www.GeorgiaHeritageCoalition.org

P-6 2360 Thompson Bridge Road || Gainesville, GA 30501 || Phone: 770.297.4788
Email: chairman@GeorgiaHeritageCoalition.org

January 7, 2004

Dear friend and heritage supporter,

First, thank you for your communications with our legislative polling members and your support of the Georgia Flag Fair Vote bill (draft copy is below).

Since the bill has reached the media, we wanted you to be advised and know what the draft looks like so you can be prepared for any queries likely to come.

The Georgia Heritage Coalition has NOT released the names of the legislators supporting the bill and will not until we hold a news conference at the capitol, after the session begins. You will be given adequate notice to attend and participate.

Our plans are to introduce the bill in the Senate. The sponsors will be bipartisan, as will the list of supporters in both chambers.

Some of the media has worked overtime to minimize the support this referendum reform has in both the General Assembly and with your constituents. This is blown out of the water in the just published Mason-Dixon poll which shows 50% of the most likely voters in the state favor a referendum which includes a full and free choice including the 1956 state flag.

If you have a moment or two, take a look at our website (URL at top of page). It is ranked 2nd most popular in Georgia politics, far ahead of both major parties. Click on the X-files and enjoy Georgia's best political satire, lampoons and cartoons.

Please feel free to contact the Georgia Heritage folks who you have talked with or Jim Dean, in Marietta, our legislative contact chairman at 404.966.6827 jimwdean@aol.com or me, in Gainesville at 770.297.4788 jajeffdavis@webtv.net

Again, thank you for all you do and have done in support of our heritage from Oglethorpe to the present. We look forward to working with you for our mutual goal for Georgia today and in the future.

Jeff Davis
Chairman, Georgia Heritage Coalition
Gainesville

Printable PDF Version of DRAFT bill

DRAFT

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

To provide for certain determinations with respect to the state flag of Georgia; to provide for the holding of an advisory referendum election to determine whether the qualified electors of the State of Georgia desire a further change in the state flag; to provide for related matters; to provide for severability; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

(a) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to issue the call for an advisory referendum election to determine whether the qualified electors of the State of Georgia desire that the state flag adopted in May 2003 be changed. The Secretary of State shall cancel the referendum election scheduled on the date of the 2004 presidential preference primary election and conduct the referendum on the date of the General Primary in July 2004. The Secretary of State shall issue the call and conduct that referendum election as provided by general law.

(b) The ballot at the referendum election provided under this section shall have displayed or printed thereon the following:

"( ) 1956 FLAG
( ) 2001 FLAG
( ) 2003 FLAG

VOTE FOR ONLY ONE CHOICE: Should the State of Georgia return to the 1956 Flag adopted at the 1956 Session of the General Assembly or return to the 2001 Flag adopted at the 2001 Session of the General Assembly or keep the 2003 Flag adopted at the 2003 Session of the General Assembly?"

The Secretary of State shall include pictures of the 1956 Flag, the 2001 Flag and the 2003 Flag in appropriate positions on the ballot to assist the voters and facilitate the voting process, and if necessary to save significant printing costs a picture of the three flags may be attached to absentee ballots rather than appearing on the actual absentee ballot.

(c) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to tabulate and certify the results of the referendum election and report said results to the Governor and the General Assembly immediately following such certification.

SECTION 2.

In the event any section or subsection of this Act shall be declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall in no manner affect the other sections or subsections of this Act, which shall remain in full force and effect as if the section or subsection so declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional were not originally a part hereof. The General Assembly declares that it would have passed the remaining provisions of this Act if it had known that such provision or provisions hereof would be declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.

SECTION 3.

This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.