Challenger Kenneth Zachary take shots at incumbent Gerald Greene in House 151 race

ALBANY — When voters head to the polls on Tuesday, some will notice a handful of Georgia House and Senate seats up for grabs. The House District 151 race between long-time Republican incumbent Gerald Greene and independent challenger the Rev. Kenneth Zachary, which has turned into one of the state’s most hotly contested, will be on some ballots in northwest Albany precincts because 151 leaks into Dougherty County.

That in-county showdown is the only Albany race that has opposition. Democratic House members Darrel Ealum and Winfred Dukes are running unopposed, as is state Sen. Freddie Powell Sims.

In regional state races with opposition, incumbent Rep. Mike Cheokas, R-Americus, in District 138, is being challenged by Democrat Bill McGowin; and incumbent Darlene Taylor, R-Thomasville, 173, is being challenged by Democrat Tommy “TC” Hill. In the Senate, Greg Kirk, R-Americus, will face Democrat Ruenett Melton of Tifton in District 13.

But the race that has garnered the most attention has been House 151, where finding opposition to Greene was finally settled in court. Initially, James Williams of Albany qualified as a Democrat, but he was later disqualified by the secretary of state’s office when it was revealed that he did not live in the district. That left state Democrats scrambling to get a name on the ballot. Zachary drew Democrats’ support, but he was forced to qualify as an independent.

“I feel good about our chances,” Zachary, who is a pastor and also works at Collins Funeral Home in Edison, said Wednesday. “I’ve been listening to the concerns of the people of the district. We have been neglected in 151. Gerald Greene has been in office for 27 years, and he is not looking out for our interests. People understand that change has to be made.

“This is the largest district in the state and also the poorest. We’ve lost jobs because of hospitals closing in Arlington and Stewart-Webster. He (Greene) didn’t vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’ in fact, he took a walk during that vote, and he also voted for the Opportunity School District.”

Zachary wasn’t done.

“The condition of our roads is deplorable. We’ve got people living in extreme poverty. Where are the jobs we were promised? Does this seem like Gerald Greene is looking out for his constituency in 151?” Zachary asked. “People need to get out and vote on Tuesday. We want to turn Georgia blue, and this is the best chance we’ve had in a while.”

Greene was first elected to the Georgia House in 1982. He is seeking to add to his 33 years of service as the representative of the district, which covers all or parts of Calhoun, Clay, Early, Quitman, Randolph, Stewart, Terrell, Webster and Dougherty counties.

That tenure makes Greene one of the longest-serving members of the Georgia House. He remains in the unusual position of being the only GOP member of the House to represent a majority minority district.

“I think there is a perception in that a white person cannot represent minority interests,” Greene said. “But they are forgetting that I have always worked with minority students and parents because I taught school for 32 years. This is my home, and I understand a lot more bout how and where these individuals live and what some of their needs are. They consider me a person that they can go to and talk to and at least listen to their problems.”

Greene took direct aim at Zachary.

“My opponent talks about Medicaid and everything, but when we had the hospitals open, people still went to Dothan, they still went to Albany” Greene said.” We did everything we could to get them into the small hospitals. But people did not use them. “

Zachary’s campaign received a boost earlier this week with an endorsement from President Obama, via a news release from the office of Georgia House Minority Leader Stacy Abrams.

“Today, President Barack Obama endorsed Kenneth Zachary in his race against incumbent Republican Gerald Greene to represent Georgia’s House District 151,” the release said. “Zachary is among a select group of state legislative candidates from around the country to be endorsed by Obama.

“Rev. Zachary’s bold campaign, which required him to gather thousands of voter signatures just to appear on the ballot, has received national attention. Zachary’s tireless advocacy for better-paying jobs, strong public schools, saving Georgia’s rural hospitals and demanding veterans receive the care they need through Medicaid expansion makes him an ideal choice to represent District 151.”