Political Notebook: Dynamics change in second Macon-Bibb election
For most Macon-Bibb County commissioners, this election period was rather uneventful.
With six of the nine commissioners running unopposed, anxiety levels were lower than in 2013 when the first election for a consolidated Macon and Bibb County took place. During that election, every seat was contested, including six districts that attracted three candidates.
On Tuesday, two of the three commissioners facing opposition — Larry Schlesinger and Bert Bivins — easily won their districts. The other race is headed to a July 26 runoff between Commissioner Ed DeFore and former Bibb County Commissioner Joe Allen for the District 6 seat.
Meanwhile, Mayor Robert Reichert was unchallenged at the polls after the April death of former Bibb County Commissioner Lonzy Edwards.
Students named to military academies
U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, who represents the 8th Congressional District, announced Thursday that five Middle Georgia high school students have been awarded appointment to military academies.
Dustin Priaulx of Warner Robins High School and Britian Rogers of Hawkinsville High School have been appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Rashad Bolton of Veterans High School and Ernie Strickland of Monroe County, who attends Veritas Classical Schools, have been appointed to the U.S. Military Academy.
Delilah Wood of Colquitt County High School has been named to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Shepherd unhappy with Sub-South references
Macon-Bibb County Commissioner Scotty Shepherd has received numerous calls and comments from people about the plans for the new Sub-South Recreation Center that has faced delays, including construction estimates coming in over budget.
On Thursday, Shepherd was able to announce some positive news about the future center at a community meeting when he told about 30 people in attendance that a vote on a construction agreement likely would take place in June. But while moving closer to the start of construction had Shepherd in a good mood, he did take exception to part of the Hartley Bridge Road center’s name.
“We’re going to get out (of using) ‘Sub-South. We’re south Bibb County,” he said.
Macon-Bibb remains as ‘city of ethics’
Macon-Bibb County will be recertified in June for being a Georgia Certified City of Ethics.
Macon-Bibb officials be recognized during a June 27 awards luncheon hosted by the Georgia Municipal Association in Savannah. In order to become a City of Ethics, a local government must approve a resolution establishing five ethics principals that local officials should abide by and also create an ordinance that meets the standards of a GMA board.
“The use of a local ethics ordinance allows citizens to raise their concerns and participate in the ethics investigation process at the local level, where the voice and influence of the individual citizen is strongest,” the GMA website said.
Staff writers Stanley Dunlap and Wayne Crenshaw contributed to this report.
This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 3:28 PM with the headline "Political Notebook: Dynamics change in second Macon-Bibb election."