Five candidates challenge Milledgeville Rep. Rusty Kidd
The voters of Baldwin County and part of Putnam County have more choices than most Georgians when it comes to who they want to send to the state House of Representatives in Atlanta.
Across much of the state, unchallenged incumbents will return to the Capitol after this fall's elections. But in House District 145, two Republicans and three Democrats are squaring off in May 24 primary elections. If no Democrat gets at least 50 percent of the vote, the top two finishers will head to a July 26 runoff.
Then, the Democrat and Republican winners will meet incumbent state Rep. Rusty Kidd, an independent from Milledgeville, in the Nov. 8 general election.
GRIFFIN, REID AND SIMMONS VIE FOR DEMOCRATIC NOD
Democrat Floyd Griffin Jr. has been to the Legislature before. He spent two terms in the state Senate before departing to make a failed attempt at lieutenant governor.
It is "important that we send someone to Atlanta who has the background and the experience to deal with the challenges of being in the Legislature," he said.
Griffin said he already has the knowledge of state government to help the district get beneficial resources.
He listed several policy areas he considers crucial: economic development, education, military affairs and criminal justice.
On economic development, Griffin said he sees a lawmaker's role as working with local economic development officials. He said he has some policy ideas he's going to announce later.
Griffin, who was Milledgeville's mayor from 2002-2006, said he will place much of his emphasis on education, both in K-12 public schools and at the college level.
He also plans to organize a crime summit in the coming months so leaders in the faith community, law enforcement, young people and others can talk about ways to cut down on crime.
Griffin opposed a proposal to merge the governments of Baldwin County and Milledgeville that voters rejected last year. He said he will not support consolidation at this time.
"That dog won't hunt," Griffin said.
Democrat political veteran John Reid, who considers the area's economic health his No. 1 concern, said trying to bring jobs back to the community tops his agenda.
Reid, a former Eatonton mayor and City Council member, said he has decades of experience as a local elected official. While he was a city official, he also was a leader at the Georgia Municipal Association where he monitored and evaluated state legislation. Reid said he would be on guard for proposals that are not in the best interests of cities, counties and their residents.
"I want to be a clear voice for the community, to make sure we're doing the right things for the community," Reid said. "I want to know what the people want. I'm not there to take my opinions to Atlanta."
That principle also goes for the idea of Milledgeville-Baldwin consolidation. He said he would not want to impose his wishes on the community and would let residents' opinions be his guide.
Harold Simmons, the third Democrat in the race, said his platform is "empowerment through education, innovation and entrepreneurial growth."
Simmons said he is ready to be a voice for educators, both in K-12 schools and in colleges. For example, he said, he would have spoken against this year's campus handgun carry legislation, a bill that Georgia's public colleges opposed.
He also would focus on economics, specifically what happens when a community loses big employers. Simmons said that when that happens, there's a sense of expecting another job to come back somehow.
"I have a belief that when jobs leave, then someone has to create something of their own," he said.
He said he would look for bills that can support entrepreneurial growth and help open paths for people who want to be self-employed or employ others.
"I would be saying to our legislators, 'Let's not hold our young people back when they have the opportunity and drive to be creative.'"
Simmons said he can connect with younger people and hopes to spark them to get involved in politics.
On consolidation, he said he would not want to see another bill at this point when "wounds" from last year's debate have yet to heal.
GLOVER, WILLIAMS TO SQUARE OFF IN GOP PRIMARY
Republican Tom Glover said if he were elected, he would focus on trying to help bring industry to the district.
"There are a lot of components to do that," said Glover, such as being an ambassador from the district to Atlanta.
But one of the key ways, he said, would be for the state to take a bigger role in the effort to find Central State Hospital tenants or property buyers.
And he wants the process of moving there to be easy. Glover's own company signed a lease with the state on a campus spot in 2013. But he said it took nearly a year to get that lease with the state finalized, and he's not sure other companies would wait that long and deal with what he called the "challenges" of settling on campus.
Glover said his experience as a small business owner would be valuable in the Legislature.
"I know what it's like to run a business. I know what it's like to write a paycheck every week for employees. ... Honestly, I think we need more of that in our leadership across this country," he said.
As for consolidation, Glover said he would carry a bill if the city and county proposed it, but he would not create his own bill.
Republican Rick Williams said he is running on a platform of open government, communications, honesty and bipartisanship.
Williams said the counties in the area have opportunities to pull together for economic development.
"With the opening of the Fall Line Freeway and the four-lane (U.S.) 441 that goes north to south, we feel like there's an excellent opportunity that we've got to take advantage of," he said. "The other thing is all the properties out at Central State Hospital."
That campus was turning into a blighted area, he said, but it's starting to come back to life, and he wants to work to continue to get it redeveloped.
Williams, who spent 16 years as the county's chief registrar -- its top elections officer -- said he's unique among the candidates because of his maturity and ability to compromise.
He said he would not support a bill to consolidate the governments of Baldwin and Milledgeville unless the city and county came to him with a plan.
Williams said the city and county need to present a common front in order to seize economic development opportunities. But as for any merging of the two governments, he said he would look for cues from local leaders.
Name: Tom Glover
Age: 45
Party: Republican
Occupation: IT business owner
Political experience: none
Name: Floyd Griffin Jr.
Age: 71
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Funeral director
Political experience: State senator 1995-1998, Milledgeville mayor 2002-2006
Name: John Reid
Age: 60
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Insurance agent
Political experience: Eatonton City Council 1992-2003, Eatonton mayor 2004-2015
Name: Harold B. Simmons
Age: 50
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Landscaping business owner
Political experience: Baldwin County school board 2004-present
Name: Rick Williams
Age: 63
Party: Republican
Occupation: Funeral director
Political experience: Baldwin County Commission, 1988-1992
This story was originally published April 17, 2016 at 8:33 PM with the headline "Five candidates challenge Milledgeville Rep. Rusty Kidd ."