, because I do not believe for a minute that Sonny Perdue and his cadre of cronies are not involved up to their eyeballs is this attempted scam of the Georgia tax payers. The economy blew their grand plans to build a "New City" all to hell. Now they want the tax payers to bail them out by overpaying for half the property so they will have 9,000 + acres free and clear.
This blatant conduct is just the tip of the iceberg. Sonny Perdue, in my opinion, is the most corrupt Governor that Georgia has ever had. Isn't it amazing how in 2007 the $22 million fish hatchery and visitor center was approved for Houston County, and in 2008 the $7.3 million horse barn and practice ring was likewise approved for Houston country. Nice close by amenities for a "New City". Both projects should be scrapped immediately and the funds used for a start on the Trauma Centers. Corruption in Georgia politics is destroying our state. Enough is enough.
A new day in Georgia can start today with the DNR showing positive leadership for all the citizens of Georgia.
Sincerely
Ray Boyd
We The People Advocate
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/iteam-dnr-hearing-oaky-woods-20101207-es |
