House District 81: Who Are You Supporting?
Brookhaven's only contested legislative race has become a fierce contest between one of the Democratic Party's rising stars and a GOP contender who hopes to unseat him.
Chris Boedeker
The Atlanta attorney defeated Carla Roberts in the GOP primary for state House District 81.
Courtesy Chris Boedecker
Photos (2)
Photos
Pdfs (1)
Pdfs
With one week to go before the Nov. 6 election, Brookhaven's only contested legislative race continues to be fought on the ground between incumbent Democrat Scott Holcomb and his GOP opponent, Chris Boedeker.
The road for both candidates to this point in the race has been bumpy and marked by controversy.
Holcomb, who represents District 81, became the de facto incumbent earlier this year, when Elena Parent, who represented District 80, chose not to run for re-election. Both districts were merged into one single District 81 by legislative Republicans when Georgia's legislative maps were redrawn to conform to new census numbers.
On the Republican side, Boedeker defeated Carla Roberts in the July 31 GOP primary. That contest was filled with accusations flying back and forth from both sides. Boedeker tried to have Roberts disqualified from the race by saying she wasn't a legal resident, a charge that was dismissed.
Roberts accused Boedeker's campaign of personal intimidation tactics.
Both candidates have targeted Brookhaven voters hard with multiple mailers and fliers. Recently, state House Democrats accused Boedeker of suggesting Holcomb used illegal drugs while serving in the U.S. Army.
Until Monday, Roberts said she has remained silent since the primary, but Boedeker's charge against Holcomb prompted this statement:
"Mr. Boedeker’s campaign commercial used doctored video to make it sound as though his opponent ... had admitted to using drugs. Rep. Holcomb, a military veteran, said nothing of the sort, but the fabricated implication was crystal clear ... Mr. Boedeker’s deplorable attempt to smear the reputation of a man who put his life on the line to protect American citizens has made my continued silence impossible."
Related Items:
Parent Or Holcomb: Who Will Run For District 81?
Boedeker Challenges Opponents' Residency In District 81 Race.
Roberts: Residency Challenge Is 'Ridiculous.'
Eddie E.
8:35 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Elena Parent represented the 81st District (not the 80th) which has been 'paired' for no legitimate reason into the old 82nd. She has placed full support enthusiastically behind Scott Holcomb. Scott has served his District well and will serve the New 81st even better.
Mr. Bodeker's campaign, however, carries the same offensive odor as those of the representative from 2003-2010, with nothing but 24/7 nasty smear both in the primary and the general election. If one has nothing positive to say, I guess going negative is all one has.
Jordan Fox
10:01 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Chris Boedeker doesn't deserve to be on the ballot after his illegal and immoral campaign tactics. He has already been condemned by many in his party who have endorsed Scott Holcomb even though he is a Democrat. Shame on anyone that would vote for a coward like Boedeker.
Ashford
10:10 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Amazing...Carla Roberts is a pretender... during the Primary Carla Roberts was exposed for being a Democrat running in the Republican Primary... Losing 80-20. She also pretended to stay in Doraville ...I am sure she now stays back in her mansion outside the 81st District. First Cynthia McKinney..then Carla Roberts and now Scott Holcomb ...extreme liberals are losing another one of their own in Scott Holcomb.
Bill Doss
10:20 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I'm voting for the Chris. He lives in Brookhaven. Now that sweet Elena has moved to Fernbank - it would be nice to have local representative.
Eddie E.
11:06 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Apparently, accuracy is not one of your concerns.
Ashford
10:24 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Holcomb is not respected at the Capitol. He takes both sides of every issue. He votes for things before he votes against them. When he takes the well to speak members chuckle at him. Its sad we need someone that is respected at the Capitol.
Jordan Fox
10:46 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I can assure you that Boedeker would NOT be respected at the capital. As the article says, Boedeker suggested Holcomb used illegal drugs while serving in the U.S. Army. The ads were pulled after all the negative feedback and many Republicans have spoken out against the ads and against Chris. Pretty telling when many in your own party don't want you to win.
By the way, Boedeker hasn't shown-up at several candidate forums. Scott Holcomb is respected by those on both sides of the aisle. He is a better leader and will better represent the citizens of Brookhaven.
Ashford
10:43 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I am voting for Boedeker he lives in Brookhaven and knows our values. Holcomb lives in Tucker.
Ashford
11:17 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I have seen Boedeker walking in our neighborhoods many times talking to voters. Holcomb did a drive by when he had a meet and greet at somone house. I have never seen Holcomb out talking to voters. Holcomb had a town hall meeting in the Spring where he bragged that he voted for things before he voted against them. Boedeker is all in with Education even his wife is a DeKalb school teacher
Eddie E.
11:31 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Was that the guy walking with the camera guys from rosetta stone?
Eric Hovdesven
11:36 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2012/10/18/state-house-hopeful-tries-to-paint-incumbent-as-tommy-chong-fails
Here is the story about the dirty politics Boedecker engaged in with his utterly false attempt to say Scott Holcomb is a drug user.
To vote for Scott Holcomb or Sandy Murray is to reward these people who use shameless political consultants to spew lies and trash about opponents. If we reward this behavior then we will just get more.
Now is the time to just say no to these two.
Jordan Fox
12:28 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Eric, did you mean to say a vote for Chris Boedecker or Sandy Murray is to reward these people who use shameless political consultants to spew lies and trash about opponents?
CrowBurger
3:10 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Bah. Who cares if someone inhaled or not. I could introduce buddies who reefed in the military regularly and got away with it. Big deal. Anyone in the military knows that "random" drug tests are always leaked (especially enlisted) so one could do a quick system flush before the test. Doubt me? Eat my stripes!
Bob M.
11:49 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
The only folks speaking for Boedeker are anonymous. It's not hard to figure that out. Him and his consultants.
Ashford
11:58 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Boedeker is the only guy that will be able to work with leadership at the Capitol to get things done for our school. Holcomb makes a joke of the process when he votes against charter schools before he votes for them. He takes both sides of every issue.
Eric...you are a smart guy but your partisanship is revealing itself. Please for our children sake vote for Boedeker...This election is important.
Eric Hovdesven
12:21 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Whether its Boedeker or Holcomb do you really think that makes a difference to the area or to the incredibly incompetent State Legislature?
I mean what does a state legislator do for the local area? Perhaps sometimes brings some pork home to the district? But that seems to be it.
Now if we were talking about the new Mayor, I'd be willing to overlook these disgusting campaign tactics and chalk it up to a bad decision by the candidate to listen to his political consultant. Though thankfully i'm not in that position, since for Brookhaven the competent candidate for Mayor has taken the high ground why while the incompetent candidate sends mailers with doctored pictures and lies. Geez the one yesterday was doozy. But boy she has really gone off the edge. And it makes me wonder why is there so much money and interest behind what historically has been a very lackluster candidate whose never gotten any traction? In her races for House Rep she never got traction or did many or perhaps any mailouts. What is the interests in the folks backing her? And why her? Why not Larry Danese? He's a far more competent in terms of the issues a Mayor needs to tackle.
But back to Boedecker - what about him painting Ms. Roberts as an abortionist? I mean really? I'm sorry, I'd be inconsistent if I didn't slam him just like I'm slamming Sandy Murray for her mailouts.
Eric Hovdesven
12:26 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Ashford of some solace to you should be the fact that the various no city posters anonymous posters have rendered the Brookhaven Patch comments section unreadable. Which is too bad because the articles aren't exactly revelations and it used to be the comments that had nuggets of valuable info and analysis. But as the nuggets grow fewer and the trash greater its gotten so there are fewer and fewer folks reading through these comments.
Eddie E.
1:16 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Eric,
How do you really feel?
Eric Hovdesven
2:27 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Good one Eddie. I'd like to say its too much coffee, but I don't think that's it.
HamBurger
2:55 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Mr. Eric,
“I mean what does a state legislator do for the local area? Perhaps sometimes brings some pork home to the district? But that seems to be it. “
Well . . . In our case, instead of tending to STATE business, our state reps and a state senator have foisted upon us another layer of government in the form of a new city. So, we are still in dysfunctional DeKalb and are finding ourselves in a new city that is very much divided. Not to mention further dividing and adding more government to the metro area to deal with regional problems. We would have been better off if they had pushed for district #1 to be annexed into Dunwoody and worked with citizens to change DeKalb government.
By the way, I still see a lot of those yard signs are still up for the Brookhaven Arts Festival. But, they are not political, so it is OK!
Please pass the yellow mustard!
Eddie E.
3:08 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Eric,
Also, one need look no further than the hornets next beginning to swarm in Broke-haven to see what a State Representative can do TO a district (and the district next door).
Eric Hovdesven
11:38 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Time will tell Eddie, time will tell.
But first things first, let's see what happens Tuesday! In the Grand Scheme of things the formation of a new city is insignificant compared to what happens at the State and Federal level.
I will say though, this is the first time I recall having so many contested races in the general election at the local level, it was a pleasure voting. Georgia should wise up and try to swing a bit like Ohio. Wonder how much money has been pumped into their economy from all the political adds and campaign activity.
gagirl
12:18 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I know Carla Roberts personally...unlikely that anyone else making comments here can say the same. After reading her full statement on gapundit.com, I dont see how anyone can call her comments "sour grapes." She is actually the only republican, other than Erick Erickson, with the courage to call out Mr Boedeker's bad behavior and anyone who heard her speak in private or at public events knows she is, without question, a true conservative. She swept the floor with Mr Boedeker anytime they spoke together during the primary and his campaign consultants decided to limit his public speaking during the general election so he would not be compared to Scott Holcomb, who also has a brain. In fact, this past week Mr Boedeker did not attend the one debate he actually scheduled with Holcomb and then lied and said the date had been changed or he would have been there. Wonder why he didnt try to reschedule so the voters could hear both candidates discuss the issues to make an informed choice? Too bad you can't actually reach him with the phone numbers from his illegal robo-calls and ask him.
Ashford
1:36 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Holcomb failure at the Capitol has caused us all to have to endure Holcombs take no prisoners campaign. Victimizing us all of his ineptness.
Carla Roberts was a pawn...A nice lady but was suckered into running for office by the democrats. It would of been a dream for the democrats to have two democrats running against each other in the general election. I am sadden someone would walk Carla Roberts down that road. Now she owns a house in Doraville which she doesn't live in. I hope Carla Roberts isn't so gullible in the future to be set up for failure.
Eddie E.
1:41 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Take no prisoners campaign?
Apparently you are not on the list receiving mr. boat-anchor's 24/7 scurrilous robo-calls.
You would have thought his campaign consultants would have learned from the stunning loss they helped hand jill chambers.
Eric Hovdesven
2:31 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I think that's a typo. I think he meant Boedecker's take no prisoners campaign.
Btw what was the story with that guy that started questioning Carla Roberts when she was taking groceries out of her car at her house?
JKB
2:46 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Obv. Eddie has all day to troll on patch...
And Carla Roberts is a sore loser.
Tom Doolittle
2:46 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I'm glad to have issues that Northlake (where Holcomb lives, not Tucker) and Brookhaven have directly in common.
To this; What I can't figure out is why its so darn important to any other Republican legislator that they get rid of a relatively conservative (however progressive) Democrat just for the sake of padding an overwhelmingly Republican General Assembly. There are simply no large stakes involved that would justify backing what is obviously a desperate neophyte in this election.
Jordan Fox
3:09 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Republicans Rallying Behind An Atlanta Democrat:
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2012/10/30/republicans-rallying-behind-an-atlanta-democrat/?cp=1#comment-254484
CrowBurger
3:20 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Hey, Scott,
Release your military records (including disciplinary and medical). That will shut 'em up. Water under the brigade brother. All The Way!
Political Gadfly
12:05 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
"The road for both candidates to this point in the race has been bumpy and marked by controversy." Question, who are these guys, Chris and Scott, and why are they in my computer ? I've never heard of either one. Such is the life of living in the middle class area of District 1. If I ever win the lottery, shortly thereafter, I'll be living amongest the brahmans who live on the banks of Silver Lake. Mrs Political Gadfly and I will host a fish fry and cheeseburger eating contest for all the bloggers on the Brookhaven Patch, in the back yard of our new mansion. HamBurger will be the judge of the cheeseburger eating contest but folks I've got to warn you already, Dale Boone will be taking home first place. Cheerwine, the wine of champions in North Carolina, will be served to everyone who is looking for a sugar rush/overdose. :-) Adieu.