Today Is The Day A New Senator Is Elected In Northwest Georgia

Polls opened at 7a today for voters in SD-54 for a runoff race between Republican Chuck Payne and Independent Debby Peppers.  It’s been a tight race in a normally conservative Republican district, but special elections are usually filled with intrigue.

Peppers has been trying to throw allegations against Payne by posting an article from January 7th by the Chattanooga Times-Free Press questioning “missing” campaign donations.  The donations were included on the December 31st report…which the final day to file was yesterday (January 9th).

To me, it sounds like another ginned up controversy to aid in winning an difficult race. Last time it was a mailer with an incorrect date with charges of voter suppression.  Now it’s accusations of trying to “hide” donors by not filing when your opponent demands it.  I’ll note here that Peppers filed her December 31st report on January 9th as well.

I’m the 14th District Republican Party Chairman, so I have a vested interest in our Republican candidate, Chuck Payne, being victorious tonight.  Although Peppers has expressed her disdain towards people “outside the district” from weighing in on the SD-54 race, there has been a lot of interest by Republicans for Payne and Democrats (including the Democratic Party of Georgia) for Peppers.

It’s been a long sprint since Judge Charlie Bethel resigned his senate seat to accept the appointment by Governor Nathan Deal to the Georgia Court of Appeals.  It will soon be over, and I hope that northwest Georgia will send another conservative Republican voice to the Georgia State Senate.