Flag Activist Will Run In Primary Against Perdue
By Walter C. Jones| Morris News Service, Augusta Chronicle
ATLANTA -- Gov. Sonny Perdue has drawn an opponent in his own primary, a challenge from a man unhappy about the change in the state flag.
Ray "States Rights" McBerry announced his candidacy Tuesday in a news conference with two reporters, 10 supporters and two state flags - both the 1956 version, which incorporates the Confederate battle emblem's cross of St. Andrew, and which Mr. McBerry accuses Mr. Perdue of abandoning.
Mr. McBerry also blasted Mr. Perdue for bowing to the wishes of President Bush and the Atlanta business community. He said the governor should have been tougher on companies that hire illegal immigrants, should propose a constitutional amendment granting legal status to the fetus, and should jail federal officials who overstep their legal authority.
Supporters read endorsements of Mr. McBerry from the Constitutional Party of the United States and the Southern Party. The 38-year-old president of DixieBroadcasting Radio said he'll have 10,000 volunteers helping his campaign as a result and isn't concerned about Mr. Perdue's fundraising advantage.
"I'd rather have several thousand activists," Mr. McBerry said.
He said he didn't know how much money he could raise but figured he would be out-raised by Mr. Perdue, who already has $8 million in cash on hand from contributors for the July 18 contest.
"Sonny better be counting on his millions in the bank for a big advertising campaign instead of grassroots campaigning because, Sonny, the people of Georgia are disappointed in you right now," Mr. McBerry said.
The advertising has already begun.
A small group of Democratic activists pooled money to begin running a television ad accusing Mr. Perdue of late payment of his personal taxes before his election and then seeking a tax increase after entering office. The group, Georgians for Truth, is running the ad despite public requests from the two leading Democratic candidates, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor and Secretary of State Cathy Cox, to stop.
Mr. Perdue was unconcerned about the ads when asked at a news conference on college tuition.
"I'm having too much fun doing this kind of stuff to worry about silly little things like that," he said.
Mr. Perdue paid penalties for making quarterly estimated tax payments significantly lower than what his income turned out to be in seven years, and a company he owned was several years late in paying tax on property in two counties.
Qualifying runs all next week.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/041906/met_78050.shtml
Posted by Editor at April 19, 2006 02:06 PM
