Republican Candidate For U.S. House District 10 Tells Oconee County Republicans That Democratic Candidates Are Radical, Far Left

***Urges Turnout To Prevent Democratic Gains***

Houston Gaines, the only candidate with opposition in November speaking at the Oconee County Republican Party meeting on Monday (8/24/2026), devoted most of his opening comments to attacks on Democrats running for office in New Jersey and Michigan, across the state, and for Georgia House Districts 120 and 121.

“These folks are radical,” he said of Democrats. “This is not the difference of just a couple of issues on the ballot. The difference between the two parties couldn't be couldn't be further.”

Canvassing, Phonebanking Key To Democratic Victory In State Legislative Races, Field Organizer Tells Oconee County Democrats

***Local Office Coordinating State Campaigns***

Vikram Bharadwaj, Democratic Party field organizer for Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties, in a meeting with Oconee County Democrats earlier this month, emphasized the importance of making personal contact with voters leading up to the Nov. 3 election.

Democrats Eric Gisler, Susanna Karatassos, and Ray Smith, seeking to represent Oconee County in the Georgia General Assembly, have fewer resources to spend on advertising than their Republican counterparts.

Citizens Ask Oconee County Commissioners For Help In Answering Questions About Proposed Truck Bypass South Of Watkinsville

***Commissioners Also Set Millage Rates For 2026***

Jeff Wilkes, speaking on behalf of the citizen group Save South Oconee, asked Oconee County commissioners on Tuesday night to help with a series of questions Wilkes said have not been answered about the proposed truck bypass to link SR 15 with U.S. 441 south of Watkinsville.

Even after the hour-long meeting the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) held last week with the Commissioners and other government leaders, Wilkes said, he and others in the county still don’t know why a route within the city boundary is not being considered.

State Transportation Department Announced Sept. 14 Start Of Detour At Jimmy Daniell Road And SR 316, With Meriweather Drive Closure

Changes Made After Public Information Open House

The previously announced closure of access to SR 316 at Jimmy Daniell Road and resulting detour is scheduled to begin on Sept. 14 and remain in place for approximately six months, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has announced.

The intersection of Meriweather Drive and Jimmy Daniell Road also will be closed, GDOT has said. Previous discussion of the closure and detour did not include that feature.

Georgia Transportation Department Poised To Select Close-In Alternative For SR 15 Truck Bypass Of Watkinsville

***Details To Be Released At Future Public Information Open House***

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is considering a route just south of the city limits of Watkinsville as the recommended alternative for a truck bypass linking SR 15 with U.S. 441 to reduce traffic along Main Street inside the city.

Consultants for GDOT have considered and rejected a route inside the limits.

Republicans Lead Democrats In Funding For Races For Oconee County Seats In State General Assembly

***Democrats Get More Of Funding From Individuals***

The three Republicans seeking to represent Oconee County in the Georgia General Assembly in January begin the fall campaign season with a significant financial advantage over the three Democrats seeking those same seats.

In the Senate District 46 contest, Republican Marc McMain reported in his July 31 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report that he had a $124,111 Ending Monitory Balance, compared with $16,001 for Democrat Ray Smith.

Oconee County Provides Virtual Link To GDOT Stakeholders Meeting On Proposed Truck Bypass Linking SR 15 With U.S. 441

***Called Meeting Of Commission Announced***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners is treating the previously scheduled stakeholders meeting with Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) representatives to discuss a proposed truck bypass of SR 15 as a called meeting of the Commission.

That means at least a quorum of the commissioners--three members–is expected to attend and discuss official business. By state law, such a meeting must be open to the public.

Oconee County School Board Officially Set Millage Rate For 2026 At Rollback Rate Based On Tax Digest Of More Than $4 Billion

***Opting Out Of Floating Homestead Exemption Increased Tax Revenue***

The Oconee County Board of Education on Monday night officially adopted a property tax millage rate of 13.836 for 2026, down from 13.962 for 2025, but up slightly from the 13.813 originally proposed in May.

The adopted rate of 13.836 is the rollback rate, calculated to offset growth in the county Tax Digest due to reassessment of unchanged property. The Tax Digest is the total assessed value of property in the county.

10th Congressional District, Which Includes Oconee County, Third Most Competitive U.S. House District Now Represented By Republicans

***Primary Data Suggest Small Shift Democratic***

Going into the November election, when control of Congress will be decided, Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, which includes Oconee County, is in a position to be the third most competitive of Congressional races for seats currently held by Republicans in Georgia.

In the May 19 party primaries, 58.2 percent of the votes cast in the 10th Congressional District were in the Republican Primary, with 41.8 percent in the Democratic Primary.

Citizen Group Informs Oconee County Commissioners Of Findings Of Study Of Food Insecurity In The County

***Group Held Listening Session With Area Food Providers***

Roughly 10 percent of Oconee County residents are food insecure, and available providers are meeting the needs of only one in three of those people.

Some of those who are in need are not able to gain access to the services provided, and some don’t seek help because of the stigma associated with taking advantage of existing programs.

Republican “Dutch” Guest Holds Low Key Meet And Greet At Wire Park In Watkinsville As Part Of His Campaign For Georgia House District 121

***Other Republican Candidates Join Event***

Mack “Dutch” Guest IV used his announced Meet and Greet at Wire Park in Watkinsville on Friday evening to mingle with what seemed to be a largely supportive crowd, shake hands, talk to the children, and chat informally.

The Republican candidate, who is seeking to represent Oconee County in state House District 121, wore a white polo shirt with his name stenciled in small letters on its chest and khaki shorts as he strolled the courtyard, casually interacting with people who approached him.