Community advocate announces campaign for Bibb County Commission seat

Community advocate and political newcomer Edward Foster announced his campaign for District 5 commissioner January 30, emphasizing community development and equity in his platform.

Foster said he’s focused on community revitalization in District 5, and plans to improve public safety, affordable housing and promote responsible development if elected.

While the county has previously worked to improve the area, Foster said, those efforts have not always paid off for the district’s low-income neighborhoods.

U.S. census data collected from around District 5 shows many neighborhoods struggle with poverty. A tract between Montpelier Avenue and Roff Avenue shows nearly 53% percent of residents living below the poverty line, while another tract between Pio Nono Avenue and I-75 shows about 38% of residents in the same category .

While some parts of District 5 have seen reductions in crime and improving neighborhoods, other areas are still plagued by crime, blighted properties and a lack of grocery stores, Foster and residents at the event said.

Foster said he aims to communicate more openly with residents and plan future development to more equitably develop neighborhoods and avoid displacing longtime residents.

“A lot of the time, people in the community have good ideas for what needs to be done and what the needs are,” Foster said.

District 3 Commissioner Stanley Stewart, who represents much of east Macon, attended the event and endorsed Foster, praising his past record of service and leadership.

“Ed has been embedded in District 5 long before this race, Ed has been doing things long before he has been running for commissioner,” Stewart said. “He’s the person for the job, he’s dedicated to it.”

Idonia Jackson, a resident of District 5 who’s lived in the Cherokee Heights area for about 50 years, attended the event in support of Foster. She said she is ready to see the neighborhood restored to a safe and thriving area, and feels confident in Foster’s ability to achieve that goal.

“I just hate to see my neighborhood going down,” Jackson said. “There’s a lot of things that need to be done.”

The District 5 seat came open on Jan. 5, when former District 5 Commissioner Seth Clark announced his resignation to run for lieutenant governor. Clark had served as commissioner since 2021.

Foster will face local mental health advocate Andrea Cooke in an election scheduled for March 17. Early voting will be open between Feb. 23 and March 13.