Thinking Outside the Atlanta Democratic Beltway

Some of you may not know this, but there are several races THIS November for State House and State Senate caused by the vacancies of sitting General Assembly members.

One such race is in Milledgeville. Bobby Parham was the State House member, a Democrat, from Milledgeville (get to Macon and head 45 minutes northeast), but he retired to take a post with the Department of Transportation. That left the seat open, and a special election was called for November 3rd, 2009. Only ONE Democrat has qualified in this free-for-all, whomever gets the most votes wins election.

Darrell has an event this week and here’s your chance to meet this Democrat from middle Georgia who stepped up when his Party needed him. Thanks to Stephanie Stuckey Benfield for forwarding this event to me:

Suggested Contribution $100 but any contribution would be appreciated

From www.macon.com

Sole Democrat Enters Race to Replace Parham

By Travis Fain – tfain@macon.com

It will be a four-way race to replace former state Rep. Bobby Parham in the statehouse.

Angela Gheesling-McCommon, executive director of the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Development Authority, and local businessman Darrell Black filed for the race for state House District 141 on Tuesday, joining longtime lobbyist Rusty Kidd and 22-year-old Casey Tucker. District 141 encompasses Baldwin County and part of Putnam County.

Black, 56, owns Flooring America of Milledgeville, according to paperwork filed with the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. He’s lived in Baldwin County four years and lists himself as a Democrat, though technically the Nov. 3 special election to replace Parham, D-Milledgeville, will be nonpartisan.

Black is the only candidate in the race listed as a Democrat, and he said his party “will be mentioned in all my ads and speeches.”

Gheesling-McCommon, 46, also has lived in Baldwin County four years, according to her candidacy affidavit. Attempts to reach her Thursday were not successful. She lists herself as a Republican.

Kidd was the first entrant into this race, announcing shortly after Parham decided to retire from the House of Representatives to take a seat on the State Transportation Board. He hasn’t said whether he’ll caucus with Republicans or Democrats if elected and lists himself as an independent on his candidacy affidavit.

Kidd, 63, is the son of the late Culver Kidd, a well-known and longtime Democratic legislator, and he’s lived in Baldwin County most of his life, according to his affidavit.

Tucker, 22, has also filed to run in this race. He lists himself as a Republican who has lived in Baldwin County two years.

He is a recent graduate of Georgia College & State University, according to his Web site.

State budget cuts have hit Milledgeville, which is home to Central State Hospital, the Bill E. Ireland Youth Development Campus and other state facilities, hard in recent months. Recent mill closures have meant a “double whammy” for the area, Black said.

“Having to deal firsthand with the economy every day … I’m hoping I can be in a position to maybe make things better for the community,” Black said.

Qualifying for this special election ended Wednesday. The election will be held in conjunction with municipal elections in Milledgeville and across the state.

To contact writer Travis Fain, call 744-4213.