Senate District 30 Field Widens to Four

Voters in parts of three counties now have four candidates to consider in a special election in November—and it’s not over yet.

Bill Hamrick, the Carrollton Republican who represented Senate District 30, on the Coweta Judicial Circuit. His appointment left the GOP without a candidate for the office that represents a southern portion of Paulding County, most of Carroll County and a western portion of Douglas County.

A special primary election will determine the Republican candidate for the senate seat, and qualifying for it began Wednesday. Mike Dugan, a general contractor from Carrollton, was the only candidate to qualify Thursday and is the fourth person overall to enter the Republican race.

Qualifying Wednesday were Bill Hembree, who resigned from his reelection bid in House District 67 to pursue the Senate seat; Carrollton business consultant James Naughton; and attorney Glenn Richardson of Hiram, the former State House speaker and the revelation by his wife that he’d had an affair with a Capitol lobbyist.

Those wishing to enter the Republican race have until noon Friday to qualify. Qualifying is being held in Room 341 of the Georgia State Capitol, 214 State Capitol, Atlanta. The qualifying fee is $400.

The Republican to emerge from the Nov. 6 special election will have their name on the ballot during a Jan. 8 special election; a runoff, if needed, would take place on Feb. 5.

Independent candidates who wish to seek the senate seat and appear on the Jan. 8 ballot also have until midday Friday to qualify. Those candidates can qualify at the Elections Division of The Office of Secretary of State, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 802 Floyd West Tower, Atlanta, 30334. The qualifying fee is $400.

Return to Dallas-Hiram Patch for updates on this week’s qualifying for House District 30.

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