Russell Gray named to Dougherty County Elections Board by Republicans

ALBANY — Dougherty County Elections Supervisor Ginger Nickerson confirmed Monday that Albany businessman Russell Gray has been named to the the county’s Board of Elections.

Gray was appointed to the position by the local Republican Party. He will replace long-time board member Walter Blankenship on the Elections Board.

“This is one of those instances where the pieces kind of fell into place,” Gray said Monday of his appointment. “The last thing I want to do is to get mixed up any deeper in local politics than I already am. But I saw this not as a political appointment but as an opportunity to serve the community at the countywide level.

“I go into this appointment with no preconceived notions about what’s right and what’s wrong. I look forward to learning the process and applying common sense to the things I learn.”

The county’s Elections Board is made up of five members: one each appointed by the local Democrat and Republican parties, one each appointed by the Albany City and Dougherty County commissions, and an at-large member selected by the appointed members of the board.

Bishop Frederick Williams is the city’s representative on the board; Ernest Davis Jr. is the county’s board representative; Charles Lamb is the at-large board member, and Gray will represent the local Republican Party. Nickerson said the local Democratic Party has not submitted the name of its representative, despite promises by party Chairwoman Constance Burkes that the nominee would be in place by the end of January.

“Dr. Burkes has told me she’s waiting on something from the state (Democratic Party), but I’m a little concerned that we don’t have the Democrat board member by this time,” Nickerson said. “We have training in March in Atlanta, and it certainly would benefit any new member to go through the training process.

“We have to get our managers in order and our precinct workers in place soon. We have an election coming up May 22. Right now, we’re kind of in limbo.”

Qualifying for four seats on the Dougherty County Commission, including the chairman’s seat, are up for re-election on May 22. Qualifying for the commission chairmanship and the District 2, 4, and 6 seats will be held March 5-9.

Gray, meanwhile, said he is ready to work with the Elections Board.

“Steve Brimberry and Tami McCoy with the Republican Party reached out to me, and I really didn’t know what was involved,” said Gray, who works with Privia Medical Group. “I travel a lot in my business, and I wanted to know the time requirements. I don’t want to make a commitment that I can’t fulfill.

“The elections process is important to our community. I’m appreciative that the officials in the Republican Party thought of me when they made this decision.”