Atlanta Progressive News

 

With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale

 

(APN) ATLANTA — Candidate qualifying for Primary Elections and Nonpartisan Elections [such as judicial races] was held on March 03 through March 07, 2014.  Many candidates qualified for a variety of seats.

In addition, the first of two periods of candidate qualifying was held for independent and political body [minor political party] candidates during the same period.  Five independent candidates qualified, including incumbent State Rep. Rusty Kidd (I-Milledgeville), and four others for State House seats.

This article will be the second in a three-part series providing a broad overview of the races.  This part will look at State House and State Senate races.

CHANGES TO PRIMARY CALENDAR IMPACT INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES

Earlier this year, the Georgia Legislature passed HB 310, moving up state and local elections to May, after Georgia’s primary for federal races was already moved up to May in response to a federal court ruling.

HB 310 also impacts independent and political body candidates.  Previously, under OCGA 21-2-132, independent and political body candidates had two chances to qualify by turning in paperwork and a qualifying fee: one in April and one in June.  HB 310 made the first qualifying period for independent and political body candidates in March, instead of April.

Five independent candidates qualified last week, but they still have to turn in petition signatures to get on the ballot.  At least two candidates–Bill Bozarth in House District 54 and Randy New in House District 56–are looking to qualify in June.  Bozarth has already collected about one thousand signatures, he told Atlanta Progressive News.  New has collected less than one hundred, according to his campaign.

STATE HOUSE – DISTRICTS INCLUDING PARTS OF FULTON COUNTY

DISTRICT 22

Incumbent State Rep. Sam Moore (R-Macedonia) faces Republican challengers Meagan C. Biello from Canton and Wesley E. “Wes” Cantrell from Woodstock in the Primary.  The primary winner has no Democratic challenger in the general election.  This district includes part of Milton in north Fulton.

DISTRICT 25

Incumbent State Rep. Michael J. Dudgeon (R-Johns Creek) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 40

Incumbent State Rep. Richard M. “Rich” Golick (R-Smyrna) will face Democratic challenger Erick E. Allen from Atlanta.  This district includes a portion of Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood.

DISTRICT 45

Incumbent State Rep. Matt Dollar (R-Marietta) has no challenger.  This district includes part of Sandy Springs.

DISTRICT 47

Incumbent State Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 48

Incumbent State Rep. Harry Geisinger (R-Roswell) will face Democratic challenger James W. “Jimmy” Johnson from Roswell.

DISTRICT 49

Incumbent State Rep. Chuck Martin Jr (R-Alpharetta) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 50

Incumbent State Rep. Lynne Riley (R-Johns Creek) will face Democratic challenger Paul M. Troop from Alpharetta.

DISTRICT 51

Incumbent State Rep. Wendell K. Willard (R-Sandy Springs) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 52

Incumbent State Rep. Joseph B. “Joe” Wilkinson (R-Atlanta) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 53

Incumbent State Rep. Sheila Jones (D-Atlanta) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 54

State Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta) is running for U.S. Congress.  Four Republicans will compete against each other in the Republican Primary.  They are Beth Beskin from Atlanta, who challenged State Sen. Horacena Tate (R-Atlanta) in 2010 and who served as Gov. Nathan Deal’s liaison to Atlanta Public Schools during its accreditation crisis; John J. McCloskey from Atlanta, Loretta A. Lepore from Atlanta; and S. Angelic Moore from Atlanta.

The Republican winner will run against Democratic candidate Robert W. “Bob” Gibeling in the General Election.  Gibeling is a native of Atlanta and is an openly homosexual candidate.

Meanwhile, Bozarth, the former Executive Director of Common Cause Georgia, who currently served on the Atlanta Citizens Review Board, is collecting signatures to run as an independent candidate in the General Election.

DISTRICT 55

Incumbent State Rep.Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 56

Incumbent State Rep. “Able” Mable” Thomas (D-Atlanta) has no challenger in the Democratic Primary.  Mr. New is collecting signatures to run as an independent candidate in the General Election.

DISTRICT 57

Incumbent State Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 58

Incumbent State Rep. Simone Bell (D-Atlanta) faces Democratic challenger Erica Morris Long from Atlanta in the Democratic Primary.  The primary winner has no Republican challenger.

In 2012, Rep. Bell defeated Rep. Ralph Long (D-Atlanta)–Erica Morris Long’s husband–when they were redistricted to live in the same district.

This year, former Rep. Long told Atlanta Progressive News he was going to run for Fulton County Commission.  

According to Georgia Voice magazine, Rep. Bell posted a tweet alleging that Rep. Long showed up at the Capitol and threatened Bell that if she did not stop supporting Long’s opponent in the Fulton County race–presumably Brenda Muhammad–that Long would challenge Bell for the House seat.

Well, Rep. Long did not run for either Fulton County Commission or State House; however, his wife–a political operative–is running for the State House seat.

DISTRICT 59

Incumbent State Rep. Margaret Kaiser (D-Atlanta) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 60

Incumbent State Rep. Keisha Sean Waites (D-Atlanta) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 61

Incumbent State Rep. Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 62

Incumbent State Rep. LaDawn Blackett “LBJ” Jones (D-Atlanta) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 63

Incumbent State Rep. Ronnie Mabra (D-Fayetteville) has no challenger.  This district includes part of College Park and unincorporated south Fulton

DISTRICT 64

Incumbent State Rep. Virgil L. Fludd (D-Tyrone) has no challenger.  This district includes part of College Park, Union City, and unincorporated south Fulton.

DISTRICT 65

Incumbent State Rep. Sharon Beasley-Teague (D-Red Oak) has no challenger.  This district includes part of Chattahoochee Hills, Union City, and unincorporated south Fulton.

DISTRICT 80

Incumbent State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Atlanta) will face Republican challenger Catherine S. Bernard from Atlanta in the Primary.  The primary winner has no Democratic challenger in the general election.  This district includes part of Sandy Springs in Fulton and Brookhaven in DeKalb.

DISTRICT 95

Incumbent Thomas R. “Tom” Rice (R-Norcross) will face Democratic challenger Amreeta Regmi from Peachtree Corners.  This district includes a sliver of Johns Creek in north Fulton.

STATE HOUSE – DISTRICTS INCLUDING PARTS OF DEKALB COUNTY

DISTRICT 79

Incumbent State Rep. Thomas K. “Tom” Taylor (R-Dunwoody) will face Republican challenger James Bradley “Brad” Goodchild from Dunwoody in the primary.  The primary winner has no Democratic challenger in the general election.

DISTRICT 80

Incumbent State Rep. Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta) will face Republican challenger James R. “Jim” Duffie from Chamblee.

DISTRICT 82

Incumbent State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Atlanta) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 83

Incumbent State Rep. Howard Mosby (D-Atlanta) will face Republican Freddy W. Holley from Decatur.

DISTRICT 84

Incumbent State Rep. Rahn Mayo (D-Decatur) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 85

Incumbent State Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 86

Incumbent State Rep. Michele Henson (D-Stone Mountain) will face Democratic challenger Jacqueline L. Adams from Clarkston in the Democratic Primary.  The Democratic primary winner has no Republican challenger.

DISTRICT 87

Incumbent State Rep. Earnest “Coach” Williams (D-Avondale) will face against Democratic challenger Ivy J. Green from Stone Mountain in the Democratic Primary.  The Democratic winner of the primary has no Republican challenger.

DISTRICT 88

Incumbent State Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 89

Incumbent State Rep. Stacey Abrams (D-Atlanta) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 90

Incumbent State Rep. Pamela S. Stephenson (D-Lithonia) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 91

Incumbent State Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D-Lithonia) will face Democratic challenger Diane D. Adoma from Conyers in the primary.  The Democratic primary winner has no opponent.

DISTRICT 92

Incumbent State Rep. Tonya P. Anderson (D-Lithonia) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 93

Incumbent State Rep. Darshun Nicole Kendrick (D-Lithonia) has no challenger.

DISTRICT 94

Incumbent State Rep. Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain) will run against Republican challenger Freddy W. Holley from Decatur.

STATE SENATE – DISTRICTS INCLUDING PARTS OF FULTON COUNTY

DISTRICT 6

Incumbent State Sen. Hunter Hill (R-Atlanta) will face Democratic challenger Antron D. Johnson from Marietta in the general election.

DISTRICT 21

Incumbent State Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) will run unopposed.

DISTRICT 28

Incumbent State Sen. Mike Crane (R-Newnan) will face Democratic challenger Cynthia Corradt Bennett from Newnan.  This district includes part of Chattahoochee Hills in south Fulton.

DISTRICT 32

Incumbent State Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) has no challenger.  This district includes part of Sandy Springs in north Fulton.

DISTRICT 35

Incumbent State Sen. Donzella James (D-Atlanta) will face Republican challenger Francisco X. R. Artley from Douglasville.

DISTRICT 36

Incumbent State Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) will face Democratic challenger Angela Stovall from Atlanta in the primary election.  The winner of the primary will not face a Republican candidate in November.

DISTRICT 38

Incumbent State Sen. Horacena Tate (D-Atlanta) will face A. Reginald Crossley from Atlanta in the Democratic Primary.  The winner of the primary will not face a Republican candidate in the November general election.

DISTRICT 39

Incumbent State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) will face Republican challenger Robert W. Tindall from Atlanta in the general election.

DISTRICT 44

Incumbent State Sen. Gail Davenport (D-Jonesboro) will face Marcus Eugene Davis from Rex in the primary.  This district includes part of Atlanta.

DISTRICT 48

Incumbent State Sen. David J. Shafer (R-Duluth) will face Democrat Rick Underwood in the General Election.  This district includes part of Johns Creek in north Fulton.  

DISTRICT 56

Incumbent State Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) will face Democratic challenger Akhtar Sadiq from Roswell.

STATE SENATE – DISTRICTS INCLUDING PART OF DEKALB COUNTY

DISTRICT 10

Incumbent State Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) has no opponents.

DISTRICT 40

Incumbent State Sen. Fran Millar (R-Atlanta) will face Richard D. “Dick” Anderson from Atlanta in the Republican Primary.

Democratic candidates Benedict I. Truman II from Atlanta and Tamara Y. Johnson from Tucker run against each other in the Democratic Primary.

The winners of each respective primary will face each other in the general election.

DISTRICT 41

Incumbent State Sen. Steve Henson (D-Tucker) has no opponents.

DISTRICT 42

Incumbent State Sen. Jason Carter (D-Atlanta) is running for Governor of Georgia.

Democratic candidates Elena C. Parent from Atlanta and R. Kyle Williams from Decatur are running against each other in the Democratic Primary.

Republican Gregory E. “Greg” Williams from Decatur will run against the winner of the Democratic Primary race in the General Election.

DISTRICT 43

Incumbent State Sen. Ronald Ramsey (D-Lithonia) has no challengers.

DISTRICT 55

Incumbent State Sen. Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain) will face Democratic challenger Mark Anthony Williams from Snellville in the primary.  The winner of the primary does not have a Republican opponent.

(END/2014)