Early voting turnout totals likely will determine which two candidates to fill Nathan Deal's congressional seat make the runoff. Turnout as of this writing is lower than expected. It could mean people still don't know much about the candidates as liked yet or haven't made up their minds.
Many have asked my analysis of the candidates. A runoff is virtually assured. In alphabetical order, the three most likely to make it in a squeaker are Tom Graves, Lee Hawkins and Bill Stephens, all noted for effective constituent services. Any of them could do a good job.
Graves of Ranger has represented large parts of the 9th District and is well versed in highway matters. Stephens, formerly of Hall and now Forsyth, has had top leadership experience. Gainesville's Hawkins fields of expertise are health care, a top national issue, and the ever-elusive statewide water problem with deadlines looming.
I'm watching for negative rhetoric from candidates or their surrogates. Any campaign employing such negativism whether by candidate or surrogates will lose points with me. Guys, campaign on what you offer, not on how supposedly bad the other fellows are. All three of you are good, capable politicians.
Census return totals, plus rhetoric about how the forms' questions are none of intrusive government's business and some either won't participate or not answer some questions, indicate ignorance. The census is constitutionally required and an important tool.
I was the district director of the 1970 Census overseeing 22 counties. That was the last census all tallying was by personal visit. Short forms merely had basic questions similar to those on this year's form.
Workers had address "route books" they had to follow explicitly. Following five short-form households, the sixth in the book got a long form with a long list of demographic questions. Census takers, who were paid a flat fee per short form plus mileage, and per person in the sixth household plus mileage, had to follow the exact route in their address notebooks.
Quality control quickly spotted deviations. I had to fire several for switching addresses where they knew the household had a large number of people where their pay was much more. All had been forewarned during training they would forfeit pay and be fired.
Some gated communities refused to admit takers inside their grounds to take the census. My instructions were simple: Summon a U.S. marshal to open the gates.
The biggest problems were people who either didn't want to give information to census takers from their neighborhoods, saying it was none of their business, or to those whose appearance didn't please them. The taker with the highest qualifying exam score in the entire district was a brilliant young man with shoulder-length hair. A number of households turned him away. When I called them, they said they wouldn't give their "personal information to no hippie." They did.
The first purpose of the census is reapportionment of legislative bodies. Georgia's on the verge of gaining another important U.S. House seat that several New England states are on the verge of losing. A full count is vital.
Congress also uses the demographic data on the long form to set national and regional priorities, appropriate funds, long range budgetary funding, etc. The data is vital to doing the best job.
This data is released in statistical summary form only. Actual household census forms are sealed for 60 years or so, and then become a treasure trove for families interested in genealogical research.
Come on, folks. Get those forms in as required. Save taxpayers the average $56 per nonresponding household to send takers or marshals to get you to comply with what is your civic duty. That unnecessarily spent tax money adds up quickly and could be used for better things.
Ted Oglesby is retired associate and opinion page editor of The Times. You can reach him at P.O. Box 663, Gainesville, GA 30501. His column appears every other Tuesday.