GRIFFIN: Earning respect

Published 6:55 pm Friday, October 7, 2022

As a former Georgia State Senator and Mayor of the City of Milledgeville, I am fully aware of the moral fortitude and strength of mind required of policy makers; men and women who summon the courage of their convictions to stand up for the greater good.

As the Georgia State House Representative – District 133 election nears (Nov. 8); I want to remind your esteemed readers that respect should be earned not leveraged.  True power lies in your hands. 

We must never abuse the benefits and advantages that come with privilege to gain access that gives us the upper hand.  Republican candidate Ken Vance’s recent arrest for DUI is an example of that slippery slope. Rewarding bad behavior with a slap on the wrist sets a bad precedence particularly when the recipient is a politician in law enforcement like Vance. 

You do the math. There were over 19,000 DUI convictions in Georgia (in 2019) down 88% from 2018 as fewer people are being held accountable, according to the Department of Drivers Services. Drivers who cause a death while intoxicated can be charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, a Category B felony, that can carry up to 15 years.  

 Restoring the public trust isn’t an easy undertaking, there’s no quick fix. It’s not about choosing between the lesser of two evils — that’s still evil — it’s about electing the one who will make positive change. Democratic candidate Attorney Hoganne A. Harrison-Walton will answer that call. 

Thank you. 

Floyd L. Griffin 

Milledgeville