ATLANTA --- A Hephzibah man's efforts to qualify as a write-in candidate seemed to have failed Friday when the Secretary of State's Office did not receive his affidavit by Friday's deadline.
Bobby D. Harper of Weldon Adams Drive placed a legal ad in The Augusta Chronicle giving notice of his intent to challenge Earnie Smith in the special election to complete ex-Rep. Hardie Davis' term in the House. Mr. Davis resigned the District 122 seat to run in another special election for the Senate seat vacated when ex-Sen. Ed Tarver was confirmed as U.S. attorney.
Mr. Smith was the only candidate who qualified Dec. 5 to have his name on the ballot, but he would not automatically win if anyone qualified as a write-in candidate by Friday. Mr. Harper met one requirement for qualifying by running the ad, but he hasn't met the other two requirements -- sending an affidavit and a copy of the printed ad to the state.
"The Secretary of State's Office has not received either an affidavit or a copy of the notice," said office spokesman Matt Carrothers.
With no other candidate in the race, Mr. Smith will head to Atlanta on Jan. 11 when the General Assembly meets and will serve for the remaining 12 months of Mr. Davis' term.
Mr. Harper can challenge Mr. Smith in the July primary or the November general election.
Attempts to contact Mr. Harper for comment were unsuccessful.
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