Politics in Augusta (vs, racist, business)

[lbl26]

What's up with the politics in Augusta??? I'm from a rural town about an hour south of Augusta. Augusta hasn't progressed at all while I was growing up untill Deke Copenhaver became mayor. I've heard that in 1996 the government consolidated and something with race has caused the horrible politics. But I want to know the truth!!! Augusta has so much "potential" but nothing every happens. Also, what has Deke been able to do that other county leaders haven't been able to do? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[elvislives]

Thinking about politics in Augusta will just give you a headache..

[CaptainAwesome]

Deke has a lot of time, patience, connections and charm. Also it looks like racial politics might finally be subsiding.

[paw]

The real truth is that the black community has, for the most part & for years, been badly served by their elected representatives. These individuals (with a few notable exceptions) used every racist trick in the book to demagogue their constituents to insure their own election and personal gain. The times "they are a changing" and the black community is now far more politically sophisticated than it was in the past. In the last couple of years they have elected a much more educated and adroit group of representatives who much better understand that running a city is "big business" and not about self aggrandizement. Our current mayor came along at the right time with the right skills to help the Comission work together, much more so than they have in the past. The old issues of "haves" vs "have nots" will always continue, but it now more of an economic rather than racial issue. Augusta has a bright future as long as it's people continue to elect intelligent and capable representation. The day of the populist "Hughy Long" demagogue, whither black, white, or green is over.