City, GMC elections set for Tuesday

Published 9:00 am Saturday, October 30, 2021

It’s time for another election.

Voters in the city of Milledgeville who haven’t already cast their ballots during early voting will head back to the polls Tuesday in a citywide election for the mayoral seat, as well as six seats on city council. Voters will also choose members of the Georgia Military College (GMC) Board of Trustees.

Early voting in both of those elections ended Friday.

Voting precincts throughout the city will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Election Day.

The mayoral and city council election and the GMC Board of Trustees election will be overseen by Baldwin County Probate Judge Todd A. Blackwell, who also will serve as elections superintendent of both citywide elections.

Both elections are nonpartisan. Candidates do not have to specify whether they are Democrat, Republican or Independent.

Mary Parham-Copelan is seeking her second four-year term as mayor. She is running unopposed.

All six seats on city council, meanwhile, are up for re-election, but only two of the incumbents have challengers in Tuesday’s election.

Those seats include District 5 and District 6, held by City Aldermen Richard “Boo” Mullins Jr. (District 5) and Steve Chambers (District 4).

The longtime incumbents are each challenged by political newcomers.

Mullins, a retired firefighter with both Baldwin County Fire Rescue and Milledgeville Fire Rescue, is being challenged by Jessica “Jess” McQuain. 

Mullins, 63, said he is seeking another four-year term on city council because he plans to devote the next term to cleaning up blighted property.

He said it’s something that needs to be addressed and he plans to do just that if re-elected to the District 5 seat that he has occupied for the past 21 years.

McQuain, meanwhile, moved to Milledgeville in 2012 to attend Georgia College & State University.

“I fell in love with the town and got to work in the “Yes Program” and working within the community,” McQuain said, noting she also became involved in arts and cultural activities.

McQuain is a field organizer for The United Campus Workers of Georgia, which is headquartered in Athens. She works with campuses in middle and southwest areas of the state.

McQuain, who lives in the Carrington Woods neighborhood of Milledgeville, said she sought political office because she wants to be a public servant.

“I think that having an LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) perspective on city council would bring a great and new perspective to have on city council in Milledgeville,” McQuain said. “I think it’s important for folks to be involved in city government.”

In the District 6 race, meanwhile, Chambers is in his 21st year as a city alderman.

Chambers said he has enjoyed working with fellow council members, as well as the mayor over the past four years, and he would like to continue serving his constituents for another four-year term.

“We seemed to have gotten to a point where we all have ideas, but we’re all very willing to listen to each other,” Chambers said. “And that’s a rare combination, especially in politics.”

Such an environment creates what Chambers called an enjoyment.

“It also gives us the ability to do positive things,” Chambers said. “I just want to continue to be part of that going forward.”

Chambers, who owns and operates Chambers’ Cleaners in both Milledgeville and Sandersville, is opposed in this year’s city election by another political newcomer, Daisy Childs.

Childs, who lives in the Carrington Woods neighborhood, is a retired mental health and safety manager. For several years she worked in that capacity at the Rheem plant in Milledgeville.

“I moved here to Milledgeville to go to work for Rheem,” Childs said. “I’ve lived here for the past 21 years now.”

Childs said she decided to run for public office because she wants to work to get things done that she believes are needed.

Childs said there are several trees that have lost all of their soil base and need to be cut down within the district.

“There’s also a stormwater drainage problem in this neighborhood that I want to get addressed and get something done about,” Childs said.

The city council election also includes candidates who are unopposed. They include:

• District 1 City Alderwoman Dr. Collinda J. Lee.
• District 2 City Alderwoman Jeanette H. Walden.
• District 3 City Alderwoman Denese Ray Shinholster.
• District 4 City Alderman Walter Reynolds.

In the election for the GMC Board of Trustees, eight candidates, including incumbents are seeking elected office. The races are as follows:

• District 1 GMC race, William F. Kennedy, Lataurien K. Lewis and Alan Hale Wicker.
• District 2 GMC race, Brooks A. Snider is the only candidate.
• District 3 GMC race, Doris Renfroe is the sole candidate.
• District 4 GMC race, Ken Vance is running unopposed.
• District 5 GMC race, George Hogan Sr. is the only candidate.
• District 6 GMC race, Mike D. Cobb is the sole candidate.