Cherokee Political Bloodbath

It's shaping up to be a real bloodbath, with most races involved in some sort of muckraking. 

Senator Chip Rogers was outed as a sports "tout" (handicapper) at the end of qualifying in an investigative piece by Atlanta Unfiltered (summary cross-posted at The News Enterprise and Google cached copy).  The article outlines Rogers' involvement in the "industry," and with his erstwhile associate John Edens, of the "Meth 6" motel controversy. 

The broadcast media also picked up the story, leading to the Georgia Christian Coalition asking Rogers to step down from his leadership position, and another group of public education advocates asking him to step down, period. 

One of Rogers' handicapping "friends" posted a Youtube video you must see.  Doesn't say much for Rogers and is especially critical of his association with John Edens. 

Rumors are circulating, however, and nobody knows what will be next.  Brandon Beach is challenging Rogers. 

Rogers was recently shouted down at the political forum at Cagle's Dairy, when he attempted to rebut a point by Beach.  Rebuttal was not allowed under the rules of the event, although one local Tea Party leader, Conrad Quagliaroli, fails to note same in a Facebook post.

And of course, Rogers' campaign is again being told he can't use the logos of various university teams. 

The Cherokee Tax Commissioner race has been another bloody one, with allegations by challenger Kenny Phelps that incumbent Sonia Little filed bankruptcy, and more. 

Former anti-gay activist and Canton Tea Party chair Carolyn Cosby is decrying a bond issue she's called the Bobo Boondoggle, alleging that commissioners are complicit in the creation of the Resource Recovery Development Authority, which salvaged Jimmy Bobo's mulch business with a bond issue back in 2005, and is now having to pay for it since Bobo has defaulted.  Only problem is, they fail to mention at least one individual who figured centrally in the deal, Michael Byrd (that's Rep. Charlice Byrd's husband), who was then Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. 

Cosby's group (and others) are targeting commissioners Jim Hubbard (who's up this cycle) and Harry Johnston (who's not).  Attorney Channing Ruskell and Raymond Gunnin are running against Hubbard, with Ruskell the Tea Party favorite, according to a flyer distributed by Cosby's group.

Commissioner Karen Bosch, also targeted and who's decided not to run, has filed an ethics charge against Cosby et al, which seems to be moving forward.

The Cherokee Sheriff race between incumbent Roger Garrison and challenger David Waters (who's a Tea Party "favorite") just got uglier.  Photos of Garrison in KKK garb at a costume party some 30 years ago have surfaced.  Rumor has it that Waters was behind the release, although it's suspected others were involved as well. 

Challenger Waters denies he's the source of the photos.

The school board races aren't quite as ugly as the above, although Danny Dukes, who's running for School Board Chair, is alleged to have sent some nasty robo-calls that target Janet Read, a current board member who's running for the same slot.  There are at least three groups that are supporters of public education; the pro-charter groups are there, but operating less publicly.

There's rumor that Independent Committee "Grassroots Conservatives of Cherokee County" - which has been heavily funded from Chip Rogers' campaign account - is behind some of the ruckus.  This organization, which appears to have filed no disclosures, is run by Robert Trim, who was arrested for violating Georgia election law in the early 2000's, and Bill Dewrell, ex-mayor of Woodstock, Georgia.  Cosby is known to attend the group's meetings on a regular basis.