Local & State Headlines

Searles’ opponent wants seat

• The man who opposed Art Searles in the July 15 Democratic primary qualifies for a special election to fill Searles’ seat.

Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — There was plenty of jockeying for position Monday, but when the first day of qualifying for the special primary to claim the District 5 Dougherty County Commission seat left vacant with the sudden death of Art Searles ended, only one person had put his name on the dotted line.

And it was a familiar name to voters who had elected Searles by an overwhelming margin in the July 15 Democratic primary.

Contractor Harry James was at the Government Center at 9 a.m. to pay his qualifying fee and get a jump on the Nov. 4 special primary necessitated by Searles’ death a week ago from an apparent heart attack.

“I am here to qualify under unfortunate circumstances, and I send my condolences to the Searles family. I will keep them in my prayers,” James said moments before he became the first candidate to qualify for the special primary. “I would like to ask the people of District 5 to entrust their vote to me, and I will work hard not to let them down.

“Any time you’re running a campaign, I relate it to taking a test. If you get a chance for a ‘retake’, the closer you can take it to the original test, the more you’ll remember. I know from the recent primary the areas the voters in the district want me to work on, and I’m prepared to work on them.”

Constance Burkes, the chair of the Dougherty Democratic party, said that while James was the only qualifier Monday, there were no less than three people who came by the government center during the day to talk with her about the position.

“I definitely expect you’ll see others qualify,” Burkes said. “They may come in at 11:59 Wednesday, but they’ll be here. My main concern is that the new commissioner be someone who is knowledgeable, someone who is well aware of what’s going on in the district.

“Art said in his campaign literature that he had decided to run again because there were very serious issues that would come up in the next four years, and he didn’t want the county to be set back. I personally would like to see someone occupying his seat who will continue Art Searles’ vision. I don’t want to see a neophyte; I want someone with experience. We don’t have time for on-the-job training.”

While potential candidates Arthur Williams, John White, William Wright, the Rev. Henry Brown and former County Commissioner George Brown have been mentioned most frequently as challengers for the District 5 seat, many in the community have called for Searles’ widow, Giselle, and his brother Tommy to step forward as possible candidates.

Members of the current County Commission expressed support for George Brown, who said Monday he had decided not to run for the seat.

Qualifying will continue today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon, but Burkes said candidates wishing to qualify this afternoon would have to do so in the Dougherty Elections office. She said she would be attending Searles’ 2 p.m. funeral and would not be available in the afternoon.

“I’ll come in early and take care of certain things, but I will leave to attend Art’s funeral,” Burkes said. “The state put the dates on the table, but certainly some consideration should have been given to Mr. Searles’ funeral when the decision was made (to hold qualifying Monday-Wednesday).”

Officials with the Elections office announced that the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 4 general election and special primary is Oct. 6. That is also the final day to make address changes for voting precincts. Voter registration forms are available at any public library, any agency for public assistance or online at www.sos.state.ga.us.

Voters who wish to obtain absentee ballots by mail may make a written application to the Elections office at P.O. Box 1827, Albany, 31702. Information on in-person early voting is available by calling (229) 431-3247.