UPW Urban Pro Weekly

UPW

Richmond County Schools opt for IE2; does the state have a hidden agenda?

URBAN PRO WEEKLY APRIL 23 - 31, 2015 VOL. 4 NO. 32

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Healthcare options where they are THE DECLINE & FALL needed most OF POLICE PRIVILEGE Richards

Eddie Bussey 706-772-9800

UrbanProWeekly - APRIL 23 - 31, 2015

2

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UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 23 - 31,

PEOPLE

3

2015

Medical Associates Plus CEO, J.R. Richards

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Prescription for Success Interview by Vincent Hobbs There a new CEO in town. JR Richards took the reins in February to oversee Augusta’s first federally-qualified Community Health Center, Medical Associates Plus at Belle Terrace (MAP). Born in Barbados (British West Indies), Richards is not your typical jacket and tie-wearing executive looking out from the top office. A good phrase to describe Richards is “down-to-earth”.

With his relaxed wit and keen knowledge of the healthcare industry, he is poised to implement new ideas and strategies in the Augusta area to help lower-income healthcare clients. Located on Golden Camp Road in the Belle Terrace neighborhood, MAP meets the healthcare needs of the surrounding community.

UPW spent some time with Richards to get his insight on what’s in store for MAP.

Tell us about your background and education.

I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Services with a concentration in Psychology where I graduated Summa Cum Laude; and also a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, where I graduated Magna Cum Laude, with Distinction. I also graduated from the UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Executive Leadership Program.

I began my career in the healthcare arena as a Coordinator of Support Services in a Ryan White HIV/AIDS program at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in New York City. I then made a lateral move over to case management supervisor in the same program. Upon completing my master’s degree, I was promoted to a senior level position as Director of Planning, Development and

Special Programs. Next, I was promoted to Assistant Executive Director and eventually to CEO. I catapulted my way up through the ranks. I now have almost 20 years of experience in FQHC’s. This includes operating Health Care for the Homeless programs, Public Housing Primary Care (PHPC) and School-Based Health Programs.

What’s your impression of Augusta so far?

So far I love Augusta! I have begun to form long-lasting relationships and partnerships with people and organizations for the benefits of its citizens.

I look forward to being an integral part of this community and its growth and prosperity.

See MAPS on next page

UrbanProWeekly - APRIL 23 - 31, 2015

4

NATION

COMMENTARY

The decline and fall of police privilege

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. UrbanProWeekly Political Analyst AUGUSTA I’m not going to lie; growing up in the Big Apple, you learn to fear the police. There were a pair of cops in my neighborhood who were referred to, respectfully, as “the Pain Bros.”

If you were arrested, you could expect harsh treatment. To paraphrase an old adage, “there’s a thin line between love and hate,” — today, as far as policing is concerned, “there’s a thin line between fear and respect.”

Now, not having grown up in “Mayberry”, USA, it’s hard to relate to police being seen as friendly and willing to assist the helpless and down-

MAPS from page 3 What sparked your interest in the field of Healthcare Management?

My interest in healthcare management arose as a result of working with underserved populations in NYC and recognizing the need to impact healthcare on a policy level. I recognized early in my career that there was a segment of our society that lacked access to healthcare and other pertinent resources to make everyone productive and healthy members of society. The lack of access to healthcare was causing many of our brothers and sisters to die from diseases that were preventable and treatable.

This was a disparity that I believed needed addressing. In order to save valuable lives, I embarked on a mission to help people live stronger, longer.

You were instrumental in the development of a primary care facility to serve low-income residents in Leon County, Florida. What are some of your goals to enhance the services MAP provides to low-income clients in the Augusta community?

I hope to bring to MAP the ability to serve special populations such as the homeless; and to see the integration of primary care and behavioral health. It is my goal for MAP to be fully comprehensive, providing all the needed services to keep our community healthy and create better health outcomes for the people we serve. I would like to provide 100% access to primary care, while reducing

trodden. Just the opposite — whenever the police showed up, someone was about to have a bad day.

A popular narrative in the black communities of urban America in the turbulent 60s was that the police were an “occupying force” bent on harassing young black men.

That narrative was ticked up a notch during that period with the celebrated police shootouts with the Black Panthers, student demonstrators, and other assortments of “revolutionaries” white and black.

In the southland, there’s little need to elaborate on the narrative of racist cops who moonlighted as Klansman.

In all of the above scenarios, there was the expectation of “police privilege”

and the acceptance of the existence of a “police culture.”

In other words, the perception abounded that the police were “above the law.”

The most hated agency among police was I.A. (Internal Affairs). Among military police back in the day it was CID (Criminal Investigation Division). These were cops who sought to ferret out the “rotten apples” in their midst. These individuals were hated by the rank and file police who resented the implication that they should be held to a higher standard.

The police have always had a shadowy reputation outside of white suburbia, but they could always fall back on their “privilege” — their belief that they enjoyed immunity from prosecution and the probability that they could “get

away with murder.” When things got hot, they would simply close ranks and protect their brother officers.

Those days are over. Despite the new civil religion of “police infallibility” promulgated by right-wing zealots, “law-and-order” legislators, and lazy grand juries, police are reeling at the intrusion of digital technology into their formerly privileged domain As citizens turn their cameras in their direction, police have begun to realize that they can go to jail just like the rest of us. Hopefully, little by little, the profession lose its appeal to those sociopaths in its ranks.

And as the bad cops bolt for greener pastures a new culture can begin to emerge.

health disparities to 0% in Augusta and surrounding areas.

We provide healthcare services at discounted rates that no one can beat.

Patients can see a doctor for as little as $25, depending on their family size and income. Our pharmacy also offers prescription medication at 340B federal discount pricing, which is another benefit of receiving services at MAP.

An integrated health model combines a federally-qualified health care center and a community mental health center, providing both services on an equal basis. You helped to orchestrate the first partnership in Florida with the Bond-Apalachee Wellness Integration Center in 2009, which provided integrated health care in the Tallahassee region. Will MAP be involved with this level of service to clients in the future?

I expect that, considering that the state of Georgia lacks access for the provision of mental health and substance abuse services, one of the goals of the Board of Directors will be to develop a strategic plan – a plan that would impact the services offered to the mental health populations who are also in need of primary care. The program that I am implementing is now utilized by the Research and Development Corporation (RAND) as a best-practice model. With that kind of success, it would appropriate for the board to look at developing a similar program here.

citizens will always be the Federally Qualified Health Centers across the nation. This is what we do — we care for those that no one else wants to care for, and this has always been the case.

Our President believes in our model of care and has financially supported FQHC’s through appropriations to fund expansion. We provide services to all, regardless of their ability to pay. Where else can you get that?

Expansion of Medicaid was a key component in how the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) would be most beneficial to the lowest income individuals. Since political opposition resulted in the failure of Medicaid expansion in seventeen states, such as Florida and Georgia, what is the best option for low-income individuals to receive healthcare services?

The best option for low-income

What sorts of hobbies/activities do you participate in during your free time?

I love to read. I am a sports fanatic, playing and watching basketball and will soon to learn how to play golf, since I am living in the golf capitol. I also love to travel. Since I am originally from Barbados in the British West Indies, I absolutely love the beach and sporting activities.

Do you think that access to healthcare is a human right? Why or why not?

Access to health care is a human right, not a privilege. Across the country, FQHC’s are in place to show the world that we believe in this right. We serve the sickest of the sick and the poorest of the poor — and we are the best at doing it.

According to Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), everyone has the right to “a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.”

Universal health care is a right, and the government must step in and provide it, if the private sector fails to do it. If there are such things as human rights, then health care is definitely among them. I believe our great President also believes this - that is why we now have the Affordable Care Act in place.

What would you like the community to know about MAP? We are here to serve everyone - whether you are insured or not. We want both the insured and uninsured to seek out the great services that we provide. We want the community to know that we are here when others turn them away.

We want them to know that we can help with the management of diabetes, hypertension, weight control and other disparities that plague our communities.

We want them to know that MAP provides an array of top-notch services to meet individual and family needs.

5 UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 23 - 31,

COMMENTARY EDUCATION

2015 Richmond County School leaders Angela Pringle (L) and School Board vice-chair Marion Barnes discuss the decision to adopt the IE2 flexibility option on Tuesday. Why do some think that it was the lesser of three evils?

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

RCBOE chooses IE2, but does the state have hidden agenda?

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. UrbanProWeekly Staff Writer AUGUSTA Things are about to get more interesting for local education professionals in the CSRA. Responding to state mandates, the Richmond County School Board passed a resolution giving school superintendent Angela Pringle the authority to notify the state education bosses which of three options it has decided to select moving forward.

The local authorities didn’t have a

UPW

URBANPROWEEKLY.COM

Published by

Urban Pro Weekly LLC 3529 Monte Carlo Drive Augusta, GA 30906 Executive Publisher BEN HASAN 706-394-9411 bzhasan54@yahoo.com

choice in the matter; they had to make a declaration before July 1, 2015.

Richmond County decided to go with the so-called Investing in Education Excellence option (IE2).

Actually wading through the documentation released by the state board of education explaining all of the options and their myriad consequences is enough to make one’s eyes glaze over. Viewing a power-point presentation about the choice is a clear cure for insomnia, so let’s cut to the chase.

These choices had more to do with

Executive Managing Editor FREDERICK BENJAMIN SR. 706-306-4647 editor@urbanproweekly.com Sales & Marketing 706-394-9411 Contributors VINCENT HOBBS Photography & New Media View Urbanproweekly on Facebook

control and accountability issues and less to do with lesson plans and text books.

Why? Because unless a school district chose the “charter school” option, it can’t expect any improvement in its financial situation. Of the non “charter” options left to choose from — the so called “Status Quo” option and the so-called IE2, it was a matter of choosing between the lesser of two evils.

Under the “charter option,” the school board is relegated to an oversight agency and other governing bodies (at the school level) call the shots. Interesting enough, the charter option is the only option where the school district can expect to see any increased funding from the state.

Those who opt for the “Status Quo” option or the Educational Excellence (IE2) which Richmond County decided on, can’t look for restoration of funding at pre-recession levels.

Assuming that students can be educated successfully regardless of the option chosen, it really becomes a matter of how much authority a local school board wants to relinquish.

Here’s what Richmond County Schools had to say about their “decision” to go with IE2.

“Under the new flexibility measures, RCSS will have the ability to seek waivers from Title 20 statutes, which will

enable the System to exercise flexibility and innovation and in the reallocation of resources to increase student achievement. These flexibility options will link our district and school level decision-making and governance. Dr. Pringle emphasized this is not a pass to do whatever we would like, but an opportunity to use well researched practices and innovation to improve student achievement.”

Say what!

The statement went on to say that there will be a public hearing for the purpose of listening to public input regarding the contract.

Good luck with those public hearings.

Here’s the deal. The state has a hidden agenda. The GOP-controlled legislature, if it were serious about improving public education, would have made sure that Richmond County and other state districts had the money it needed to work with.

Stay tuned. UPW will try to put into plain English what is really going on here. For now, there’s no real reason for rejoicing or high fives.

Remember that recent fight over the GOP-backed charter school legislation that our mayor Hardie Davis supported when he was a state senator. They didn’t go through all of that for nothing.

UrbanProWeekly - APRIL 23 - 31, 2015

6

South Augusta Federally Qualified Health Center Joins the fight for Rural Health

What if we told you there are two medical facilities within a short drive that meet or exceeds the standards of any healthcare organizations providing primary healthcare services within the South Eastern United States. What if we told you your financial status or language were nonfactors in your ability to access these services. Well, that is what we are telling you.

Medical Associates Plus (MAP) is a state of the art Federally Qualified Health Center. The Organization received the designation from the United States Department of Health and Human Services in 2007, the first in Augusta. The team of Physicians, Physicians Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and supporting staff offer a multitude of services vital to healthcare

for South Augusta and the surrounding area. The Organization is fully committed to improving healthcare in Rural Georgia. Treatment and screening of heart disease in women ( heart disease causes 1 in 3 deaths every year for women), Cancer and other Disease Examinations, Preventive Physicals, Chronic Care Management which includes Hypertension, Diabetes and Obesity, and Women’s Health (Pap Smears and Referrals for Mammograms) are all within the grasp of our community. The in-house pharmacy provides easy access to life saving and preventative medication without the effort of travelling to an alternate location. There is also a dental office at the Augusta location of MAP. Chief Executive Officer J.R. Richards and MAP’s

Leadership Team is confident the potent combination of education and access to affordable healthcare services will be a formidable foe against illness and disease in the CSRA. The tandem of Dr. Angela Overstreet-Wright, Chief Medical Officer and Dr. James Ford and their staff will serve on the front lines of the relentless battle against some of the health disparities that have plagued our society.

Our mission is to provide quality and affordable primary health care to residents of Greater Augusta and the surrounding areas.

Our patients, our neighbors, our loved ones, deserve nothing short of the very best the medical arena has to offer...regardless of economic status.

It is our desire to be your healthcare provider of choice.

Please make an appointment or schedule a visit at the following locations: 2467 Golden Camp Road, Augusta, GA 30906 (706) 790-4440 501 East Broad Street, Wrens, GA 30833 (706) 547-2559

The CSRA Business League in conjunction with Fifth Third Bank will sponsor a Small Business Lending Workshop on Tuesday, 12 May 2015 beginning at 5:30 pm at the Augusta Public Library on Telfair Street.

The workshop, which is free to the public will focus on Small Business Lending Program and Financial Products offered by Fifth Third Bank. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak one on one with a Fifth Third Banking specialist.

For information, call 706-722-0994 or by email at shirmaineivey@business-league.org.

7

Family Fun Fitness Program Come out and move your body!

Location:

New Bethlehem Community Center 1336 Conklin Avenue, Augusta, GA 30901

Time: 1pm-2pm Fitness Dates: Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

April 18, 2015 April 25, 2015

May 16, 2015 May 23, 2015

June 13, 2015 June 20, 2015

Session 4

Session 5

Session 6

Session 7

July 18, 2015 July 25, 2015

August 15, 2015 August 22, 2015

September 5, 2015 September 12, 2015

October 10, 2015 October 24, 2015

For more information and to sign up call: (800) 704-1484 TDD/TTY: (800) 255-0056

pshp.com © 2015 Peach State Health Plan. All rights reserved.

2015

It’s time to get active! Bring your kids and the family for fitness and fun. A personal trainer will show your family how to stay active and healthy. You’ll also get FREE fitness supplies. The program is open to all fitness levels. Classes take place twice a month. You must be a Peach State Health member to participate in the program.

UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 23 - 31,

Free Small Business Lending Workshop set for May 12

8 UrbanProWeekly - APRIL 23 - 31, 2015

SPORTS FOCUS

Track athletes compete in the boy’s 110m hurdles race during the Region 3AAA track semi-finals, held at Laney stadium.

Laney’s Aubriana Bonner (R) and other track athletes compete in the girl’s 800m race during the Region 3AAA track semi-finals, held at Laney stadium. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Track athletes compete in the boy’s 100m race during the Region 3AAA track semi-finals, held at Laney stadium.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 23 - 31,

sports portraits

9

by vincent hobbs

2015

USC-Aiken tennis player Marie Habiyaremye waits for the serve during a doubles tennis match against GRU at Newman Tennis Center. The Lady Jaguars defeated the Lady Pacers 8-1 in the match.

GRU tennis player Monica Gonzalez during a doubles tennis match against USC Aiken at Newman Tennis Center.

USC-Aiken tennis player Ettore Damiani returns the ball during a singles tennis match against GRU’s Roman Ferreira at Newman Tennis Center. Ferreira defeated Damiani with a final score of 7-6, 2-6, 6-1.

GRU head tennis coach Michael McGrath advises the men’s tennis team after their doubles win over USC Aiken at Newman Tennis Center. The Jaguars defeated the Pacers 6-3.

UrbanProWeekly - APRIL 23 - 31, 2015

10

Young Democrats’ Activities Friday, April 24, 2015 YDARC Monthly Meeting with State Representatives and Senator Harold Jones.

601 Broad Street, Augusta, GA 7:00 pm Meet and Greet • 7:30 Call to Order “The story of Charles Walker is the story of the American dream. Raised in poverty in a large family, he overcame obstacles that would have destroyed an ordinary man. All should read his book to see how to prevail and thrive in the most diffcult of circumstances.”

Roy E. Barnes, 80th Governor of Georgia

From Peanuts to POWER

By Former Senator Majority Leader

Charles W. Walker

Get your autographed copy TODAY at:

The Walker Group 1143 Laney Walker Blvd.

Augusta, GA 30901 706-722-4222 Or order online at www.charleswalkerinc.com #1001900264-140 (1/12 H(5in x 3.5in)) 04/10/2015 02:45 EST

Maryland

FRIED CHICKEN Now hiring all positions, all locations.

Apply online at marylandfc.com 12 Broad Street Augusta, Georgia 30901 706-722-2051

4465 Washington Rd Evans, Georgia 30809 (706) 496-8632

6001 Clarks Hill Rd Appling, Georgia 30802 (706) 541-0704

Accredited and State Approved

Train to become a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA) Phlebotomy Technician or Pharmacy Technician 1755 Gordon Hwy, Suite E • Augusta, GA 30904 For Enrollment Information, Fax: (706) 736-0995

Visit www.tendercareschool.comcastbiz.net

Affordable Men’s Clothing

Suits • Slacks • Shirts • Ties Sam Hickson (706) 589-7491

2015

Call (706)736-9225

Classic Knots Haberdashery

UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 23 - 31,

Tender Care Training Center

11

12 UrbanProWeekly - APRIL 23 - 31, 2015

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY

INVITATION TO BID

Sealed proposals from contractors will be received for the Sego Middle School Renovations and Additions Project # B-14-027-3062 by the County Board of Education of Richmond County at the address below until 3:00 p.m. local time, Thursday, May 14, 2015, at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read. No extension of the bidding period will be made.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. local time in the Media Center Conference Room, Sego Middle School, 3420 Julia Avenue, Augusta, Georgia 30906.

Drawings and project manual on this work may be examined at the Department of Maintenance and Facilities, Richmond County Board of Education, 1781 15th Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

MEDICAL VILLA PHARMACY WE TAKE

• Georgia medicaid • Insurance plans • Charge cards • WIC vouchers

Marshall Curtis, Pharmacist/Owner Baron Curtis, Pharmacist

FREE DELIVERY SERVICE

706-722-7355

You don’t have You don’t have to live with to live with BACK PAIN or any other kind BACK PAIN of discomfort, including headaches,

or any other kind of discomfort, neck stiffness, shoulder pain, muscle including headaches, neck stiffness, tension, shoulder pain, muscle tension, sleep sleep difficulty or hand difficulty or Brice hand numbness/weakness. numbness/weakness.

Dr. Cal 706-736-5551

Drug Testing Now Available!

Most Insurance Accepted

1132 Druid Park Ave, Augusta, GA 30904

Bidding documents may be obtained through the office of the architect: 2KM Architects, Inc., 529 Greene Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901, (706) 955-7128. Applications for documents together with a refundable deposit of $300.00 per set should be filed promptly with the architect. Bidding material will be forwarded (shipping charges collect) as soon as possible.

The full amount of deposit for one set will be refunded to each prime contractor who submits a bona fide bid upon return of such set in good condition within ten (10) days after date of opening bids. All other deposits will be refunded with deductions approximating cost of reproduction of documents upon return of same in good condition within ten (10) days after date of opening bid.

Contract, if awarded, will be on the lump sum basis. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of thirty-five (35) days after time has been called on the date of opening.

Bid must be accompanied by a bid bond in an amount not less than 5% of the base bid. Personal checks, certified checks, letters of credit, etc., are not acceptable. The successful bidder will be required to furnish performance and payment bonds in an amount equal to 100% of the contract price.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

BID LIST: The Richmond County Board of Education maintains a bid list for many categories that are let for bid each year. Contact Amy Bauman in the Business Office (706) 826-1298 or at baumaam@boe.richmond.k12. ga.us for additional information concerning the bid list.

To promote local participation, a database of sub-contractors, suppliers, and vendors has been developed by the Program Manager, GMK Associates. Contact Jeanine Usry with GMK Associates at (706) 826-1127 for location to review and obtain this database Bids shall be submitted and addressed to: Dr. Angela D. Pringle, Superintendent Richmond County School System 864 Broad Street Augusta, Georgia 30901 Attention: Mr. C. Gene Spires, Controller

WORSHIP

Mount Canaan Baptist Church ANNUAL FAMILY & FRIENDS CELEBRATION

Restoration Ministries Int. MOTHER’S DAY SERVICE

Sunday, APRIL 26, 2015: Special Guest; Reverend F.C. Henderson and Popular Springs Baptist Church of Thomson, Georgia.

2573 Wheeler Road, Augusta, GA; Reverend Victor Thomas

2015

Sunday, May 10, 2015, 9:45 a.m.

Join us on Mother’s Day, May 10, at 9:45 am for our special celebration of all mothers of the CSRA. Don’t miss this momentous occasion with our special guest artist Ann Nesby of the Sounds of Blackness, and the movie, The Fighting Temptations. We will have a gift for the youngest mother, newest mother, mother with the most children, the most senior mother, and a gift for all mothers. Be sure to bring your mothers and other significant women in your lives to this exclusive RMI service!

Sunday School 8:30 am Morning Worship Services: 9:45 am Evening Worship Services 6 pm (4th Sunday) Bible Study: 6pm (Mondays) Midday Bible Study: 12pm (Tuesdays) Prayer Services: 6pm (Wednesdays) Celebrate Recovery: 6pm (Fridays) and 12pm (Mondays) 2323 Barton Chapel Road • Augusta,GA 30906 706.790.8185 / 706.922.8186 (fax) Visit Us @ www.broadwaybaptistaug.org • Join us on facebook Dr. C. William Joyner, Jr. Senior Pastor

Start your calling today! Mount Olivet Certified Academic Institution 706.793.0091 • 706.793.0335 • www.mocai-aug.org

Good Shepherd Baptist Church

Rev. Clarence Moore, Pastor 1714 Olive Road / P. O. Box 141 (mailing address) Augusta, GA 30903 706/733-0341- Telephone/706/667-0205 – Fax E-mail address: admin@goodshepherdaugusta.org Web address: goodshepherdaugusta.org Rev. Clarence Moore Church Service: 7:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Church School: 9:45 a.m. / Prayer Service: 11:00 a.m. – Wednesday Bible Study: 9:00 a.m. - Saturday / 7:00 p.m. - Wednesday

Everfaithful Missionary Baptist Church

314 Sand Bar Ferry Road Augusta, Georgia 30901 (706) 722- 0553 Church School Sunday 9:25am Morning Worship Sunday 11am Evening Worship 6pm (1st & 3rd Sunday) Midday Prayer 12pm Wednesday Intercessory Prayer/Bible Study 6pm Wednesday

The CSRA Clergy Board of Directors

Board of Coalition Pastors P.O. Box 16013 Bishop Rosa L. Williams, Pastor

Radio Broadcast: Sundays • WKZK 103.7 FM at 7:30 a.m.

UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 23 - 31,

CHURCH

13

Augusta, GA. 30919-2013 Bishop L.A. Green, Sr., Chairman

UrbanProWeekly - APRIL 23 - 31, 2015

14

UPW FORUM COMMENTARY by KRISTIE ROBIN JOHNSON

The problem with inevitability

S

o former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is finally announcing her imminent run for the White House. It’s no surprise. We all have known for quite a while now. While her announcement is highly anticipated, it still feels slightly lackluster. It has all of the expectancy of a sunrise, but none of the magic. And this may prove to be a problem for Democrats further down the road.

Some strategists believe that it was Clinton’s own grandiose sense of inevitability that cost her the Democratic primary in 2008. The apparent 2016 strategy is to take a humbler approach, which will probably work for Clinton.

In fact, any strategy is likely to work considering that Clinton is currently the only viable presidential candidate on the Democrat’s side of the aisle.

Clinton could let Wocka Flocka Flame be the opening act for her Iowa tour and still be considered the Democratic shoe-in. Martin O’Malley, Lincoln Chafee, and Bernie Sanders are all probably great guys; but they do not stand a chance going up against the Clinton name recognition and money machine. With virtually no other big liberal names even in the hat for consideration right now, Democratic primary voters face a problem of low primary turnout, a watered down debate on the issues that matter most to liberal voters, and a general election candidate that could show up to the game a little less prepared than her Republican competitor.

Hillary’s digital roll-out featured scenes of “everyday Americans” planning for the future. An older Caucasian woman was planning for her upcoming retirement. A young African-American couple was planning for their new baby. An optimistic gay couple was featured making plans for their summer wedding. And then enters Hillary, the candidate. She speaks briefly about her plans to run for president. Her desire to hold the highest office in the land has everything to do with us and our well-being, and nothing to do with her own personal ambitions. It’s a positive message and this is what the voting public is supposed to believe. It really doesn’t matter whether the message is

Hillary Clinton may well be the most qualified, most competent, and most capable candidate in the race; but we will never completely know if Democrats do not put their very best options forward. believable or not, because there is no competition. There is no reliable challenger to question claims and motives.

The absence of a Democratic primary robs loyal Democrats of the necessary fact-checking and healthy debate that naturally comes with a robust race.

Primary turnout will be undoubtedly suppressed because Hillary will be

Jennifer Norman-Dixon Independent Cruise & Vacation Specialist

Hephzibah, GA 30815 Phone 706-925-2929 Toll Free (877-790-6082 Fax 404-601-4492

Email:jdixon@cruisesinc.com www.cruisesinc.com/jdixon

the presumed winner in every state and Democrats end up with a nominating convention that resembles a long awaited homecoming coronation of the most popular girl at school.

Nobody is surprised. Nobody is excited. Some have actually grown tired of her by now. This is precisely the risk that Democrats are taking if they cannot come up with at least one serious, viable challenger. We will have a beautiful, seemingly popular queen that no one is excited about. And an unmotivated base equals problems in the general election.

Hillary Clinton may well be the most qualified, most competent, and most capable candidate in the race; but we will never completely know if

Democrats do not put their very best options forward. Allowing individuals like Elizabeth Warren, Al Gore, Deval Patrick, Corey Booker, Joe Biden, or even politically exiled John Edwards to simply fall by the wayside and wait for some arbitrary consolation prize like Vice President, Secretary of State, or a cabinet appointment is a move that Democrats could live to regret.

So while progressive voters spend the better part of the next 18 months taking a long, hard look at Hillary, it would behoove Democrats to take a little more than a passing glance at other real contenders.

KristieRobinJo@gmail.com @KristieRobinJ on Twitter

UrbanProWeekly • APRIL 23 - 31,

ARE YOU AT RISK?

15

2015

Stress Physical Inactivity Family History of Cardiovascular disease Obesity Diabetes High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Cigarette Smoking HEART ATTACK • BRAIN ATTACK • PREVENT ATTACK East Central Health District Hypertension Management Outreach Program

Richmond County 706.721.5800

UrbanProWeekly - APRIL 23 - 31, 2015

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THE LAW OFFICE OF

Frails & Wilson

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

Experienced Representation

Randolph Frails

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211 Pleasant Home Road • Suite A1 • Augusta, GA • 706-855-6715 • www.frailswilsonlaw.com

“One-Stop Construction & Yard Maintenance Services” Our Office Provides: Architectural Drafting & Construction • Custom Church Builder • Custom Home Builder • Yard Maintenance • Metal Buildings Larry L. McCord Can Provide All Your Design and Construction Needs All Under One Roof

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