Timothy D. “Tim” Daniel announced he will be running in the Republican Primary for the Pike County Commission, District 1 seat. “Public service is my calling. I believe Pike County has a strong administrative team and they are doing a good job. We have solid infrastructure and our quality of life is superior to most Georgia communities. I want to help keep that momentum going, I want to keep moving Pike forward. I believe with my background in business, management and public service, along with my dedication and commitment to our community, I can help,” said Daniel.

Tim and his wife Mary Bess moved to Pike County (District 1) in 2008. The Daniel’s have one child, Maggie, who is four years old. He is a native of Thomaston, and a Funeral Director and co-owner of Moody-Daniel Funeral Home in Zebulon. He is a member and past President of the Thomaston Sertoma Club, former Pike County representative on the McIntosh Trail Community Service Board, and a volunteer for many other civic and charitable organizations. He is a member of Oak Hill Baptist Church. Daniel is a 1995 graduate of Upson-Lee High School and a 2000 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service.

Please consider voting for Tim Daniel in the May 20, 2014 Republican Primary for Pike County Commissioner, District 1. Tim Daniel can be contacted at 706-975-3458.

I am Mark Lennon and I am running for Pike County Commission post one. I am fifty years old and have lived in Pike for twelve years and Georgia for thirteen before that. I am married and we have two wonderful children at the local schools.

My wife is a public school teacher in a nearby county with twenty eight years’ experience. I have for the past eight years worked as an EMT for Care Ambulance Company, prior to that I stayed home with our children. I previously worked for a small business for ten years. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. We are members of Concord Baptist Church.

I have previously served our community as a volunteer Fire Fighter and Medical First Responder. I would like to continue serving our community on the commission if elected. I am available to listen to your input regarding how to best run our community. Please vote for me in the May 20 Primary election.

Mark Lennon can be reached by email mark12ln@peoplepc.com.

I should be elected County Commissioner because I have experience. I served a four year term where I received extensive training. When I served I was the only CCAP (Certified Commissioner Advance Program) Commissioner in the history of Pike County. I went the extra mile to learn more so I could make better informed decisions and serve the people of Pike County better.

I am a successful businessman, having owned and operated Willis Trucking for more than 18 years. I am a school bus driver. I am a member of Pike County Kiwanis Club. I am a former member of the executive board of the West Georgia Boys and Girls Club. I attend Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Molena, Georgia where I served on several different boards and held several different positions.

I was born and raised here in Pike County. I attended and graduated from Pike County High School. My wife and I raised our children in Pike County. Now we are helping to raise our grandchildren here.

When elected your county commissioner, I promise to serve you to the best of my ability. I will see to it that your tax dollars are spent wisely.

Thanking you in advance for your vote and support,
Respectfully, Roosevelt Willis
May God continue to bless you and yours.

My phone is always open for your questions or suggestions at 770-468-5371.

Hello Pike County, my name is Tim Guy. I am running for the County Commission seat for District 2, as a Republican, in the May 20th 2014 election. I am 41 years old and am a lifetime resident of Pike County. I am also a graduate of Pike County High School. I have been a business owner in Pike for 21 years, and have managed rental properties for 15 years. I see why people want to move here to our county, because I too see the good here. I want to work toward maintaining our community in a positive way.

I am also a licensed minister and serve as a missionary. I have served in youth ministry at Molena Baptist Church for 4 years, and have served in both the Dominican Republic, and Panama Canal as a missionary for two years. I am currently working on helping to obtain a water supply and sanitation system for a village in the Dominican Republic. This will provide them with vital clean water and waste management. I have been married to Michelle Sutherland Guy for 15 years, and we have a daughter (Hanna) and two sons (Sailor and Elijah). I have also enjoyed coaching softball and baseball at our local recreation facility for 6 years. I have a heart for serving people, and for assuring that children have a safe, happy, environment to both live and thrive in.

My goal is to establish good relationships and work effectively with the people of the 2nd District, the board members, and the county as a whole. I want to serve you as an informed county commissioner. One that is open to hearing from the community. I want to know the heartbeat of our community, and the only way for me to do that is to have open communication with you.

In turn, I will work with my fellow commissioners, county manager, and staff to obtain positive goals for our county. I am a conservative, and believe in keeping taxes and other expenses as low as possible. Remember, I am also a property and business owner, so these issues effect me as well. I want to be your voice for these and other matters involving our county.

I would like to thank Mrs. Bass, and Mrs. Jarrett for their service to the county over the years. May God bless you both. I will be out visiting the community over the weeks to come, and look forward to meeting you and your families.

Please support me with your vote on May 20th 2014.
God bless you all is my prayer.
Tim Guy for Commissioner

R. H. "Peter" Potter is my name. I would like to introduce myself to the voters of Pike County, District 2. I have been a full-time Pike County resident for over 25 years, graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Library Science, served in the U.S. Marine Corps, received many leadership commendations and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant, and I am a founding member of the local Marine Corps League.

I am a member of the Pike Kiwanis Club, Pike Lions Club, and I am the former chairman of the Pike County library board. As library board chair, I helped turn a dormant library into a community activity center for parents and children, introducing many of Pike's citizens to reading and participating in programs that form a tie between our schools and our communities.

As your elected representative, I would work to implement more effective commission oversight guidance, eliminating the micro-managing that has caused much discourse in county decisions and the turnover of county managers. The current commission has had four county managers in a three-year period. A county commission should ensure that the county manager is free to manage and supervise the county budget without micro-management and interference from the commissioners.

I am available for discussion at your leisure. If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 770-884-5951. It is my desire to serve the county taxpayers with financial oversight and dedication. I would sincerely appreciate your vote on May 20th. I will be your full-time commissioner who is just a phone call away.

Thank your for your vote.

Incumbent Gregory Ryan Edge will continue serving as the BOE District 1 representative with a new 4 year term of office that begins in January. He had no opposition in this election.

In School Board District 2, currently held by Dr. William A. Bell, Allen David Edwards will begin serving as the BOE District 2 representative in January. He had no opposition in this race.

I am a candidate for the 6th district of the Pike County Board of Education.

I am recently retired from the Georgia Department of Corrections after over 30 years of service, the last 16 in Pike County as the warden of the local corrections facility. During that time I managed a staff and volunteer force of almost 100 along with the responsibility of nearly 200 offenders. I managed an annual budget in excess of $800,000 per year, not including personal services.

I have been involved in several community programs which include the Boys and Girls Club, The Family Connections Collaborative, the establishment of the Williamson library, the Molena fire station, the support of many food banks, and emergency relief efforts. I currently serve as chairman of the Pike DFCS board.

My family has been in Pike since 1965. I completed schooling in Pike and Lamar Counties before receiving my B.S.Ed. from the University of Ga. and Master degree from Georgia Southern College. I also have studied business management through Rutgers University and have been an adjunct instructor with the Georgia Corrections Academy and Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC).

I live outside of Zebulon and have two children: a 21 year old son and 17 year old daughter who is a SCTC student.

I will appreciate any support for this position as I believe I can bring new ideas to this arena, examine existing practices and revisit issues that will benefit the children and all citizens of the county.

Edd Sanders can be reached at by email at walkinboss3@gmail.com.

I'm Rev. Fred D. Blackmon and I respectfully ask for your vote for the Pike County School Board 6th District.

Since being on the school board, I've demonstrated a passion for public service and proven leadership in numerous organizations supporting our schools, students and community. For almost 25 years I've used my collaborative approach, well-reasoned decision-making and strong leadership skills to serve our entire community. I stand firm on my record of honesty, integrity and professionalism.

I have always had tremendous admiration for the many people who dedicate so much time and talent to make our schools exceptional. That admiration has strengthened me throughout my years on the board, reaffirming my belief that it's the collective sum of this talent coming together in cooperation that achieves excellence and greatly benefits us all. I would be honored to receive your vote so that I can apply my 25-plus years of executive leadership in the district to ensure that Pike County Schools remain one of the best examples of public schools in the state.

I hope to be able to give back to this community that has already given so much to my family and me. Please remember to vote on May 20. There's no greater responsibility or honor than working to ensure the excellence of our children's education. Please give me the opportunity to do so with your vote.

For information, please call me at 770-468-4006.

Conservative Republican James Clifton, small businessman and local attorney, today announced his campaign to run for State Senate District 16 in the Republican Primary.

Senator Ronnie Chance, who currently holds the seat, announced his plans to not seek re-election last week.

State Senate District 16 is comprised of Fayette, Spalding, Lamar and Pike Counties.

Said Clifton, "I first want to thank Senator Ronnie Chance for his service to our area. He is a great example of the type of leadership the constituents of District 16 deserve. I'm running because we need a leader in the State Senate who will continue that same level and quality of leadership that the people desire. I'll be a strong conservative leader that will serve with integrity, champion the interests of our district and always reflect and stand up for the values we hold dear."

"I'm going to work hard to earn the support of the people of this district. If elected, I will be a strong fiscal conservative. As a small business owner, I understand the importance of frugal spending, which allows me to keep prices down for my clients. I will take the same philosophy to the State Senate to help reduce taxes, balance the budget and limit the size of government. I'll support pro-jobs reforms to grow our local economy and attract high-paying jobs with a special focus on the recovery of the real estate sector. In addition, I'll work to improve education in Georgia and ensure that we preserve the HOPE Scholarship. It is integral in maintaining our state and our country's preeminence in education, and it is vital to future job growth. Lastly, I will stand strong for our conservative values and fight to oppose radical state and federal policies in Georgia," continued Clifton.

The campaign can be followed at Facebook.com/groups/CliftonforSenate.

I, William “Bill” Johnston, a local attorney and native of the area hereby formally announce my candidacy for the 16th Senatorial District of Georgia.

First, I believe it is imperative that I along with all other citizens of the 16th Senatorial District thank Senator Ronnie Chance for ten years of superior service to the citizens of Georgia and the 16th District. Ronnie Chance performed a great job at representing all of the interests of this culturally diverse senatorial district. I will continue on a path of conservative advocacy and representation for all of the citizens of the four counties, Pike, Lamar, Spalding, and Fayette.

My political platform is based on the needs and issues raised by the local taxpayers and is not based on any personal agenda. Remember that as a lawyer, I have been educated and trained with 24 years of experience in representing the interests and concerns of others. Advocacy is my profession, and I will utilize these skills in representing the citizens of the 16th district. Parents of our school age children desire and deserve more safety initiatives for their children on school buses. Children are America’s most precious cargo and should be protected with seatbelts or safety bars, and school systems should be required to provide annual health screenings at least equal to required screenings for truck drivers carrying cargo. The public desires and deserves accountability for their state tax dollars. I question whether the 16th district is receiving the benefit of all of the taxes sent to Atlanta or are the metropolitan counties taking the lion’s share. Finally, the citizens of three counties in our district continue to suffer extraordinary economic hardship and astronomical heights of unemployment. I pledge to open communications with corporate America in attempts to generate business and industrial interest in the district. I further pledge to continue funding for programs at our most prized resources, our educational institutions including our public schools along with the University of Georgia at Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College, and Gordon State College.

I attended the University of Georgia and obtained a B.S. in Microbiology and a law degree. I currently practice business, corporate and estate litigation as a partner in the Griffin law firm of Johnston, Owen & Bullard. My wife, Dixie, and I have been married for 25 years and have two children, Sam, a student at Georgia State University, and Emma, a Senior at Spalding High School. I am member of the Griffin‐Spalding Chamber of Commerce, the Daybreak Rotary Club, the National Rifle Association, and the First United Methodist Church of Griffin wherein I serve as the chairman of the finance committee.

I will be truly and humbly honored to have an opportunity to serve the four counties as your next state senator. Vote for Bill Johnston, your Republican state senator.

The campaign can be followed at: https://www.facebook.com/electjohnstonforsenate.

Lt. Colonel Gil Williams is a Republican and a military veteran committed to service. Gil is seeking the 16th District Senate seat to provide a conservative voice for the citizens of Fayette, Spalding, Lamar and Pike counties. Gil humbly asks for your vote. Gil will fight for the best education system in America, he will fight to bring good jobs to our District, Williams will fight for smaller government, Gil will fight for lower taxes for individuals and businesses who do business in Georgia, Williams will fight to protect our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. To boost our local economy and our quality of life, Williams will encourage Georgia businesses to do business with other businesses in our District and throughout the great State of Georgia.

Some are asking who is Gil Williams? Gil is a Christian, a father, a husband, a Georgian, a war veteran, a businessman, and most importantly; Gil Williams is your neighbor. Gil Williams is a Lt. Colonel in the US Air Force Reserve. He is the son of a military veteran from Columbus, GA. Williams has served over 22 years in the Air Force and is a senior pilot with over 10,000 flight hours. Gil is a decorated war veteran who has supported military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Gil is the recipient of many medals including the Meritorious Service Medal and the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. In Williams’ earlier career, he was a flight instructor and later became a Presidential Airlift Pilot, who flew the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy aircraft. Gil later served as a Department of Defense Liaison Officer to the United States House of Representatives and the Senate. Gil was formerly the Commander of the Command Post at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, Georgia. Gil Williams will be retiring from the military soon, but wants to continue serving his country, the State of Georgia and his community. A citizen-soldier, Gil is a senior pilot at Delta Airlines, which is arguably the best airline in the world and one of the largest employers in the State of Georgia.

Gil is a strong believer in education and is a graduate of Howard University. He holds a Master's Degree in Business (MBA) from the University of Illinois and is a Harvard University Executive Fellow. A committed Christian, Gil attends Flatrock Methodist Church in Fayetteville, GA. Gil has also served as the president of his homeowner's association in Tyrone, Georgia. Gil is an active member of the Rotary Club of Peachtree City. His wife is a registered nurse (RN), a member of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, and also volunteers as the Administrative Director for Counterpane Montessori School in Fayetteville, GA. Gil and Bridgette have four children: Camille, James, Lauren, and Brandon. Lt Colonel Williams is a strong conservative and a proven leader who will fight for you and improvement of your way of life. Please login to his website at: WWW.VOTEGILWILLIAMS.COM to follow his campaign and donate.

Tyrone resident Erik Manning today announced his campaign for Georgia's 16th State Senate District and filed the requisite paperwork to officially qualify to run on the Republican ballot this May. Manning, a decorated Navy Veteran and Project Manager, has been active in the community he seeks to serve. The 16th District covers parts of Fayette County and all of Lamar, Pike and Spalding Counties. Senate Majority Leader Ronnie Chance currently represents the district.

“After much prayer and discussions with my family, and encouragement from many throughout our community, I am excited to announce my candidacy for the Georgia State Senate,” Manning said. “I look forward to bringing principled leadership and a true desire to serve our community to the legislature.”

“During my service in the Navy, I had the privilege of proudly serving our country. Through this experience, I realized that the values and principles that made America the greatest country in the world will always need to be protected, and that remains true now more than ever" said Manning. “I want to continue my service to protect and defend our constitution as a State Senator, representing the people of the 16th District.”

After serving six years with the Navy as a nuclear reactor operator, Manning began his business career. He was quickly promoted numerous times to Project Manager positions responsible for multi-million dollar telecommunications and IT projects across the United States and its territories. Manning earned his MBA from Georgia State University in 2003. Manning is active in the community including holding multiple positions with the Fayette County Republican Party, American Legion Post 105 and is the Past President of the Kiwanis Club of Fayette County. He is married to CindyManning, an attorney and partner at Manning, Levine and Marlow. He is the proud parent of Daniel, 10, Cameron, 3, and Emily, 2. The Mannings attend Southern Crescent Church in Tyrone, where Erik and Cindy head the Church nursery.

The campaign can be followed at: www.electerikmanning.com and www.facebook.com/electerikmanning

Republican businessman and TEA party activist Marty Harbin announced today his candidacy for Georgia State Senate in the 16th district. State Senator Ronnie Chance announced his retirement earlier this week after 10 years in the legislature.

“Ronnie is a good friend and I honor him for giving many years of his life to public service,” said Harbin. “In light of Ronnie’s retirement, I would be honored to represent the voters of the 16th district in the State Senate.”

“I’ve been involved in conservative politics for almost 30 years,” said Harbin. “I have served in volunteer positions in many campaigns for state, local, and national office including Mike Huckabee’s 2008 presidential campaign.”

Harbin is a founding member of the South Atlanta Tea Party and has spoken at Tea Party events across the Third Congressional District. He serves on the Third District Committee as First Vice Chairman and served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2012.

“As a small business owner and Tea Party conservative, I believe I bring the right experience to serve ALL the people of Fayette, Lamar, Spalding, and Pike counties in the State Senate.”

Harbin, a native Georgian, graduated from Georgia State University with a B.B.A. He began his insurance career with The Harbin Agency in 1977 and earned his Certified Insurance Counselor designation in 1993. He is the Owner/President of The Harbin Agency, Inc., an independent insurance agency, which employees seventeen associates. He is also a Registered Representative with Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.

Marty and Debbie Harbin have been married for over 35 years and are the proud parents of six children and also have four wonderful grandchildren. They live in Tyrone and are active members of Fayetteville First Baptist Church where Marty serves as Deacon and Sunday School teacher.

Citizens with questions, comments, or who wish to volunteer to get involved with the campaign are encouraged to email votemartyharbin@gmail.com, or call 404-216-3865.

The campaign can be followed at: http://www.votemartyharbin.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/VoteMartyHarbin

Fayette County native David Studdard announced his campaign for the Georgia State Senate today in Fayetteville. Studdard - a veteran of the United States Navy and former Atlanta Police Officer – is also a former chairman of the Fayette County Republican Party.

“Fighting Obamacare in Georgia is a top priority,” said Studdard, “my position is to repeal it and I will work with our congressmen and senators to move in that direction. Anything less would be a disservice to my voters.”

The Republican Primary election to fill the seat of Fayette County’s State Senator Ronnie Chance will be held on May 20th and a run-off, should it be necessary will be held on July 22nd. Studdard is the only candidate in the race with former military experience, experience as a police officer and as a prosecutor.

David Studdard is a pro-life conservative who attends St. Gabrielle’s Catholic Church in Fayetteville. Studdard lives in Fayetteville with his wife Sheila and son Jack.

The campaign can be followed at: http://davidstuddard.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/david.studdard.5?fref=ts