Jere Wood To Run For State House Seat

ROSWELL, GA -- Roswell's outgoing mayor, whose appealing a court decision that ruled he was ineligible to seek a fifth, four-year term in 2013, does not plan to fade out of the public eye any time soon. Jere Wood on Wednesday announced that he will run for the State House District 48 seat held by Rep. Betty Price, a legislator he's criticized for having a hand in trying to remove him from office.

Wood made the announcement at a gathering for hundreds of friends held at his home, and used the opportunity to thank his supporters who've stood by his side during his 20-year tenure in office.

"They have been my most productive years and the great joy of my life," he said in prepared comments shared with Patch, adding his goal when he was elected mayor in 1997 at the age of 49 was to make the city the "best place to live" in the Peach State.

The House District 48 seat has been held by Rep. Price since 2015. As North Fulton residents and Patch readers know, Rep. Price is the wife of former U.S. Health Secretary Tom Price. Price, who formerly represented the state's 6th Congressional District, resigned earlier this year after questions were raised over his use of a private jet.

A bid to run for the House District 48 seat, Wood said, will allow him to continue efforts to make Roswell a better place to live. He also said he feels more qualified to help the city today than when he was first elected.

"I have more experience in getting things done," he added. "Most importantly, over my 20 years as mayor (I) have made friends and I have developed personal relationships that I can use to help my hometown."

He added he can best help the city and the district by running for the May 22 Republican primary for the seat, which covers a good chunk of the city.

"House District 48 and the city of Roswell need a new face at the capital," he added. "They need a representative who knows Roswell, who listens to Roswell and who can work well with other to get things done for Roswell. I am the best person for that job."

If elected, Wood said he plans to collaborate with other north Fulton County legislators to limit tax increases, improve the transportation network in Roswell and get funding for "21st century infrastructure
improvements, including better internet connections to be used by the businesses that are coming
to Roswell."

Wood has locked horns with the incumbent state representative, accusing Rep. Price of supporting a push by resident Michael Litten to have him removed from office. Litten, who ran for mayor in the Nov. 7 general election, sued Wood, claiming he was not qualified to seek a fifth, four-year term in 2013 due to the city's charter imposing term limits. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Scwhall ruled in favor of Litten's petition, but allowed Wood to appeal the decision so he could serve out the rest of his term.

The mayor alleges Price's attendance of a court hearing in May was not "normal," and accused her of passing notes to Litten's counsel. Price told Patch that sat in on the hearing because the courtroom was next to the state capitol.

"Out of curiosity, I just went over there," she said, noting she sat in the middle of the seats reserved for the public. Someone from the plaintiff's side passed her a note and she passed one back.

Patch has reached out to State Rep. Betty Price to get her take on Wood's decision.

Photo: Mayor Jere Wood. Credit: city of Roswell