Glynn Democrats Qualify to Run in Local Races
For Immediate Release
For more information, contact: Audrey Gibbons (912) 242-3664 audreygibbons@glynncountydemocrats.org or Linda Muir 404-444-6757 lindamuir@glynncountydemocrats.org
WOMEN RUN IN RECORD NUMBERS
BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA — The Glynn County Democratic Committee announced today that it has qualified candidates to run in eight of the nine partisan races being contested this year. The seats up for election include two races for the Georgia State House, one for the State Senate, two county commission seats and three school board positions. Following a nationwide trend, the majority of those running are women — by a ratio of 2-1.
“Come November, Glynn County voters will have a clear choice in every race in these mid-term elections,” said Audrey Gibbons, chair of the committee.
“Our Democratic candidates are a group of diverse, strong, qualified citizens who enter these races to offer a welcome change to the status quo,” Gibbons said. “Republican incumbents, most of whom have run unopposed in the past, will face serious opposition this year. We expect a wave election right here in Glynn County just as is expected across the country.”
Glynn County Democrats are proud to be part of the nationwide, Democratic movement and of the momentum across Georgia, where we will have strong candidates in every statewide and congressional race.
The Democratic Primary will be May 22, with early voting beginning April 30. April 23 is the last day to register to vote. The General Election will be held Nov. 6.
The newly qualified candidates are:
State Legislature
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Jerrold Dagen
Georgia State Senate, District 3
We should expect our representatives to work in the public interest, but today more than ever we have politicians pushing political agendas, instead of policies to help people. We need new representation in office, and if we can’t find candidates to support, we have to be the change we want and we have to run for office. I support the state party’s agenda to promote education, the environment, the economy, equality, and voting rights. With your help I will be your next state senator for District 3. Occupation: Community volunteer
Residence: Saint Simons Island
Julie Jordan
Georgia State House, District 179
I have been lucky to call coastal Georgia home for the past 19 years working as a school counselor at Needwood and Glynn middle schools and currently serving as the registrar at Glynn Academy. I want to give voters a choice, another voice other than that of local candidates who continually run unopposed. I want all voices to be heard and the issues of all people to matter.
Occupation: Educator
Residence: Saint Simons Island
Cedric King
Georgia State House District 167
I am the manager of Community Relations at Pinova Inc. and an active member of our community. I am currently serving on several community organizations, including the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber Executive Board, College of Coastal Georgia Trustee Foundation, Coastal Area District Development Authority Board, Glynn County Airport Commission, Coastal Georgia Basketball (Founder), Communities In Schools of Glynn Advisory Board and Glynn Academy School Council. My wife Crystal and I have two wonderful children.
Occupation: Community relations manager
Residence: Brunswick
Glynn County Board of Commissioners
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Julian “Puddy” Smith
Glynn County Board of Commissioners, At-Large
Glynn County Board of Commissioners, At-Large Post 1
A retired college professor, I spent ten years on town council and eight years on planning boards elsewhere. I have owned a home on Saint Simons Island since 1993 and have attended almost all county commission and Island Planning Commission meetings for last three years. As a commissioner, I would work hard to stop colleagues from ignoring the public and from wasting time and tax dollars. I am married and have three kids and five grandchildren.
Occupation: Retired professor
Residence: Saint Simons Island
Barbara Baisden
Glynn County Board of Commissioners, District 3
Barbara Baisden has taught in Glynn County schools for 25 years. Although she retired in 2010, she still subs regularly around the district. A Brunswick native, she was the first teacher of the year honored at Satilla Elementary School in 1998. “Children have been my life for many, many years. They give me back as much as I have given them.” She thinks it’s critical to give children as much one-on-one time as possible, to find out what their true needs are.
Occupation: Educator
Residence: Brunswick
Glynn County Board of Education
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Dr. Markisha Butler
Glynn County Board of Education, At-Large
Leadership is inclusive, and I plan to put the public back into public education. I am a champion and a graduate of Glynn County public schools. I have a personal interest in preserving and improving the quality of education for all. My networking and strategic planning will allow me to forge strong partnerships that will enhance workforce opportunities for students.
Occupation: Regional apprenticeship coordinator
Home: Brunswick
Dr. Regina Hedgeman Johnson
Glynn County Board of Education, District 4
I am a 30-year veteran, accomplished educator, facilitator and trainer in Glynn County schools. I am a community servant, civic leader, parent, and grandparent committed to advancing and advocating for quality, policy-driven education that empowers educators and supports families to positively impact student learning.
Occupation: Retired teacher
Home: Brunswick
Sharon Robinson
Glynn County Board of Education, District 2
A Georgia native, I earned my B.S and M.S. in Education and proudly served as a teacher of Social Studies and Accelerated Learning. That experience, plus subsequent business success, makes me an ideal candidate for the Board of Education from District 2. An avowed moderate, I uphold traditional values while seeking reasonable change.
Occupation: Retired businesswoman
Residence: Saint Simons Island
There will be a get to know your fellow Democrats running this year at our Meet the Candidates Issues Forum, at 7 p.m. April 23 at our new campaign headquarters: 1400 Gloucester St., Brunswick, 31520 (directions).
The Glynn County Democratic Committee, Inc., a Georgia Corporation www.glynncountydemocrats.org, is duly authorized and certified by the Democratic Party of Georgia to qualify candidates to run on the Glynn County Democratic ballot.
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If you don’t get involved, who will?
2018 is shaping up to be a big year for the Democratic Party both nationwide and in Glynn County. Now it is time for you to step up and get involved. Yes, there are many things you can do to help return our country and county to sanity.
- Make a financial donation to the Glynn Dems so we can support our many candidates running for office locally this year. This involves only a simple click and the usual credit card information.
- Volunteer for one or more local Democratic candidates or for the entire party slate. We promise to keep you busy.
- Host a party for your neighbors to let them meet our local candidates. If you are willing, we’ll help you organize it.
- Make calls now to help us update our local precinct information. One key to success at the polls is having thorough and accurate voter lists. Help start our voter push this spring by collecting and verifying information about our voters.
- Canvas your neighborhood to let them know about our Democratic candidates. We’ll have flyers when qualifying for the Primary Election ends in early March.
- Make sure your friends, family, and co-workers are registered to vote in Glynn County (click here to receive election reminders, make sure you are registered to vote, securely register to vote if you aren’t, and apply for an absentee ballot).
- Ask five of your progressive friends to join our mailing list by going to GlynnCountyDemocrats.org/get-involved/join/ We’re sure you have friends lurking in the shadows who would like to help make changes to our political scene.
- Attend our monthly meetings in your voting district and our countywide forum on the fourth Monday of each month. Click here for details about upcoming activities.
- Send us an email and let us know what you would like to do to help.
Photo credit: Register to Vote Here by Theodore Chen.
Important 2018 election dates
The General Primary is May 22, and the General Election is Nov. 6. Here are all the important dates leading up to Election Day. Please note them in your calendar or add our calendar to yours:
- March 5-9: Candidate qualifying period for the May Primary and the November General Election
- March 20: Special elections (as needed)
- April 23: Last day to register to vote in the May Primary (click here to receive election reminders, make sure you are registered to vote, securely register to vote if you aren’t, and apply for an absentee ballot)
- April 23: Runoff for special election (as needed)
- April 30: First day of early voting in the May Primary
- May 12: Mandatory Saturday voting in the May primary
- May 22: General Primary Election, Nonpartisan General Election, and Special Election (as needed)
- July 24: Runoff for General Primary, Nonpartisan Election, and Special Election
- Oct. 9: Last day to register for the Nov. 6 General Election (click here to receive election reminders, make sure you are registered to vote, securely register to vote if you aren’t, and apply for an absentee ballot)
- Oct. 15: First day of early voting for the Nov. 6 General Election
- Oct. 27: Mandatory Saturday voting for the Nov. 6 general election
- Nov. 6: General Election and Special Election (as needed)
- Dec. 4: Runoff for General Election (state and statewide races) and Special Election
- Jan. 8, 2019: Runoff for General Election — federal races
We need you to show up
We need you involved in your district meetings and at our countywide Issues Forum if we are going to turn Glynn blue.
Monthly District Meetings
Three of the five districts will have meetings in February. Please join us as we continute to organize our precincts to win in November. (Click here to find your district.)
District 1 – Feb. 21, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Magnolia CME Church
4937 U.S. Highway 82
Brunswick, 31523 (Directions)
District 2 – Feb. 19, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
St. Ignatius Church
2906 Demere Road
Saint Simons Island, 31522 (Directions)
District 5 – Feb. 15, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
St. Athanasius’ Episcopal Church – Parish Hall
1321 Albany St.
Brunswick, 31521 (Directions)
Monthly Democratic Issues Forum
All Glynn County Democrats are invited to attend our monthly issues forums every fourth Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1400 Norwich St., Brunswick, 31520 (Directions).
During the Q&A session after the program, we engage in lively and civil discussion to understand better how issues of national import, such as climate change, the economy, voting rights and education, affect our lives right here in Glynn County. We learn a lot about the issues and about each other every time. You’re invited to attend to meet your Democratic neighbors and to get involved in the conversation. Bring a friend or neighbor.
Feb. 26, 7:00 p.m.
Program: Virginia Brown, president and CEO of the United Way of Coastal Georgia, and Dr. Don Mathews, director of the Reg Murphy Center for Economic and Policy Studies and professor of economics in the School of Business and Public Management at College of Coastal Georgia, will present up-to-the-minute information and data about “Poverty in Glynn County: What Does It Mean to Our Children and Our Future?”
Recent articles in our local papers have highlighted the studies showing that more than 25 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds in our county are neither working nor going to school. Virginia and Don have been at the forefront of efforts to better understand the implications of these studies so we can adopt public policies to reverse this trend and help us avoid the social, economic and public safety crises that flow from them. The Great Recession hit our area harder than most, and we are still rebounding after others have recovered. How is that affecting us, and what can we do about it? You can do your homework by reading this story in The Brunswick News.
- If you would like to ask a question during our Q&A, please click here.
March 26, 7:00 p.m.
Program: “Precinct Training: Meet Your Neighbors, Win Elections”
Justin Pitts, director of organizing and outreach for the Democratic Party of Georgia, will lead us in training as we begin to organize the precincts in each of our five districts.
First Friday in Brunswick
On the First Friday of every month, connect with Historic Downtown Brunswick by exploring shops and restaurants and enjoying music and fun. And you can gather with fellow Democrats: March 6 at 6:00 p.m. we’ll be set up across from Tipsy McSway’s on Newcastle Street. Come by to say hello and mix and mingle.