Oconee County Resident Announces Plans To Run In 119th State House District, But No Election Date Has Been Set

Thomas Lord, 1172 Bridlegate Drive, off Astondale Road in the south of Oconee County, has announced that he plans to run for the 119th House District seat that became vacant on Monday when Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Chuck Williams as director of the state Forestry Commission.

Lord is owner of Lord and Stephens Funeral Homes, with locations in Athens-Clarke County, Madison County and Oconee County.

The 119th is roughly evenly split in number of registered voters between Clarke County and Oconee County.

Gov. Nathan Deal has 30 days after an elected office becomes vacant to call a special election, and by the end of the day Wednesday he had not done so.

Pat Hayes, Oconee County Director of Elections and Registration, said Wednesday that she has been given no guidance yet on timing for a special election for the 119th or for the 117th House District.

The 117th District also includes parts of Oconee County and is vacant because of the resignation of Regina Quick.

For more on the election story, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Thomas Lord