Laurens County businessman Jon Martin joins state Senate race

Laurens County Republican Jon Martin announced Wednesday he will run for the state Senate in an upcoming special election.

“I am not running to be a show horse in the state Senate, but to be a workhorse in Atlanta for our families and communities,” Martin said in a written statement.

Martin was first elected to the Laurens County Commission in 2012. Martin said leaders in Middle Georgia have done a good job making the area attractive for investors, and he wants to create that kind of business environment statewide.

Martin is a director at a Dublin pharmacy that works with long-term care facilities, and he has been a teacher and coach.

He is the fifth Republican to declare candidacy for the state Senate District 20 seat. Four other people have said they are running: Kathleen businessman Larry Walker III, Perry businessman Michael Reece, Warner Robins youth minister Vivian Childs and Houston County businessman Brooks Keisler.

The district covers part of Houston County, plus all of Bleckley, Laurens and Pulaski counties. So far, Martin is the only candidate from outside Houston County.

The winner will serve roughly one year, finishing the term of state Sen. Ross Tolleson, R-Perry. Tolleson will retire at the end of this month, after an early onset Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis.

The state will set the deadline for qualifying and the election date in the coming weeks.

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

This story was originally published October 14, 2015 at 5:10 PM.