Athens-Clarke Commission candidate Jared Bailey has a website up at www.jared-acc5.com.

Bailey is citing his experience as a 30-year Athens resident who founded AthFest, ran small businesses, worked in economic development and is involved in many community organizations. According to the site, he is in favor of strong neighborhoods, sustainable land use, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, big hunting dogs and plaid.

He faces lawyer Dave Hudgins and homebuilder Tom Ellis in District 5.

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Athens mayoral candidate Charlie Maddox has revealed the answer to one of the greatest mysteries in local politics, according to Pete McCommons.

Maddox told McCommons that, contrary to popular belief, he is not a Republican and never has been.

Charlie says that myth got started in the last mayoral race because local Republicans supported him, thinking he would be more receptive to them than the other candidates. Charlie wanted to pick my brain about why some people just don’t get his candidacy. The way he sees it, he would make the perfect mayor for Athens: more an independent than a party-label guy, with a long and impressive record of volunteer public service. Charlie shrugs off the reminder that he’s never been strong on issues by suggesting that he’s good at getting people together to solve problems—that solutions are more important than issues and results better than party labels.

Nathan Deal’s birthday is Aug. 25, and what better present for the man who has everything than a campaign contribution?

For a mere $25 per family, you can attend Deal’s birthday bash from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center in his hometown of Gainesville. Team Deal says they’ll have barbecued chicken, trimmings, live music and entertainment for the kids. No word on whether cake, ice cream and a clown are included with your generous donation.

Deal, as Karen Handel not-so-subtly pointed out, is turning 68 years old.

Candidates who were lucky enough to sit out Tuesday’s runoff are wasting no time starting their general-election campaigns.

Vote-counters hadn’t even finished their task late Tuesday night before Doug Heckman, the Democrat running for John Linder’s 7th Congressional District seat, issued an attack on newly-minted Republican nominee Rob Woodall:

He remarked on the fact that Republicans had to sign loyalty oaths pledging allegiance to their Party in order to qualify as candidates.

"Woodall apparently had no problem signing away his independent judgement. It is the citizens of our country who have been suffering as a result of this kind of politics. Reasonable debate and compromise have no chance when extreme partisans reject moderation,” said Heckman.

The latest results show Nathan Deal clinging to a slim lead over Karen Handel. He’ll probably hang on to most of it.

The number of precincts reporting in Gwinnett and Fulton counties is deceiving. It appears they’ve both reported most of their Election Day votes. What’s missing is the far smaller number of absentee and early votes. Handel is absolutely stomping Deal in Fulton, but I don’t think there are enough votes outstanding for her to take the lead.

But she will probably finish within 1 percent. Let’s see if she’ll drag it out longer by asking for a recount.

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I'll be blogging tonight's festivities, so check back here starting around 8 p.m., when results should be coming in. But first, an update on some of the goings-on today as candidates made their final push.

State Senate candidate Shane Coley issued an attack on opponent Frank Ginn based on Ginn’s comments about taxes in this article.

The Athens Banner Herald reported that Frank Ginn said the gas tax is not really a tax.

Ginn, who has proposed raising the gas tax, called it a user fee. Ginn said that only drivers who use the road pay the gas tax. He said the tax increase would pay for improvements.

Every time politicians raise taxes they justify it by selling improvements. What they don't tell you is that those improvements could be paid for by existing revenue if they would quit wasting your money. We don't have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem.

Via Peach Pundit, three ethics complaints have been filed against Winterville resident and Public Service Commission candidate Tim Echols. Two of them have to do with home-schooled Christian children who participated in Echols’ TeenPact nonprofit improperly campaigning for former gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine.

Echols has denied he did anything improper by arranging for TeenPact participants to volunteer on campaigns.

In other PSC news, state Rep. Jeff May, who was defeated in the primary, endorsed state Sen. John Douglas over Echols, who had previously said May would support him.

Well, the Athens-Clarke mayoral race is officially on.

It’s no longer the province of those blessed few who are actively involved with local politics, nor the even fewer who are paid to watch them, such as myself. Spencer Frye is going on the radio, taking his campaign to the masses. From Team Frye:

Spencer Frye’s campaign for Mayor will be airing a radio ad this week touting his experience.

As Executive Director of the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, Spencer Frye interacts with several major departments in the Athens-Clarke County government: planning, inspections, public works, and human and economic development. Spencer manages the budget of one of the largest non-profits in Athens and manages a staff of 13 employees on a daily basis. It is a difficult job, indicated by the fact that there were five executive directors in the preceding six years before Spencer became director.

Insurance commissioner candidate Maria Sheffield, in a runoff with state Sen. Ralph Hudgens, R-Hull, picked up endorsements today from two former candidates, Stephen Northington and state Sen. Seth Harp, R-Midland.

They released a joint statement: “We support Maria because we can personally attest to her credentials as a true person of character and a candidate who has offered positive policy solutions for the issues facing Georgia’s next Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. Throughout the campaign, we have had the chance to see the true character of Maria Sheffield and know she will serve with honor and distinction in this office.”

The other candidates piled on Hudgens for playing fast and loose with campaign money. So this is a roundabout way of saying “Hudgens is a scumbag.”

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For entertainment purposes only. Discuss.

Republicans

• Governor: The polls say Karen Handel and Nathan Deal in a runoff, but I’m picking an upset: Eric Johnson instead of Deal.

• Attorney General: Preston Smith is taking votes from Max Wood. Sam Olens, no runoff.

• Secretary of state: Brian Kemp.

• Ag commissioner: Gary Black

• School super: John Barge, just because his name comes first. No one knows anything about these guys.

• Labor commissioner: Mark Butler, same reason.

• PSC: Jeff May leading Tim Echols in a runoff.

• 7th Congressional District: Clay Cox, no runoff.

• Senate District 47: Frank Ginn leading Shane Coley in a runoff.

• House District 113: Three strong candidates. Hank Huckaby leading Tommy Malcom in a runoff.

• Governor: Roy Barnes gets it in the first round.

• Lt. governor: Carole Porter.

• U.S. Senate: Mike Thurmond.