Local Democratic Candidates Look Ahead To November

Lacking opposition in the party primary on Tuesday, the five local Democratic candidates speaking at the party meeting last month focused not on this week’s election but on the election on November 3.

Jonathan Wallace, seeking election to the Georgia House of Representatives, said he was motivated to run because of redistricting.

Zachary Perry said that his primary focus in his effort to be elected to the Georgia Senate is reform of labor law.

Eric Gisler, running for chair of the Oconee County Board of Commissioners, said he was focusing on transparency, accountability and smart growth for Oconee County in his campaign.

Laura Ormes, seeking Post 4 on the Oconee County Board of Education, said she wants to bring diversity of viewpoints to the Board of Education but she also is concerned about the “animosity” between the School Board and the Board of Commissioners.

Joan Parker, seeking Post 5 on the School Board, said she wants to add more life skills to the middle school curriculum.

The five were preceded in the Zoom virtual session by Sarah Riggs Amico, one of the candidates competing for the Democratic nomination to run against Republican incumbent David Perdue for the U.S. Senate seat in November.

Also part of the mix was Jimmy Williams, one of three candidates seeking to become Probate Court Judge in Oconee County in the nonpartisan election held in conjunction with the party primaries on Tuesday.

If none of the candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate or seeking to be Probate Judge wins a majority once voting is completed on Tuesday, a runoff will be held on Aug. 11.

Polls will be open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters can turn in an Absentee ballot at the secure drop box at the Board of Elections and Registration Office, 10 Court Street, across from the Courthouse in Watkinsville, until 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

For more on the story, with a video of the Democratic Party meeting, please go to Oconee County Observations.