Perry businessman Michael Reece announces run for state Senate

ATLANTA -- Perry businessman and political newcomer Michael Reece said Thursday he will run for the state Senate seat now held by Ross Tolleson.

Reece said it is time for new blood and that he wants to be a voice for the people.

“I’m not doing it for the money; there’s no money to be made in it,” Reece said.

He said getting jobs in the district will be a key issue for his campaign.

Reece owns Reece Heating and Air Conditioning, the HeliVation flight training school and a small car lot.

Reece is the second candidate to announce intentions to run for the state Senate District 20 seat that will be decided in an upcoming special election. The district covers most of Houston County, plus all of Bleckley, Laurens and Pulaski counties.

A day after Tolleson, R-Perry, said he was leaving the Senate post later this month because of early onset Alzheimer’s disease, fellow Republican and Perry businessman Larry Walker III said he will run for the seat.

The state has yet to set the election date or the deadline for qualifying. The winner will fill the roughly one year remaining in Tolleson’s term.

To contact writer Maggie Lee, e-mail mlee@macon.com.

This story was originally published October 8, 2015 at 6:08 PM with the headline "Perry businessman Michael Reece announces run for state Senate ."