Proposed highway may be rerouted

A proposed controversial highway may be rerouted to avoid the Georgia mountains. The road called I-3 would extend from Savannah to Augusta to Knoxville, Tennessee.

To the dismay of conservationist groups, U.S. Representative Charlie Norwood got Congress to earmark 1.3 million dollars for a study on building the highway before his death. His successor Paul Broun opposed the road while running for election. Now he says he sees its importance for the Georgia cities and is trying to reroute its path through South Carolina so it won't affect fisheries in the mountains.

Some conservationists are still concerned the road will spur development that will affect the region.

Former aide to challenge Barrow

A Georgia U.S. Senator has a new challenger. John Stone says he is seeking the Republican nomination for a shot at defeating Democrat John Barrow. Barrow has represented since 2004 Georgia’s 12th District which spans Augusta to Savannah. Stone served as an aide to late Congressman Charlie Norwood and former Congressman Max Burns.

U.S. Rep. Broun opens Augusta/Evans office

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Georgia) opened a district office in Evans on Monday.

The office will serve constituents in Columbia, Richmond, McDuffie, Wilkes, Lincoln and Elbert counties.

The office is located at 4246 Washington Road, Suite 6, in Evans. The phone number there is 706-447-3857.

Broun will host a grand opening at another district office in Athens from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

That office will serve constituents in Clarke, Oconee, Jackson, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Greene, Morgan and Madison counties.

It is located at 3706 Atlanta Highway, Suite 3B in Athens. The phone number there is 706-549-9588.

Broun represents Georgia's 10th Congressional District. He took office in July, after a special election to replace U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, who died in February. Broun is up for re-election next year.

Augusta VA hospital to get Norwood name

President Bush has given final approval to rename the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta after the late Charlie Norwood. The bill to rename the VA hospital was sponsored by Georgia’s congressional delegation.

The late Augusta Representative died in February at the age of 65, after a battle with lung disease and cancer. Norwood is a former combat dentist who settled in Augusta after returning from the Vietnam War.

Georgia has three VA hospitals--in Augusta, Dublin and outside Atlanta. The Dublin facility has also been renamed, for former Representative Carl Vinson of Milledgeville. Renamings of VA hospitals are somewhat rare. Of 155 medical centers across the nation, about 30 are named for people.

Veterans Center Named for Congressman

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta is being re-named in honor of a late congressman. President Bush today signed a law re-naming the center the Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Norwood, a Republican, represented eastern Georgia's 10th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years until his death from cancer on February 13.

U.S. House approves Norwood honor

The United States House has voted unanimously to rename the Veterans Affairs medical center in Augusta after the late Rep. Charlie Norwood. Lawmakers say it's a fitting way to honor the Augusta Republican and Vietnam War veteran who focused much of his 12-year congressional career on health care. Norwood, a dentist before winning his congressional seat in 1994, died Feb. 13 at age 65 after suffering from lung disease and cancer. A captain in the Vietnam War, Norwood was a member of the Army's dental corps and helped develop operating procedures for combat treatment that are still in use today. He became well-known for his efforts to pass a "patients' bill of rights" aimed at giving consumers better access to care. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Whitehead spent $1M on losing bid

A finance report filed today says former state Senator Jim Whitehead spent nearly a million dollars on his losing bid for Congress. That’s more than twice what victor and fellow Republican Paul Broun spent. Broun defeated Whitehead last month in a run-off election to replace the seat left vacant by the February death of Congressman Charlie Norwood. He represents Georgia's 10th Congressional district that spans from Augusta to Athens.

New congressman takes oath tonight

Georgia’s newest Congressman will be sworn into office tonight. Athens Republican Dr. Paul Broun is set to take an oath of office on the floor of the United States House of Representatives at 6PM. Broun narrowly beat former state Senator Jim Whitehead in last week’s runoff. Only 394 votes separated Broun from Whitehead, but yesterday Whitehead decided against a recount. Broun fills the seat that opened in February when Charlie Norwood passed away from cancer. He will represent northeast Georgia's 10th Congressional district.

Whitehead concedes to Broun

Former state Senator Jim Whitehead has decided not to seek a recount in the race to replace the late Congressman Charlie Norwood. Whitehead’s concession clears the way for Athens doctor Paul Broun to be sworn in as Georgia's next congressman. He will serve northeast Georgia’s 10th Congressional district. Just 394 votes separated Whitehead from Broun in last week's runoff. Whitehead would have been entitled to a recount with the margin so close. Whitehead said today that he decided against it after learning the process could take up to a week.

Recount expected in congressional race

The loser in the race to fill the late Georgia Congressman Charlie Norwood's seat wants the votes recounted.

A campaign consultant for Jim Whitehead says he will ask for a recount because he lost to physician Paul Broun by just 394 votes. That is less than one percent of the total vote.
Under Georgia law, Whitehead is entitled to a recount.

Given such a small margin, Whitehead's campaign says, an error could have determined the outcome of the election.

Broun and Whitehead are both Republicans. But, Whitehead, a former state senator, was expected to win the race. He was endorsed by Georgia's Republican establishment, and the family of Congressman Norwood.

Meanwhile, Paul Broun is preparing to be sworn in to office in Washington. His campaign says the recount will not interfere with those plans.

Survey: Broun will win Congressional seat

A new survey shows there aren't enough military and overseas ballots to boost former state Senator Jim Whitehead to a win over Paul Broun in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District. The Associated Press surveyed county elections officials throughout the northeast Georgia district. Unofficial results from Tuesday’s runoff give Broun 395 more votes than Whitehead. The Secretary of State is expected to certify results early next week once all ballots have been counted. They are vying to fill the seat left vacant by the late Charlie Norwood.

10th District to elect US Representative tomorrow

Tenth Congressional District residents head to the polls Tuesday to elect a replacement for late Congressman Charlie Norwood.

Two conservative Republicans are in this run-off: former State Senator Jim Whitehead of Evans, and physician Paul Broun of Athens. They beat out eight other candidates in June’s special election.

Athens-Clarke County Election Supervisor Gayle Schraeder is predicting an eight to 10 percent voter turnout. Columbia County Registration Coordinator Nancy Gay has a slightly more optimistic forecast.

"For the July 17th run-off, we’re predicting anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of the registered voters to come out and participate in the run-off."

The main campaign issues revolved around local politics. Whitehead said he would favor the Augusta area for any funding opportunities, while Broun said he would serve the entire district and not just the needs of his hometown, Athens.

Norwood's widow gives 25-K for clinic

The widow of late Congressman Charlie Norwood is donating 25-thousand dollars from her husband's unused campaign funds for a clinic to serve Augusta's uninsured.

Gloria Norwood called Richmond County's Board of Health two weeks ago to offer the money to start the clinic. The gift is from her husband's general election account.

Terrence Cook is an Augusta physician and chairman of the Richmond County Board of Health. He says the idea for the clinic to serve the under- and uninsured came around the time of Norwood's re-election in the 10th district.

"This is something in the makings before Charlie became sick...after he became sick it was put to one side, but now we're going to resurrect that project with these funds".

Compared to neighboring counties, Cook says Richmond County has a particular need for such a clinic.

Volunteer doctors either retired or from the Medical College of Georgia will be asked to staff the clinic. Its projected start-up is the first of next year, if not sooner.

Federal Election Commission reports show that by the end of March, Norwood had 780-thousand dollars left in his campaign account.

Whitehead raised more money than Broun in 10th congressional

Financial disclosure statements in Georgia’s 10th congressional district show that Jim Whitehead has raised four times as much as his opponent Paul Broun.

Both candidates for the July 17th runoff in the north Georgia district are Republican. They are seeking to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Charlie Norwood.

Jim Whitehead, a tire salesman from the Augusta area has the endorsement of Norwood’s widow and is favored by Georgia’s GOP establishment. Since June 1st, he has raised over 188 thousand dollars. His opponent Paul Broun, a physician from suburban Athens, has raised just over 47 thousand dollars.

With little difference in ideology between the candidates, the race has grown into a regional competition between the districts largest cities, Athens vs. Augusta.

Whitehead did get twice as many votes as Broun in the June election, but not enough to avoid a runoff. Voter turnout in the middle of the July heat is expected to be very low. Political analysts say in such cases, the candidate with the most money for ads and flyers is likely to win.

10th Congressional District voting today

Voters are going to the polls today for the special election in the 10th Congressional district-casting ballots for a replacement to Charlie Norwood, who died in February.

The district includes Athens and parts of Augusta, and has voted Republican for over a decade. For this election, it is a crowded field with ten candidates. If no candidate garners more than 50-percent of the vote, there would be a runoff for the top-two finishers-on July 17th. Officials expect light turnout, perhaps no more than 10 percent.

Early voting for 10th Congressional district

The early voting period begins today in the 10th Congressional District race, to replace the late Charlie Norwood. Voters can cast their ballot early this week, or wait until June 19th, next Tuesday, to choose the successor to Norwood. The field has 10 candidates-6 Republicans, 3 Democrats, and a Libertarian. There is one statewide televised debate ahead--that will be broadcast tomorrow night on GPB television.

Debate tonight for 10th Congressional District

Candidates to replace the late northeast Georgia Congressman Charlie Norwood debate tonight in Augusta. The debate starts at 7PM at Augusta State University. A special election is scheduled for June 19th. Norwood passed away in February after a long battle with cancer.

10 candidates line up to replace Charlie Norwood

10 candidates will be on the ballot for northeast Georgia’s 10th District congressional district seat to replace the late Congressman Charlie Norwood. Secretary of State Karen Handel made the list official today. Six Republicans are running … Bill Greene, Paul Broun, Mark Meyers, Nate Pulliam, Jim Whitehead and Erik Underwood. Three Democrats are running … Denise Freeman, James Marlow, and Evita Paschall. One Libertarian is in the running … Jim Sendelbach. Congressman Charlie Norwood passed away in February after a long battle with cancer.

Candidates register to run for Norwood's seat

Candidates are lining up to fill the northeast Georgia congressional seat left vacant by the late Charlie Norwood. This morning four candidates registered with the Secretary of State – Republicans State Senator Jim Whitehead, Paul Broun, and 27-year-old Erik Underwood, and Democrat James Marlow. The special election is scheduled for June 19th. Charlie Norwood was a Republican and Augusta native who died in February after a long battle with cancer.

Qualifying opens for Norwood seat

Qualifying starts today for the congressional seat left open by the death of Charlie Norwood. Republican Jim Whitehead of Evans, and Democrat James Marlow of Lincolnton have the backing of their respective parties. The qualifying period that begins this morning runs through noon on Thursday to set the field for the Tenth Congressional District race.

The special election is scheduled for June 19th.