4 area legislators face challengers in Ga. General Assembly election

4 state legislators representing the Augusta space will face challengers on this yr’s elections. That is the primary election for redrawn districts permitted by the Georgia Basic Meeting in November 2021. The brand new maps renumbered a lot of the state home districts, so among the legislature’s incumbents are candidates in newly-numbered districts.

As an illustration, Augusta-area Democrat Brian Prince at the moment represents Home District 127, now renumbered District 132. Republican Jodi Lott represents Home District 122 however Lott, who’s unopposed, is operating in District 131, as her district shall be identified in January. State Home District 130 now refers to an Augusta-area district. Previous to November, the quantity designated an space that included Atlanta-area Spalding and surrounding counties.

District 130 is now assigned to the world represented by Rep. Sheila Nelson, District 125. Nelson declined to run once more, and two political newcomers, Lynn Gladney and Daniel Swenson, are pursuing the brand new District 130 seat.

Whereas the strains have modified, most voters shall be voting for or in opposition to their present consultant, however not all. For instance, voters who stay within the Sugar Creek neighborhood in Columbia County have been represented by Jodi Lott (R), however the brand new maps have drawn that neighborhood into the brand new D125, served by Rep. Barry Fleming (R), who’s unopposed. Residents in south Augusta’s Pepperidge neighborhood are actually in D130.

Voters ought to examine their registration for probably the most up-to-date home and senate district numbers. The current and previous district boundaries can be in contrast on Truthful District Georgia’s map explorer web page.

Georgia redistricting: forces two Democratic incumbents into one district in 2022 election

Augusta information:Forward of early voting, polling location info delivered to Augusta space mailboxes

Might primaries will resolve among the elections, however different candidates will face candidates from opposing events within the November Basic Election. These elected will serve a 40-day session beginning in January of 2023 – the Georgia Basic Meeting solely serves part-time. Members of the state home and senate do take part in committees and craft laws throughout the remainder of the yr.

Home District 130

District 130 now contains components of east Augusta, and south Augusta from Augusta Technical School to the Burke County border. The 2 candidates operating for workplace are new to politics.

Republican Dan Swenson registered as a candidate in early March, however didn’t present contact info on his Georgia Secretary of State candidate registration, and extra info couldn’t be situated for him on-line. His reported occupation is self-employed.

Democratic candidate Lynn Gladney is the Richmond County Director of Motor Car Registration throughout the Tax Commissioner’s workplace. She can also be a U.S. Military veteran, a commissioner for the Augusta Aviation Fee over the Augusta Regional Airport and a participant within the Georgia Financial Growth Academy and Management Augusta packages.

Gladney’s priorities are increasing financial alternatives for south Augusta, neighborhood redevelopment, enhancing veterans’ entry to providers and rising the quantity of reasonably priced housing and recent meals accessible within the Augusta space.

Home District 126

District 126 was not renumbered and contains components of Hephzibah, the Hidden Hills neighborhood in Richmond County, in addition to components of Burke and Jenkins counties. Truthful Districts Georgia describes the district as leaning 62% democratic.

Gloria Frazier, a Democrat from the Hephzibah space, has represented District 126 since 2007. She sits on 4 committees: banks and banking, price range and financial affairs oversight, power, utilities and telecommunications and public security and homeland safety. Frazier has been a vocal supporter of the state’s hate crime laws, handed in 2020 and has co-sponsored a lot of payments to extend entry to menstrual merchandise at colleges, prisons and homeless shelters.

Republican candidate William C. Harris, additionally from Hephzibah, is once more difficult Frazier after a 2018 try. Now retired, Harris has owned two small training and coaching companies. 

Home District 132

Serving residents in south Augusta, Wrens and the Fort Gordon areas, Democratic incumbent Brian Prince will face a challenger from his personal occasion this Might 24. Democrat Traci “Acree” George.

Prince owns a driving faculty in Augusta and is a retired U.S. Military Lieutenant Colonel. First elected in 2013, Prince serves on seven committees, together with appropriations, motor automobiles, particular guidelines, transportation, particular committee on entry to high quality well being care, legislative & congressional reapportionment and as secretary of protection & veterans affairs committee.

As a member of the legislative & congressional reapportionment committee, Prince was concerned within the redistricting course of, however finally voted in opposition to the enacted boundaries.

Extra on this race:Georgia Home District 132: Major to resolve race between two democratic candidates

Traci George is a Gold Star navy former partner and educator. George has been an energetic group organizer not solely because the Richmond County consultant for the Georgia Coalition of the Folks’s Agenda, which promotes voter registration and participation. She desires to broaden entry to Medicaid and funding to public colleges. She additionally desires to create paid go away insurance policies for Georgia employees.

State Senate District 22

Incumbent Harold Jones, a Democrat, faces a Republican challenger in District 22, which serves south and west Augusta in addition to Fort Gordon. Andrew Danielson listed his occupation as “candidate” on the Georgia Secretary of State’s qualifying candidates web page. He owns a home in Augusta’s Summerville, and registered to vote in 2019, in line with Georgia Secretary of State information, however no different info for him could possibly be discovered.

Jones has served since 2015. He sits on financial improvement and tourism, judiciary, public security, reapportionment and redistricting and the principles committees and is the secretary of the ethics committee. Jones has pushed for laws to handle meals insecurity, financial blight, and expanded absentee voting entry.

As a member of the redistricting committee, Jones opposed Richmond County’s redrawn fee and college board district maps, which have been revised with out public enter.

Reporter Susan McCord contributed to this report.