The Red and Black

Originally posted by

CoastalDAwg

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. Listen to this candidate, see what he has to offer and vote on that basis, not on his age.

Originally posted by

CoastalDAwg

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. Listen to this candidate, see what he has to offer and vote on that basis, not on his age.

Originally posted by

Athenian

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.

Appalled, I looked but was unable to find the tolerance and respect in between your juvenile insults.

... and I don't think you'd have wanted those doctors operating on you BEFORE they went to medical school.

Originally posted by

Michael C. J.

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. He is a very intelligent young man with high expectations. I'm sure he realizes the height of the challenge that faces him and I wish him the best of luck.

Also, before you commit to a political campaign, you must be well aware of the pundits that want to only tear you down. After a year on the campaign trail, I am sure that Brandon realizes what a harsh reality he faces.

You are entitled to disagree with Brandon and establish your own opinion on his candidacy. That is what a democracy is for. We should all respect each others opinions, but I think there are cleaner ways of "bashing."

As far as "online programs" goes, I think you need to take a quick look at the situation. Kaplan University offers many four-year degree programs for individuals that work a full-time job, and have many other activities going on in their life that may stop them from furthering their education.

And in reference to the "party that no one has ever heard of," you must not be very familiar with politics. There is a Centrist Party in almost every country and usually is a top contender in elections. As the article specifically states, the U.S. Centrist Party was founded in 2006. It takes many years of strategic research in order to launch a political party. You don't just come up with a name, create a website, cut and paste a platform, and expect to come up with good results.

Speaking of Centrist, the Kadima Centrist Party won the Israeli elections last week.

Any who, there have been MANY young mayors elected in the United States of America. If Brandon can step up to the plate, fight off the negative comments, talk about the issues, stand strong in the future debates, and work side by side with the community, he will accomplish his goal of being elected as mayor of Athens.

Good luck Brandon.

Originally posted by

Old Bard

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. After reading over his campaign material, I couldn't be more opposed to this guy's candidacy.

His platform sounds like it was carbon copied from some generic template of campaign issues.

Brandon's platform addresses the issues of "open government", "public safety", "local economy", "fiscal responsibility", "our environment", and "honest government". I think the term address is a little generous, at no point does Brandon actually lay out an original idea or initiative. If you're going to run for mayor at 22, at least bring some novel idea to the table.

Furthermore, he's got no set statements on the two biggest issues which Athens faces, poverty and education. I'd love to hear what the brain trust over at Kaplan University has to say about those two topics. Sadly, I don't think they were available on his scroll down menu of Mad Libs campaign promises.

Apparently Brandon has had some speaking engagements throughout Athens. You've got to commend the guy for trying to get his name out there this early in the race. Sadly those speaking engagements haven't been at Chamber of Commerce, PTO, or other meetings involving actual community members. He's simply given a couple impromptus at events hosted by UGA NORML.

So, at this point I'm lead to believe that we've got a 22 year old pothead without an original thought running for mayor... Athens is really fielding a winner here.

Then I think to myself, he's not from Athens. Now I don't want to diminish the enlightened minds produced by Dublin, GA, but how well does Brandon know Athens? Did he move up here so he could take his online courses at the world renowned Kaplan University all while soaking up the college-town lifestyle of Athens and telling friends, family, and strangers he "went to school in Athens" (a favored line of rejects from both Gainesville State and Athens Tech)? If so, I don't see the ACC community hopping on his bandwagon.

As a lifelong Athens resident... someone who has seen this town grow and change over 21 years, I honestly don't know or trust this guy. He doesn't sound like he has an understanding of the issues facing this community nor does he seem to posses the initiative or ingenuity to craft solutions to any problems that may arise. This guy is just the same as every other wide-eyed college kid that comes into town and thinks that they're hot shit.

Except he's not really a college kid... just a 22 year old pothead taking online courses in legal studies.

Originally posted by

Old Bard

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. After reading over his campaign material, I couldn't be more opposed to this guy's candidacy.

His platform sounds like it was carbon copied from some generic template of campaign issues.

Brandon's platform addresses the issues of "open government", "public safety", "local economy", "fiscal responsibility", "our environment", and "honest government". I think the term address is a little generous, at no point does Brandon actually lay out an original idea or initiative. If you're going to run for mayor at 22, at least bring some novel idea to the table.

Furthermore, he's got no set statements on the two biggest issues which Athens faces, poverty and education. I'd love to hear what the brain trust over at Kaplan University has to say about those two topics. Sadly, I don't think they were available on his scroll down menu of Mad Libs campaign promises.

Apparently Brandon has had some speaking engagements throughout Athens. You've got to commend the guy for trying to get his name out there this early in the race. Sadly those speaking engagements haven't been at Chamber of Commerce, PTO, or other meetings involving actual community members. He's simply given a couple impromptus at events hosted by UGA NORML.

So, at this point I'm lead to believe that we've got a 22 year old pothead without an original thought running for mayor... Athens is really fielding a winner here.

Then I think to myself, he's not from Athens. Now I don't want to diminish the enlightened minds produced by Dublin, GA, but how well does Brandon know Athens? Did he move up here so he could take his online courses at the world renowned Kaplan University all while soaking up the college-town lifestyle of Athens and telling friends, family, and strangers he "went to school in Athens" (a favored line of rejects from both Gainesville State and Athens Tech)? If so, I don't see the ACC community hopping on his bandwagon.

As a lifelong Athens resident... someone who has seen this town grow and change over 21 years, I honestly don't know or trust this guy. He doesn't sound like he has an understanding of the issues facing this community nor does he seem to posses the initiative or ingenuity to craft solutions to any problems that may arise. This guy is just the same as every other wide-eyed college kid that comes into town and thinks that they're hot shit.

Except he's not really a college kid... just a 22 year old pothead taking online courses in legal studies.