Spring Break
Age ain't nothin' but a number for mayor candidate
DANIEL BURNETT
Issue date: 2/16/09 Section: News
Some of the main points of the Centrist Party include free enterprise, limited government and combating climate change.
The foundation of the party was built on the honor and integrity of the candidates themselves, and if a candidate is found to be corrupt, the party will not be afraid to stop them, he said.
So far, Shinholser has the green light from party leaders. If elected, he could be the first Centrist elected as mayor in the country, Reisman said.
"I am impressed with Brandon, he's a fighter," Reisman said. "We're going to give him the support we can."
But to win, he may need to earn the student vote. Although Shinholser said he plans to run an Athens community-wide race, the support at the voting booth of just one-third of University students could be enough for him to clinch the mayoral election.
In 2006, Davison garnered just more than 10,000 votes in the general election, and the 6,732 votes she received in the runoff were enough to secure Davison's second term. With more than 30,000 students enrolled at the University, the students could be Shinholser's key to the city.
"I think he brings a change," said Andy Pierson, the student organizer for Brandon For Athens, a student group on campus. "He represents a large part of the community of Athens that have been overlooked."
During the Winter Activities Fair held earlier this month, both Shinholser and Pierson spoke with students about the campaign. According to Pierson, students seemed intrigued and interested in the prospect of Shinholser's candidacy.
"We're really just working on giving students an equal opportunity to play a part in the politics of Athens," Pierson said.
And Shinholser just might win.
Because of the two consecutive term limit for Athens' mayors, Davison is ineligible to run again. As of Thursday, there was only one other candidate besides Shinholser who had thrown his name in the hat for mayor.
Charlie Maddox ran against incumbent Davison in 2006 and lost by just under 1,000 votes in a hotly-contested runoff. With Davison out, the only thing standing between retired Georgia Department of Labor official Maddox and an office in city hall is the 22-year-old auditor for the Holiday Inn Express.
The foundation of the party was built on the honor and integrity of the candidates themselves, and if a candidate is found to be corrupt, the party will not be afraid to stop them, he said.
So far, Shinholser has the green light from party leaders. If elected, he could be the first Centrist elected as mayor in the country, Reisman said.
"I am impressed with Brandon, he's a fighter," Reisman said. "We're going to give him the support we can."
But to win, he may need to earn the student vote. Although Shinholser said he plans to run an Athens community-wide race, the support at the voting booth of just one-third of University students could be enough for him to clinch the mayoral election.
In 2006, Davison garnered just more than 10,000 votes in the general election, and the 6,732 votes she received in the runoff were enough to secure Davison's second term. With more than 30,000 students enrolled at the University, the students could be Shinholser's key to the city.
"I think he brings a change," said Andy Pierson, the student organizer for Brandon For Athens, a student group on campus. "He represents a large part of the community of Athens that have been overlooked."
During the Winter Activities Fair held earlier this month, both Shinholser and Pierson spoke with students about the campaign. According to Pierson, students seemed intrigued and interested in the prospect of Shinholser's candidacy.
"We're really just working on giving students an equal opportunity to play a part in the politics of Athens," Pierson said.
And Shinholser just might win.
Because of the two consecutive term limit for Athens' mayors, Davison is ineligible to run again. As of Thursday, there was only one other candidate besides Shinholser who had thrown his name in the hat for mayor.
Charlie Maddox ran against incumbent Davison in 2006 and lost by just under 1,000 votes in a hotly-contested runoff. With Davison out, the only thing standing between retired Georgia Department of Labor official Maddox and an office in city hall is the 22-year-old auditor for the Holiday Inn Express.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 25
Athenian
posted 2/16/09 @ 5:43 PM EST
So an online legal studies student who works as an auditor at a local hotel believes that he is ready to commit to a cause greater than himself.
Guess what, bro: there are thousands of students at UGA, Old Dominion, Piedmont, and Athens Tech who HAVE voices and have already committed to causes greater than themselves and they don't need a 22 year old hotel auditing online student affiliated with a political party that no one's ever heard of to give it to them. (Continued…)
Skeptical
posted 2/16/09 @ 8:52 PM EST
Kaplan University? Like the people that helped me through my LSAT? What!?
CoastalDAwg
posted 2/16/09 @ 10:49 PM EST
I don't know this young man but the two people who have bothered to post apparently don't either but have already issued judgment on him. Down @ Tybee Island a twenty something year old ran and won the mayor's office a couple of years ago and he's done a great job with it. (Continued…)
appalled
posted 2/16/09 @ 11:19 PM EST
Dear "athenian" and "skeptical,"
You must be from somewhere that has the total brain capacity of zero. Have you ever heard of tolerance, acceptance, maybe even respect? Didn't think so. (Continued…)
Athenian
posted 2/17/09 @ 12:45 AM EST
Coastal Dawg, just because a 22 year does something doesn't mean that every 22 year old can do the same thing. I'm sure the mayor of Tybee had more to say for himself than Brandon's patronizing and condescension. (Continued…)
Michael C. J.
posted 2/17/09 @ 3:40 AM EST
I have personally met Brandon and some of his campaign committee. After speaking with Brandon concerning his candidacy, I believe that he is a very strategic thinker and presents himself well. (Continued…)
Sharon
posted 2/17/09 @ 9:14 AM EST
Hell, he's only 22 and he's more qualified than Herr Heidi. Heidi HO...you got to GO!
Old Bard
posted 2/17/09 @ 5:45 PM EST
I figured that if I was going to shoot this guy down, I should at least inform myself as to what exactly he stands for. So, I took the time to head over to Brandon's campaign website in order to get a better look at his platform. (Continued…)
Jeff
posted 2/18/09 @ 2:52 AM EST
Old Bard –
I'm actually curious to know why you are so hateful, pessimistic, and disrespectful towards people that you do not know. You are literally logging on to R&B and posting comments just to "try" to insult another individual. (Continued…)
MountainDawg
posted 2/18/09 @ 8:16 AM EST
This kid is a tool... someone should ask that sweaty fatass Greg Wilson to run for mayor.
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