Hunt, Tuggle campaign for District 3, Post 2

PERRY — As election day nears, candidates vying to represent the city's largest geographic district are amping up their campaigns.

City Councilman Riley Hunt, a retired funeral director representing District 3, Post 2, is being challenged for the first time in 12 years. Retired school teacher Le Ann Tuggle lives around the corner from him.

Hunt, 73, said he's seeking four more years and "then I will not seek another term because I'll then be old enough that I think it should be turned over to the next generation."

Hunt graduated from Perry High School in 1960 and attended John A. Gupton College of mortuary science in Tennessee. Hunt is the co-owner of Watson-Hunt Funeral Home, which has operated in Perry more than 50 years. He also owns Perry Self Storage and Autumn Terrace retirement home.

Helping the city secure a contract with ESG Operations Inc. for water, sewage and gas is one of Hunt's biggest accomplishments because "they can do it cheaper than we can," Hunt said. "They've done a great job for us and saved us money."

"In my mind, and hopefully in the public's mind, I've done a good job," Hunt said.

Hunt's top priority is protecting Robins Air Force Base and increasing industry.

"Industry is important, (and) Robins Air Force Base is the largest industry in the county," Hunt said. "It hires 22,000 people. That's a lot of folks. If we were to lose it, Perry, Warner Robins and part of Macon would be ghost towns in seven or eight years."

Hunt said he will work to lower the tax rate and other expenses for the public.

"That's important," he said. "I'm hearing that when I'm out on the campaign trail."

Though he hasn't had to campaign in more than a decade, "any time you have an opponent, you better take them serious," Hunt said.

Tuggle, 51, grew up in neighboring Fort Valley but has lived in Perry for 26 years while teaching English and language arts at Perry Middle School, Warner Robins Middle School and Fullington Academy. Tuggle has a master's degree in education from Georgia College & State University.

Now that her two children are grown, Tuggle decided she wanted to serve on the City Council. Tuggle said she would bring a different perspective as a former teacher and a female. City Councilwoman Phyllis Bynum-Grace is currently the only woman on the six-member council.

"I think sometimes I look at things just a little bit differently than men do," said Tuggle, a Peach County High School graduate. "I've done some creative things such as help plan a school auction for several years. ... I think it's important that we have different mindsets because all of us working together could come up with some really cool ideas."

Tuggle currently serves on the Perry Housing Authority and the city's newly created Perry Arts Commission. She also served on the Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses for seven years. Should she win, Tuggle said her top priority would be to engage young people with their local government.

"I want (young people) to serve on some of these committees," Tuggle said. "I think that if they'll start off now ... they'll work their way up and we can have them to carry on our city government. ... I think it's important that we teach these kids that they've got some responsibilities and they've got to use them."

Tuggle, a self-described "big-picture person," said she works well with detail-oriented people like Randall Walker, who also represents District 3, "because we balance each other out."

Maintaining the quality of life for residents, attracting industries and keeping taxes as low as possible are three goals Tuggle said she will work towards if elected.

"I think we just have to stay on top of things," Tuggle said. "We have to make sure that we continue to provide the great services and the great atmosphere that we do provide."

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

Riley Hunt (incumbent)

Age: 73

Occupation: Retired funeral director

Political experience: 12 years on City Council

Top issue: Protecting Robins Air Force Base

Le Ann Tuggle

Age: 51

Occupation: Retired teacher

Political experience: Helped with state Sen. Ross Tolleson's campaigns

Top issue: Youth involvement in government

This story was originally published October 25, 2015 at 9:58 PM with the headline "Hunt, Tuggle campaign for District 3, Post 2 ."