Both candidates running for District 3 Spalding County Board of Commissioners have been invited to briefly address the audience and to entertain a few questions. The District 3 candidates are Democrat Rita Johnson and Republican Michael Renew.
The focus of the meeting, said local NAACP President Jewell Walker-Harps, will be a special presentation by Timothy Shepherd, attorney for the Griffin-Spalding School Board on the constitutional referendum pertaining to the establishment of charter schools in Georgia. “We want people to be cognizant of the fact its on the ballot and the implications of that proposal for public education,” said Walker-Harps.
She said “the organization wants to also impress upon voters the importance of making a choice rather than ignoring that part of the ballot. To ignore it is just as bad as voting for it.”
Walker-Harps said persons are encouraged to bring questions or issues of concern about charter schools and their establishment. They may also call in questions which they would like to have answered to 770-228-3990.
According to Walker-Harps, the following questions have been asked: What is a charter school? What is the financial obligation of the state and local governments to a charter school? How racially, socially, and economically diverse are charter schools? What evidence is there to support the success of charter schools and who sets the academic standards for these schools?
Since this is a statewide, not just local issue, the Griffin NAACP invites citizens from the surrounding counties to participate, she said,
"The deplorable conditions in black communities that the NAACP complains about were created by the socialist policies of the Democrats who have been running those communities for the past 50 years. " Quoted by Frances Rice who happens to be a black woman who is also the Chairman of the National Black Republican Association.
"She said “the organization wants to also impress upon voters the importance of making a choice rather than ignoring that part of the ballot. To ignore it is just as bad as voting for it.” This quote sounds to me like the whole reason for this "informational meeting" is to make sure to tell the people 'how' and 'what' to vote for.
Absurd at best.