Three of four Albany City Commission incumbents fill out paperwork on first day of qualifying

ALBANY — Two Albany mayoral candidates wasted no time in throwing their proverbial chapeaus into the ring on the first of five days of qualifying for municipal offices in the city.

Incumbent Mayor Bo Dorough was at the Dougherty County Voter Registration office before 10 a.m. on Monday, and former Albany City Commission member Henry Mathis, who finished third in a large field of candidates four years ago, arrived a short time later.

Two commission incumbents, Ward I Commissioner Jon Howard and Ward VI Commissioner Demetrius Young also completed the process before noon, as did political newcomer Larry Harris.

Harris is seeking office for the first time and is running in Ward IV, currently held by Chad Warbington. After spending some time speaking with his family members to prepare them for his entry into politics, the retired Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital radiologist and medical dosimetrist decided to take a shot.

“First of all, I said, ‘Why not?’” Harris said. “I’m retired, been retired for 10 years. I’ve been doing poll work forever.

“I think I can be good on jobs and everything. Our people need that. They’re doing a pretty good job. I think I can help them do better.”

Dorough won the November 2019 runoff election against the incumbent Mayor Dorothy Hubbard, but Mathis finished a close third and nearly made it into the runoff contest.

Dorough and Mathis both served on the City Commission in the 2000s.

Howard, who was first elected in 1993 and took office in 1994, is the longest-serving commission member and frequently runs unopposed. He finished qualifying at about 9:15 a.m. on Monday.

“It’s my intention that I see some of the projects we have started come to fruition,” he said. “Especially the CSO (combined sewer overflow). You know, it’s over $110 million.

“That project will be the most important we have put in the ground in 50-something years.”

Warbington and Young each were first elected to the commission in 2019. Warbington told The Herald on Monday that he plans to qualify later in the week.

Qualifying continues through Friday in Albany, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day during the qualifying period. Candidates for mayor will be required to pay a $750 qualifying fee, while the qualifying fee for commission Wards I, IV and VI is $450.

On the Nov. 7 ballot, Dougherty County voters, both in the city and in unincorporated areas, will weigh in on extending the 1% transportation special-purpose local-option sales tax.

The penny sales tax has funded projects that include street resurfacing, alley paving, airport improvements and other work.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
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