Carol Fullerton launches campaign for Georgia House re-election

ALBANY — Three-term state Rep. Carol Fullerton, D-Albany, officially launched her campaign for District 153 re-election Tuesday at the Horace King Overlook behind the Convention and Visitors Center in downtown Albany.

Fullerton declared overall progress for her district during the most recent legislative session, despite the lawmaker suffering a severe back injury in October that required a lengthy convalescence and “several surgeries.” District 153 includes most of eastern Dougherty County, including Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany, as well as some areas to the west of Westgate Drive.

Fullerton said that throughout her recovery from the accident she was able to keep abreast of House activities through her computer and telephone communications with House leaders. She was physically present for the final five weeks of the session when “most of the important decisions were made” about the budget and other matters, Fullerton said.

“The doctors have dismissed me and I’m back together again,” Fullerton said. “I’m fully engaged and ready for the campaign.”

Fullerton said in the latest legislative session, which ended March 20, the Dougherty County delegation was successful in procuring Department of Transportation funds to complete the Jefferson Street exchange in Albany.

“It’s a mess right now, but it’s going to be much better and safer when it’s done,” Fullerton said.

According to Fullerton, money has also become available for the resurfacing of Highway 19 between Albany and Leesburg and for the widening of the highway between Albany, Moultrie and Valdosta.

“That’s a good thing for the MCLB and for Ft. Benning in getting things to Jacksonville and then to our soldiers,” Fullerton said.

Although Fullerton expressed disagreement with the original decision to replace the Broad Avenue bridge, she said “at least” the new bridge would have sidewalks and bicycle lanes on both sides.

Fullerton said that in the Atlanta session, money had been won for Albany State University and for Darton State College.

“We’ve put more money back into public education than what was taken out in the previous six years,” Fullerton said, “and I’m very proud of that. The schools need it, they deserve it. If we don’t educate our young people, we won’t be a good town and a good community and a good state to be in.”

According to Fullerton, although construction of a new fine arts building for the ASU campus was “number one” for the Board of Regents recommendations to Gov. Nathan Deal, the project only receuved partial funding with the remainder promised for the following legislative session. The current ASU fine arts building was damaged by the flood of 1994 and has been condemned by FEMA, Fullerton said.

Fullerton said she doesn’t claim to know more about what’s good for Albany and southwest Georgia than her challengers, Muarlean Edwards, who Fullerton has faced before, and Dougherty County School Board member Darrell Ealum. Fullerton said her advantage was in the relationships she’s formed in her years in the House and in her ability and willingness to compromise.

“I’m a middle-of-the-road person, and that’s easy for me,” Fullerton said, “I work well with both sides of the aisle. But I also know that it’s important to get things done, particularly for SAouthwest Georgia. There are fewer of us up there since our last reapportionment.”

Fullerton began her first term as representative in January 2009 and has served on five committees: Health & Human Services, Higher Education, Natural Resources & Environment, Economic Development & Tourism and Utilities, Telecommunications & Energy.

Fullerton will face primary election on May 20. A runoff election, if necessary, will held July 22.