Tuesday, April 7, 2026
This newsletter was updated on April 7, 2026, at 6:10 p.m. to correct one of the options facing Gov. Brian Kemp as he decides the fate of legislation passed by the state legislature. The original text read that the governor can sign such legislation into law, veto it, or not act on it at all, “effectively killing” it. That is incorrect. If the governor chooses neither to sign a measure or veto it within 40 days after the legislature adjourns, it automatically becomes law.
Good Morning! In the news today: A controversial bill with possible Coastal Georgia impact winds up on the governor’s desk; 1st Congressional District GOP candidates introduce themselves; and a legendary Savannahian to be honored by Spelman College. Finally, we note some things for your radar. Questions, comments, or story ideas? You can reach me at craig.thecurrent@gmail.com.
NEWS: POLITICS
Bill targets homelessness, immigration enforcement
Hundreds of pieces of legislation passed during the recently concluded session of the Georgia General Assembly now sit on desk of Gov. Brian Kemp, awaiting his decision to sign them into law, veto them or not act upon them at all, effectively killing them.
Officials in Savannah and Brunswick will be watching with particular interest how Kemp handles a measure, passed in the session’s waning hours on Thursday, that would allow property owners to sue local governments for failing to enforce laws related to homelessness and immigration.
The bill, co-sponsored by state Rep. Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah), is the latest piece of legislation designed to curb what many Republicans, both locally and statewide, view as the liberal excesses of Savannah and other Georgia cities, whether the issue is immigration, gun control and allegedly lax crime-control efforts by local district attorneys.
Coastal Georgia state Reps. Buddy DeLoach (Townsend), Ron Stephens (Savannah), Rick Townsend (Brunswick), Lehman Franklin (Statesboro), Bill Hitchens (Rincon), Steven Sainz (St. Marys), John Burchett (Waycross), and Steven Meeks (Screven) joined fellow Republican Petrea in voting in favor of the bill. So did Republican state Senators Ben Watson (Savannah), Mike Hodges (Brunswick), and Billy Hickman (Statesboro).
Democratic lawmakers Sen. Derek Mallow (Savannah) and Reps. Anne Allen Westbrook (Savannah), Edna Jackson (Savannah), Carl Gilliard (Savannah) and Al Williams (Midway) voted against it.
Speaking on the Senate floor, a supporter of the bill, Ed Seltzer (R-Acworth), said the legislation was needed because Georgia cities and counties “consistently” do nothing to “enforce the basic rights of families to be able to enjoy their property.”
Mallow, however, described the measure as a “hatchet job” that does nothing to address the problems of homelessness and panhandling.
Josh McLaurin (Sandy Springs), a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, called it an election year messaging bill that that illustrates the legislature’s destruction of “deliberative policymaking” and the “meanest, most senseless, least practical legislation on immigration that we will see in this building, maybe ever.”
For more on the recently concluded legislation, click here on tax measures; here on the likely special session to address lawmakers’ inaction to resolve problems with the state’s election system; here on access to contraception; and here for a summary of things finished (and unfinished).
NEWS: POLITICS
Why they run
With party primaries now six weeks away, we offered in last week’s edition of Soundings excerpts from the introductory statements delivered at a recent candidate forum by the eight Democrats vying for Coastal Georgia’s seat in U.S. Congress.
This week, in alphabetical order, we do the same with the six Republicans seeking the seat. The thumbnail sketches that follow are drawn from candidate forums in the counties of Bryan, Chatham and Wayne.
Pat Farrell: I’m running because I believe the people of the 1st Congressional District need reliable conservative representation in Washington, D.C. I’ve represented county of 300,000 for over 21 years as Chatham County Commissioner for District 4. I’ve had so much experience in dealing with everything from law enforcement and firefighting to drainage and libraries — everything in the world under the sun comes with being a county commissioner. I’d bring that experience to Washington.
Jim Kingston: I’m concerned about the American Dream. Let’s face it: Our country is at a turning point. We have mountains of debt, mountains of red tape. We have shipped our jobs and our wealth overseas and are desperate to get some type of sovereignty back. That’s why I believe electing President Donald Trump again was a second chance. He alone can’t protect your back. We need foot soldiers in the legislative branch. Georgia’s 1st District needs a rock-solid conservative fighting for our values in Washington.
Brian Montgomery: I’m a Christian, I’m a husband, I’m a father, I’ve been a lifelong conservative Republican, and most of my life has been spent in service to this nation. Over the last 23 years, I had the honor to wear the uniform the U.S. Army. the reason why I’m standing in front of you tonight is in memory of their service and their sacrifice because I’m going to be honest with you: When I saw the direction that the country was going under the Biden administration those four years, our weakness abroad, chaos at the border, and an economy that was putting strain on hard working Americans, I know we’re better than this.
Krista Penn: I’m running for Congress because service is who I am. We’re at a turning point, and something’s got to change. I think that the people of the 1st District deserve something different. I’ve served as a nurse in the U.S. Navy. I’ve held the hands of our dying service members. I understand law enforcement and border issues because I have been with my husband for 25 of the 27 years that he has served either with the U.S. Border Patrol or as an ICE special agent. I’m not interested in going to Washington to line my pockets. We need less of that. We need more people who know what it truly means to serve and who know what happens when leadership fails.
Kandiss Taylor: I’m running for Congress because I want my children to experience the same freedom that we have now. I got into politics because I feared we’d lose our country because due to corrupt politicians who want to make money for themselves and vote Democrat. Our national debt and political correctness are going to kill our country. I don’t think we have a deficit problem; we have a massive fraud problem. I will defend my children. I will stand for Jesus.
Eugene Yu: Let’s make America affordable again and have an economy we all can afford. Let’s cut taxes. I’m running for your interests, not my interest, not my special interest. Many candidates come out here saying nice words. They all say, “I’ll look out for you.” But they all forget about you. They’re all seeking to make money for themselves, for someone else. You must elect the right person who can beat the Democrat in the November.
PROFILE: COMMUNITY
‘Beyond all my expectations’
“I don’t know how I got nominated, or who nominated me,” Shirley James says. “What I do know is that the honor is beyond all my expectations.”
James, the publisher of one of America’s oldest African-American owned newspapers, was referring to the honorary degree that Spelman College, her alma mater, will confer on his this week in recognition for her lifetime of achievement both as an educator and community leader in Savannah.
“The way we are going now as a country, we need more leaders, more guides,” James told The Current’s Margaret Coker, reflecting on her extraordinary life of accomplishment and service, and Spelman’s role in it. For more, click here.
NEWS: UPDATES, EVENTS
5 things for your radar
- Savannah Indivisible to hold what it’s calling a “data center town hall,” at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Otis Johnson Cultural Arts Center. For more information, click here.
- Jim Kingston, a GOP candidate for Coastal Georgia’s 1st Congressional District seat, to hold a rally in Savannah on Wednesday, with special guest U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. For ticket information, click here.
- A Better Glynn to hold a candidate forum at 6 p.m. Monday, April 13, at the Ritz Theatre, 1530 Newcastle St., in Brunswick. For more information, click here.
- The Atlanta Press Club announces its candidate debate schedule, which will include 1st Congressional District Republican and Democratic candidates, as well as executive office candidates, including Public Service Commission candidates. For more information, click here.
- “No One at Waffle House Remembers FEMA Official Who Says He Teleported In,” (New York Times, April 3, 2026)
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Savannah Tribune publisher gets lifetime award from Spelman
Shirley James, the publisher of one of America’s oldest African-American owned newspapers, will receive an honorary degree this week from Spelman College, her alma mater, in recognition for her lifetime of achievement both as an educator and community leader in Savannah.
Volunteers round up box turtles on Tybee
A group of volunteers, led by Dr. Lesley Mailler and Jordan Gray, rescued five box turtles from a wooded patch of land on Tybee Island before heavy equipment was scheduled to remove the top layer of soil for the construction of Solomon Park.
Georgia lawmakers failure to act on data center concerns draws community ire
Georgia lawmakers failed to pass legislation to curb the impact of data centers, leaving local communities to bear the cost of the tax breaks and electricity rate increases, which has sparked outrage among voters and given Democrats an opportunity to gain ground in the upcoming elections.
Georgia passes bill to round cash purchases to nearest nickel
The Georgia House has approved a bill that rounds in-person cash transactions to the nearest nickel, in response to the Trump administration’s decision to stop making new pennies.
Camden considers Gilman Paper site proposals
Camden County has received proposals from real estate groups for a mixed-use “live-work-play” destination project to be built on the 700-acre Gilman Paper site, with a marina, and expects to make a decision by May.
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