Trans Universe

By Monica F. Helms

As the country settles into the idea of Barack Obama becoming the 44^th President on January 20, 2009, the election furry in Georgia has been given another month to engross our lives. Georgia law requires that any political candidate has to receive 50% plus 1 vote in order to be elected. In elections where there are more then two candidates, this can easily happen.

This situation occurred in the recent election for the US Senate seat here in Georgia when Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss received 49.9%, Democrat Jim Martin received 46.6% and Libertarian Allen Buckley received 3.5%. These are the number as of November 6, 2008 and they could change once all the absentee ballots in Fulton County have been counted. Since Fulton County is heavily Democrat, then they could change in Martin’s favor. However, the Secretary of State, Karen Handel, hasn’t certified the Senate race results and will not do so until the record number of absentee ballots have been counted.

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Even though the results aren’t final, the two candidates are gearing up for a run-off, which will be on December 2, 2008. Neither candidate can waste any time waiting for the final results. If the results push Chambliss past the 50+1 point, then they will stop campaigning. For now, we in the progressive community need to support Jim Martin and contribute to his run-off efforts. Our focus is no longer on the Presidential election, or the many local and state races. It has to be on helping Martin become the next Senator from Georgia.

The last time Georgia had a run-off election for the Senate race was in 1992 when Paul Coverdale faced two run off elections, first in the primary against Bob Barr and second in the general election against the incumbent Wyche Fowler , Jr. In the general election, a 3^rd party candidate took enough votes away from both to cause the run off, even though Fowler had over 30,000 votes more than Coverdale. Coverdale beat Fowler in the run off. Jim Martin is hoping that history will repeat itself, and we can help him make that happen.

Jim Martin was born in Atlanta, GA and served as a lieutenant in the Army during the Vietnam War. In the military picture, Martin is the first person on the left. He has been married to Joan Martin since 1970 and has four children and three grandchildren.

Jim Martin supports our troops and our veterans, and like President-elect Obama, wants the Iraq War to end and will work for that goal. He will also assure that those people who come back wounded from our two wars will receive the best treatment this country can give them. He supports energy independence and opposes the continuous bail-out of failing companies. And, he will work hard to clean up the environment.

As far as LGBT issues go, Martin has always been supportive of equal rights for everyone, regardless of a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Chambliss is on record of supporting the Federal Marriage Amendment and opposing employment protection or hate crimes legislation that includes sexual orientation or gender identity.

Jim Martin will work for Georgians and this country, unlike Saxby Chambliss who worked for himself and George Bush’s failed policies. I urge people across the country to help Jim Martin become the next Senator from Georgia. Please donate to his run off campaign. We already know that some Democrat heavy hitters will come to Georgia to show their support for him. I just want to remind progressive Georgians that even though our state didn’t go for Obama, we can send him another Senator he can count on to help turn this country around. Vote for Martin on December 2, 2008!

Jim Martin for US Senate, P.O. Box 7219, Atlanta, Georgia 30357, 404-347-9766, E-mail: info@martinforsenate.com