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Posted on 08/24/2002 5:14:57 AM PDT by mhking
[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 8/24/02 ]
ELECTION 2002 PRIMARY
Billy McKinney struggles to keep state House seat
By MILO IPPOLITO
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
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"That's what all the consultants told me," said John Noel, who challenged McKinney in the Aug. 20 Democratic primary for the seat representing House District 44. "But when I went door-to-door, people told me something else."
After 30 years in the state House, often running unopposed, McKinney finds himself in a primary runoff election Sept. 10 as he tries to hold his seat at the Capitol.
His high-profile daughter, U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, was ousted in her bid for a sixth term. The elder McKinney, a former Atlanta policeman known for his combative political style, drew 48 percent of the vote for his seat, followed closely by Noel with 46 percent. A third candidate, Patrick Stafford, drew 5 percent, enough votes to keep either from winning a clear majority. The runoff winner can all but claim the seat; no Republican has filed for it.
McKinney's friends and supporters say obstacles to his campaign included a redrawn district that gave him more white voters, his declining health and the time he spent working on his daughter's primary campaign against Denise Majette.
"He has been focusing on Cynthia -- not Billy," state Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta) said.
Billy McKinney has refused to speak to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution during the campaign and did not return calls seeking comment for this article.
Noel, McKinney's runoff opponent, describes the veteran lawmaker as "a good and decent man," but says, "I think 30 years of incumbency is a hinderance, not a help."
Noel claims the 75-year-old McKinney now is out of touch with the changing west Atlanta district, which was reshaped for this year's elections and now includes precincts in Smyrna, Vinings and Buckhead. The population within the district is 65 percent black.
Like his daughter, Billy McKinney has been known for controversial statements that stir strong responses. After his daughter's defeat on Tuesday, he went on television and spelled out the reason she thinks she lost: "J-E-W-S," he said.
Brooks remembers first seeing McKinney in 1969, when he was an Atlanta police officer. "He was fighting racism at the Atlanta Police Department, and he had a picket line in front of City Hall," Brooks said.
Early in his tenure in the Legislature, McKinney brought a legal complaint seeking to force the state government to hire more black employees, Brooks said. "The diversity in state government today largely can be attributed to Billy McKinney's effort back in the mid-1970s," Brooks said.
McKinney also spoke strongly on the legislative floor about the legacy of racism, describing his own experiences, during the debate over whether to remove the Confederate logo from the state flag.
But McKinney's opponent in the runoff election claims the longtime lawmaker has done little to improve conditions in his district. Noel argues that funds for parks or economic improvements don't seem to be spent to the area.
"This part of the district gets sewer treatment plants, it gets landfills and it gets heavy industry," Noel said.
He says creating a new Chattahoochee River Park is his top priority.
Noel has concentrated on neighborhood issues as a former president of the Riverside neighborhood association and a representative on Neighborhood Planning Unit C.
With little name recognition and no roots in Atlanta, Noel says that unlike his well-known opponent, he still faces an uphill battle to let people know who he is and what he's about.
Noel owns a small business, Energy and Environment, a commercial lighting contractor. He's single. He runs and plays tennis. When he needs a break, like after the grueling last few days of a political campaign, he heads to his family's lake house in Tennessee.
McKinney lists his occupation as public affairs consultant. He's married and has three children. He's had health problems recently, his friends say, but he's still on the job.
"Last year we thought we were going to lose him," Brooks said. "Billy had five operations last year. This year he went back for additional surgery." He said a doctor gave McKinney "a passing grade" in a recent checkup.
"He is not as strong and fast and quick as he was prior to surgery but he's still effective," Brooks said. "He still works every day."
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They make Billy McKinney sound like a Civil Rights Hero. If only. While they do mention the ugly "JOOOS - J.E.W.S." comment (they could hardly ignore it) they omit the many, many examples of his violence, intimidation, and cronyism.
As a public service, backhoe has collected them on the other thread. THANKS!
Yep! Show him the door.
D-O-O-R
Henry Bowman's right hand tightened around the walnut grip of the Solothurn S18-1000. The weapon had been a present from his Father, given to him on his fourteenth birthday in 1967. Cost $189.50 back in the sixties Henry thought irrelevantly. I thought that was a steal. Dad's friends thought it was astronomical. Wonder what they'd think now. --UC
Noel is a better person than I. I'm afraid I would have choked on those words trying to be a "gracious opponent."
Any of the May 18th "Kabul Cindy" FReepers can testify that this just isn't so. Billy McKinney is a racist, foul-mouthed, low-life who delights in calling political opponents "racists" (he screamed at us that we were "Spoiled, rich, white, nazi racists") and other filthy remarks ("J-E-W-S").
His daughter went down in flames and so will the vile and hateful father. By the grace of God, may Farrakhan, Jackson and Sharpton soon follow.
Not too strong an endorsement.
Hummmmm. In 1969 is is fighting the racists and now he are one. Isn't that a turn of events?
That can't be right. Only whites are racist.
and may I add....
"McKinney lists his occupation as public affairs consultant.
Does "public affairs consultant" mean living off the public dole for 30 years while taking payoffs and collecting campaign money?
Just wondering
Is there a line of products for that? It brings up some really interesting possibilities! LOL!
You've hit the proverbial nail right on the head.
{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}
Since when is sitting on your butt, talking, and hanging around politicians, their hacks, bootlicks and coatholders---work? Farming's work. Construction's work. Lifting, doing, making, repairing, fixing, sewing, healing are all work. Being surgically attached to the public teat, isn't work, it is parasitism.
Bill McKinney just another superannuated bum feeding at the public trough.
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