GovRaceIntro

Background

•Georgia’s Governor appoints the members of the Jekyll Island State Park Authority’s Board of Directors, who, in turn, set policy for the Park.

•Governor Sonny Perdue’s JIA board appointees—most of whom have ties to the world of development, business, and real estate financing—have adopted a controversial policy which envisions extensive redevelopment and further development of Jekyll Island State Park.

•Most recently, the JIA board has: 1) signed a long-term partnership agreement with Linger Longer Communities which gives the politically-connected developer extraordinary financial benefits at the public partner’s expense; 2) sanctioned a development study which proposes a 150 percent increase in Jekyll’s current built environment; and 3) denied that the forecasted Jekyll build-out will adversely affect the island’s character.

•The JIA board continues to disregard established public land planning principles and to discount public outcry over its development scenario, giving every indication that it intends to move forward with its transformational development plan.

The Governor’s Race

•In 2010, Georgia’s citizens will have an opportunity to elect a governor who could appoint a brand new JIA board.

•Given the importance of the 2010 Governor’s race for the future of Jekyll Island State Park, the IPJI will make very effort to use its website to provide Jekyll’s friends with information about the Jekyll position of the candidates for the Governor’s office. Jekyll-related press releases, speeches, and radio interviews along with relevant background information will all be posted on our website.

•Of course, citizens will cast their votes for Governor in 2010 based on a host of issues, many of which are more important than the Jekyll development question.

•The IPJI simply wants to provide voters with Jekyll-related information that may help them make their choice for our state’s next Governor.

The Candidates and Their Jekyll Positions