Hopefuls qualify to vie for seat in Georgia Senate District 24

ATLANTA - The special election to fill a Senate seat drew several contenders Tuesday.

Three Republicans and two Democrats turned in their paperwork and paid a $400 qualifying fee with state election officials to run in the District 24 race.

The office became vacant last month when Jim Whitehead resigned to run for the Congressional seat of the late Rep. Charlie Norwood.

Both the congressional and state Senate elections will be held June 19, with a runoff date scheduled for July 17, if necessary.

Bill Jackson, a Republican from Appling, said he decided to run for Mr. Whitehead's seat to "carry on the good leadership that he's given to that spot."

Mr. Jackson, now a retiree who spent 16 years in the state House, said he has the necessary legislative experience to move in quickly and serve out the second year in the two-year term.

"Nobody has to train me," said Mr. Jackson, who said he would address the district's growing infrastructure needs. "I'm ready to go immediately. I have friendships and contacts there built over many years."

Appling Republican Brett McGuire said he would focus attention on transportation funding in the seven-county Senate district and protecting water resources from being transferred to rapidly expanding metro Atlanta.

"It all boils down to economic development," said Mr. McGuire, who retired as plant manager of Solo Cup in Augusta. "We've got to have an educated work force and have the resources."

Mr. McGuire, who served as Mr. Whitehead's campaign manager when he ran for the state Senate, also sits on the Columbia County Planning Commission.

The 24th District covers all of Columbia, Glascock, Lincoln, McDuffie and Wilkes counties along with parts of Elbert and Warren counties.

Although the district tends to tilt Republican, Democrat Scott Nichols said the gridlock in Atlanta where the GOP controls the governor's office and Legislature is frustrating voters.

"I talk to people, and they're tired of the same old, same old," said Mr. Nichols, a senior project manager for Terracon Consulting Engineers and Scientists.

Mr. Nichols, chairman of the Columbia County Democratic Party, said his main campaign issue will be to change the state's law on developer impact fees so that the money also could be used for new school construction.

Mr. Nichols also wants to see election laws changed to require that vacant congressional seats be filled within 60 days. He said the long lapse between Mr. Norwood's death in February and the June election left the district unrepresented in Congress.

"We have a war going on," he said. "It's a disgrace."

Lee Benedict, a Republican who lives in Martinez, also said he has been frustrated with this year's legislative session, which was marked with bickering between the chambers and Gov. Sonny Perdue over the state budget.

"If you're public servants, then do it or step aside," said Mr. Benedict, a learning specialist at Butler High School.

As a father of a child with autism and muscular dystrophy, Mr. Benedict said there needs to be a push to change the state's system for approving Medicaid-funded therapy services.

He also wants to see the bill requiring seat belt use in pickup trucks finally pass because the state forgoes up to $20 million in federal highway funds by not having the law.

Elberton Democrat Barbara Giles McLendon, a retired educator, also qualified to run.

Because the race is a special election, all candidates will be on the same ballot, with their party listed by their names. Hopefuls have until noon Thursday to register in person with the secretary of state's office.

Reach Vicky Eckenrode at (678) 977-4601 or vicky.eckenrode@morris.com.