Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for October 14, 2025

On October 14, 1735, John and Charles Wesley sailed with James Oglethorpe from Gravesend, England, for Georgia and John Wesley wrote the first entry in his journal that would eventually cover 55 years. On that date, John Wesley wrote,

Our end in leaving our native country, was not to avoid want, (God having given us plenty of temporal blessings,) nor to gain the dung or dross of riches or honour; but singly this, to save our souls; to live wholly to the glory of God.

The First Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Colonial Rights in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 14, 1774.

Then-former President Theodore Roosevelt was shot before a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 14, 1912.

Roosevelt, who suffered only a flesh wound from the attack, went on to deliver his scheduled speech with the bullet still in his body. After a few words, the former “Rough Rider” pulled the torn and bloodstained manuscript from his breast pocket and declared, “You see, it takes more than one bullet to kill a Bull Moose.” He spoke for nearly an hour and then was rushed to the hospital.

A.A. Milne published Winnie-the-Pooh on October 14, 1926. E. H. Shepard illustrated the Pooh books.

The War Department renamed Wellston Air Depot to Warner Robins Air Force Depot to honor Brigadier General Augustine Warner Robins on October 14, 1942.

On October 14, 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr. was announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming Georgia’s first native-born winner. The Atlanta Journal Constitution has a story on how King’s Nobel Prize effected Atlanta.

The honor wasn’t just a watershed for King and the civil rights movement but also for Atlanta. It set off a series of events that some say fundamentally changed the city’s business, religious and racial cultures by bringing blacks and whites together for the first time to share a meal in public.

That simple act, holding a multi-racial banquet in the new Nobel laureate’s honor, tested the will and even the nerves of those determined to make Atlanta a more just and inclusive place.

“It was a defining moment in the history of the city, and it should go down in the city’s documented memory,” said Janice R. Blumberg, the widow of Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, who was instrumental in organizing the event.

King’s three surviving children are due in court in December to determine if the 23-karat gold medal — along with a Bible their father once owned — should be sold at auction. Brothers Martin Luther King III and Dexter King, representing the King Estate, plan to sell the items. Sister Bernice King has opposed the sale.

Mayor Allen and J. Paul Austin, chairman of Coca-Cola, gathered the business elite at the Piedmont Driving Club. Allen warned then he would be taking notes on who did not attend the dinner. But Austin delivered the crushing blow.

According to Young’s written account, Austin said: “It is embarrassing for Coca-Cola to be located in a city that refuses to honor its Nobel Prize winner. We are an international business. The Coca-Cola Company does not need Atlanta. You all have to decide whether Atlanta needs the Coca-Cola Company.”

On October 14, 1972, the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta opened.

On October 14, 1980, Republican candidate for President Ronald Reagan announced he would name a woman to the Supreme Court if elected.

To achieve those ends, we need the best people possible at the highest levels of Government regardless of sex, race or religion. I am also acutely aware, however, that within the guidelines of excellence, appointments can carry enormous symbolic significance. This permits us to guide by example, to show how deep our commitment is and to give meaning to what we profess.

One way I intend to live up to that commitment is to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court. I am announcing today that one of the first Supreme Court vacancies in my administration will be filled by the most qualified woman I can find, one who meets the high standards I will demand for all my appointments.

It is time for a woman to sit among our highest jurists. I will also seek out women to appoint to other Federal courts in an effort to bring about a better balance on the Federal bench.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Today is the first day of early voting in the Public Service Commission special elections and local elections scheduled for November 4, 2024, according to The Brunswick News.

Early voting polls open today in the elections for Brunswick mayor, North and South ward city commissioners and two Public Service Commission seats.

Incumbent Mayor Cosby Johnson is facing only one challenger, former City Commissioner Vincent T. Williams. Williams did not seek reelection to his North Ward seat in 2021 in order to run against Johnson in the last mayoral race.

City Commissioners Kendra Rolle and Felicia Harris, representing the North and South wards, respectively, are unopposed.

Incumbent PSC District 2 Commissioner Tim Echols, a Republican, is facing Democrat Alicia Smith in the race for the seat. District 2 includes much of the eastern portion of Middle Georgia.

In the District 3 race, Republican incumbent Fitz Johnson is running against Peter Hubbard, a Democrat. District 3 represents a large chunk of metro Atlanta.

Early voting will end Oct. 31.

Bryan County voters will vote on a Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) referendum, according to WSAV.

FLOST is essentially an extra penny at the checkout counter, according to Bryan County Commission Chairman Carter Infinger. If FLOST passes, it could lower the millage rate in Bryan County and its cities by as much as 64 percent.

Bryan County’s current millage rate sits at 5.7 mills, and could be lowered to 2.1. Richmond Hill’s rate is at 4.1 mills and could be decreased to 1.5. The same goes for Pembroke, which has a 10 millage rate and could be lowered to 3.6 mills.

The reduction of the millage rate will lead to lower property taxes, according to Chairman Infinger. He said most of those pennies will come from visitors.

“About 65 to 70 percent of that or even more comes from people that are passing through our county at the gas stations and those who shop here,” Chairman Infinger said.

Infinger said keeping the millage rate low is a priority for the county. The commission recently approved a rollback of the millage rate for the ninth year in a row.

“We don’t want to tax people out of their homes. We really want to help people be able to stay, especially our seniors,” Infinger said.

If passed, FLOST would be in effect for five years. The tax would start being collected in 2026 and show up on residents’ 2027 property tax bill.

Earlier this year, Bryan County residents rejected the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST). Some residents told WSAV News 3 that they’re “being taxed egregiously”. Chairman Infinger said he couldn’t comment on that vote but hopes to see a good turnout this election.

Early voting begins Tuesday and goes through Oct. 31. Election day is Nov. 4.

From the Gwinnett Daily Post:

The first votes in crucial elections for city leadership posts, Gwinnett’s proposed E-SPLOST, a special election for a state house seat and the state’s Public Service Commission will be dropped in the ballot box on Tuesday.

With Monday being the Columbus Day holiday, early voting for the city, county and state elections began a day later than they usually would. There will be 18 continuous days of early voting for the county and state elections, including two Saturdays and two Sundays, at 12 advance voting sites located around the county.

This will be an unusually busy early voting period because voters who live in cities that are holding elections this year will have to go to two different polling locations: one for the city elections and another for the E-SPLOST, House District 106 special election and PSC votes.

But, while the city elections will determine who leads Gwinnett’s cities and the PSC elections determine who will help oversee public utilities in Georgia, now race in the county will be as closely watched as the E-SPLOST election.

Although E-SPLOSTs have traditionally passed in Gwinnett County, there has been vocal pushback this time around over school system spending and a vote to opt out of a floating statewide homestead exemption. That has created quiet concern among E-SPLOST supporters that this could be the year when voters break with tradition and opt to discontinue the education-oriented sales tax.

If the referendum passes, the E-SPLOST would raise $1.47 billion for Gwinnett County Public Schools and Buford City Schools. GCPS would get $1.44 billion while Buford City Schools would get $34.8 million.

As for the cities, Auburn, Berkeley Lake, Braselton, Dacula, Duluth, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Norcross, Snellville, Sugar Hill and Suwanee all have at least one contested seat in this year’s municipal elections.

Among those cities, Braselton, Loganville and Sugar Hill have contested mayoral races in addition to contested city council races.

Berkeley Lake had a special election scheduled for one City Council seat in addition to a contested regularly scheduled election for other council seats. One of the two candidates for the special election dropped out, however.

Lilburn and Norcross are also holding homestead exemption referendums. Lilburn’s homestead measure includes a property assessment cap provision as well.

From Georgia Recorder:

Grab your ID and get ready to head to the polls: Tuesday marks the first day of early voting for the 2025 statewide and municipal election in Georgia.

This year’s Nov. 4 general election is set to include candidates for two seats on the state’s five-member Public Service Commission, the body that regulates utilities like Georgia Power and plays an important role in deciding how much Georgians pay for services like electricity and natural gas.

Georgia offers three weeks of early voting, which for this election will begin on Oct. 14 and conclude on Oct. 31. Early voting is offered during the week and on some Saturdays at most locations, and will also be available on Sundays in some counties.

What is on my ballot besides the PSC?

The Public Service Commission election will be the only statewide office on the ballot this fall, but some cities and towns are also scheduled to hold municipal elections for offices like mayor, city council, and school board. Some Georgia residents will also be able to vote on local ballot initiatives. To find your sample ballot, visit the secretary of state’s My Voter Page tool online.

Where can I vote early?

Unlike election day voting, when residents must cast a ballot at their assigned polling place, voters are free to visit any early voting location in their county. The Georgia Recorder has compiled a list of early voting locations, which can be viewed in map or list form. Use the search function to more easily find early voting locations in your county.

What do I need to bring with me to the polls?

Voters in Georgia are required to present a photo ID, such as a driver’s license or U.S. passport, when voting in person or by mail.

According to the secretary of state’s website, accepted forms of identification include:

A Georgia driver’s license
A student ID from any of Georgia’s public colleges, universities, or technical colleges (private college and university IDs do not count)
A valid employee photo ID from any agency, branch, department or entity of the U.S. government
A valid U.S. passport
A valid U.S. military photo ID
A valid tribal photo ID
Voters can also present a free Voter Identification Card, which can be issued at any county registrar’s office or Department of Driver Services Office in Georgia.

Those who choose to vote absentee must also submit some form of identification, such as their driver’s license number, along with their ballot. If you don’t have a driver’s license or voter identification card, you can also include a copy of one of the other accepted forms of ID or another document — such as a utility bill or bank statement — that shows your name and address.

From the AJC:

In metro Atlanta, most suburban cities stagger representatives’ four-year terms, so only about half the City Council seats are on the ballot every two years. Because many mayors serve four-year terms, some cities are holding mayoral elections this year, while others will elect mayors in 2027.

Atlanta is an exception, with the mayor, City Council president and all 15 council seats on the ballot this year.

In the Atlanta suburbs, mayoral races in Chattahoochee Hills, South Fulton and Stone Mountain have recently generated controversy.

In Atlanta, Mayor Andre Dickens is running for reelection against three political newcomers: Helmut Love Domagalski, Kalema Jackson and Eddie Andrew Meredith.

Perhaps the most hotly contested race in Atlanta is that of City Council president, elected citywide. The president casts tiebreaking votes, assigns committee chairs, facilitates meetings and serves as a liaison to the mayor.

Aside from the president and District 11 seats, two other council spots are wide-open after incumbents chose not to run. District 2 council member Amir Farokhi resigned this summer to take a job as a private school principal. And after more than two decades in office, District 7 representative Howard Shook, the council’s finance guru, is retiring.

Governor Brian Kemp announced his appointment of Judge Susan Sarratt Camp as Douglas County State Court Judge, according to a press release.

Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced his appointment of the Honorable Susan Camp as State Court Judge for Douglas County, filling the vacancy created by the passage of HB 1236.

Judge Susan Sarratt Camp has served as a Magistrate Judge for Douglas County since 1995 and was first elected to the Chief Magistrate Judge position in 1998. She was honored to be the first elected female judge in Douglas County and has spent nearly three decades serving the community from the bench. Prior to her judicial service, Judge Camp worked as an assistant district attorney in the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit in North Georgia and later entered private practice in Douglasville. Judge Camp earned both her Bachelor of Business Administration and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Georgia. She is the proud mother of two sons and resides in Douglas County.

Brunswick Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Bert Guy was charged with DUI in Jacksonville, Florida, according to The Brunswick News.

Judge Robert “Bert” Guy, 48, was allegedly attempting to leave Wacko’s Gentlemen’s Club at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday when he backed his Mercedes E300 into a Ford F-150 in the parking lot, a report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office obtained by The News said.

Deputies noted that Guy appeared visibly intoxicated when they spoke to him and that he smelled of alcohol.

Another report said that Guy refused breath tests at Duval County Jail.

He was booked there on charges of driving under the influence. He was released on $3,000 bond, jail records show.

Guy serves as the president of the Georgia Council of Superior Court Judges. He began his term in that role on May 1.

Guy was elected to the bench in 2016 and has served as a judge in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, which includes Glynn, Camden, Wayne, Appling and Jeff Davis counties, since 2017.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Guy has already notified the Judicial Qualifications Commission of the incident. The commission was created to conduct investigations and hearings with respect to complaints of ethical misconduct by Georgia judges.

Some Valdosta residents are concerned after the City Manager and Assistant Manager resigned, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.

The resignations of both City Manager Richard Hardy and Assistant City Manager Catherine Ammons has left many Valdosta residents angry and concerned with transparency from city officials. This is the most recent in a wave of grievances from the community, and tension between the people of Valdosta and the government meant to serve them has reached a new peak.

Much of the dissatisfaction from the community stems from feeling that the council is not being fully transparent with its citizens. This decision was announced after an executive session lasting over two hours, leaving many residents who attended the meeting frustrated and disappointed with the way it was handled.

Members of the city council left right after the meeting adjourned, so many attendees stated that they were angry at how their representatives did not stick around to hear them after such an important decision.

“If the goal of city government is to engage the community, for the community to participate, this is antithetical to that purpose,” Louis Gordon, a community member and founder of the local non-profit Veve, said. “People came here tonight and sat in a hallway for two and a half hours, and the council’s gone. These are people we voted in. If I’m pissed off, everyone should be here.”

This lack of presence is not limited to city council meetings; many expressed their resentment at the fact that many council members have not been out in their communities since they were elected.

Hardy’s resignation was followed by the resignation of Assistant City Manager Catherine Ammons, leaving both positions vacant until a new candidate can be put in place. Matheson will be taking up Hardy’s responsibilities until a new city manager is put into office. Until then, the city is bracing for the impact.

The Statesboro Herald is hosting a forum today with Statesboro Mayor Jonathan McCollar and challenger Raymond Harris.

“The forum is a good way for voters to meet the candidates and ask questions directly,” said Jim Healy, operations manager and editor for the Statesboro Herald. “The city is in the midst of seeing significant growth, adding thousands of housing units and figuring out an infrastructure plan at the same time. And how is all of that paid for? These are the type of questions the public can ask Mayor McCollar and Mr. Harris.”

Healy will be the moderator for the forum.  The Herald will have some prepared questions for candidates. Also, audience members may submit questions on note cards, and a selection of those will be asked within the time limits of the forum.

Former Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley announced his campaign for Mayor, according to WRBL.

Former Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley is officially entering the 2026 race for mayor and said on Monday that he’s running to win.

Hugley made the announcement Monday morning before a crowd of nearly 400 supporters at Warehouse 9 in Midtown.

He’s one of seven candidates currently in the race to replace outgoing Mayor Skip Henderson, who is term-limited.

“My name is Isaiah Hugley. I’m running to be the 71st mayor of Columbus, Georgia,” He told the crowd to cheers and applause.

Hugley’s campaign launch comes months after his controversial firing in May, when the City Council voted to remove him from the city manager role he held for two decades.

Despite that, Hugley said he’s focused on moving forward.

“You have not heard me talk about what happened in May, and that is because I’ve turned the other cheek,” Hugley said. “God spoke with me and said, ‘Be still,’ and I’ve obeyed God. We are moving forward — one goal, one future, one Columbus together. We are going to unite this city.”

Among those in attendance was former Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, who served from 2010 to 2018.

“I think what you see is that he’s ready to put that behind him — and so are all of us,” Tomlinson said. “It was a sad day in the history of this city. Now, the fact that there are city councilors running against him — well, they’ll have to get up and state what they’re running for. But Isaiah has spent over 30 years making things happen in the city.”

The former city manager, who served a total of 41 years in city government, emphasized his experience and long-standing commitment to Columbus.

“For 20 of those years, I had the honor to serve as your city manager,” Hugley said. “From the very first day I stepped into city government, I knew then I wanted to be your mayor.”

Hugley’s family is well-known in Columbus politics. His wife, Carolyn Hugley, is a Georgia state representative and the House Democratic leader. His sister, Pat Hugley Green, chairs the Muscogee County School Board.

Together, the Hugleys have run more than 20 political campaigns without a loss — though this will be Isaiah Hugley’s first citywide race.

The mayor’s seat will become vacant when Mayor Skip Henderson’s term ends in December 2026.

Candidate qualifying begins in March, and Election Day is set for May 20, 2026.

From WTVM:

The Columbus City Council voted 7-3 to terminate Hugley from his city manager position on May 27. Council members cited ongoing issues within the departments he oversaw and demonstrated a lack of leadership as reasons for his dismissal.

At the time of his firing, Hugley told supporters, “There is more to come, you haven’t seen the last of me.”

Despite his termination, Hugley received endorsements from several city officials, state representatives and local residents at Monday’s announcement.

Former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson praised Hugley’s tenure as city manager.

“I had the opportunity to work with Isaiah for eight years, he is the most dutiful city manager we have had,” Tomlinson said.

Hugley outlined his mayoral platform, focusing on addressing poverty, youth violence, affordable housing and unifying Columbus.

Hugley concluded his announcement with an optimistic message for the city’s future.

“Our best days are not behind us, they are straight ahead. Brighter days are ahead. Thank you Columbus, God bless you and God bless the city of Columbus Georgia,” Hugley said.

Bibb County Schools want to reduce chronic absenteeism among students, according to 13WMAZ.

Chronic absenteeism — defined by the state as missing more than 10% of the school year — remains a persistent problem in Bibb County and across Georgia.

Last year, state officials reported that one in five students met that threshold, a statistic that has prompted district leaders to double down on efforts to keep students in class.

“We have seen some trend data with our students being absent on Friday and even sometimes on Monday after school breaks,” said Takeysha Lewis, Bibb County’s attendance and transfer coordinator. “I think that is again attributed to us really wanting to communicate to our parents and to our students that no day is a day off, whether a student is absent because they’re sick or whether they are just absent. Every day counts.”

Lewis said the district’s efforts to address absenteeism are multi-faceted, involving not just school staff but also parents and the broader community.

“Chronic absenteeism is an issue that has impacted not just Bibb County, but nationally post-COVID,” she said. “We are dealing with what everyone across the nation is dealing with as it relates to our chronic absenteeism rates.”

“We have support for families who are homeless, for those going through medical issues, and for families who may need help meeting daily basic needs,” Lewis said. “Schools are set and ready to provide the support. We just want to make sure that we get the message out that we want our students here. We need our students here in school.”

At Bruce Elementary, Principal Kizzie Lott has seen firsthand how targeted interventions can make a difference.

This year, the school has employed a student engagement facilitator who works directly with the school counselor to address chronic absenteeism. The school also receives extra support through the district’s truancy interventions.

“Due to us being a state-identified school, we do receive extra support through our truancy interventions,” Lott said. “Support is provided with those families who are struggling with absenteeism, and figuring out what the root cause of it is, and then how we as a school district can employ resources to support families who are struggling.”

Lott said the school’s goal is to reduce the percentage of chronically absent students from 36% last year to 22% this year.

Bibb County schools have also launched a 30-day push initiative aimed at improving student attendance and reading skills. The campaign encourages parents to sign off daily on their child’s participation, with school leaders hoping the focused effort will boost engagement and reduce absences before the next school break.

Augusta City Commissioners are considering spending nearly a million dollars on new municipal vehicles, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

The city’s Administrative Services Committee will look at spending more than $942,000 on 18 new vehicles.

If approved by the full Augusta Commission, Augusta Animal Services would receive two 2026 Ford F-250 trucks, upfitted with compartments for animal transport, each priced at $72,145. The 2012 and 2013 F-250s currently in use have logged more than 168,000 miles and more than 137,000 miles, respectively.

The Richmond County Marshal’s Office would get five 2026 Dodge Durango Pursuits, police-equipped SUVs totaling $266,552.70. Four would be equipped with caging for safe, secure transport. The vehicles would replace five that meet the city’s replacement criteria and are nearing the end of their useful lives.

The Augusta Fire Department would receive 11 vehicles costing $531,620.04 – five 2026 Ford Maverick pickup trucks; two 2025 Ford Explorers; a 2026 Ford Transit 250 cargo van; a 15-passenger Ford Transit van; a 2026 Ford F-250 extended-cab truck; and a 2026 Ford F-250 crew-cab truck.