Three Qualify for Senate District 30 Seat

Republican voters in portions of three counties, including Paulding, are set to weigh in on a special primary election on this year’s general election day following a state senator’s appointment to another position.

Bill Hamrick, the Carrollton Republican who represented Senate District 30, on the Coweta Judicial Circuit. Prior to the appointment, Hamrick was on track to serve another term . District 30 includes a southern portion of Paulding County, most of Carroll County and a western portion of Douglas County.

The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office on Monday announced the details of the Republican special primary election to select who will fill Hamrick’s withdrawn candidacy. Qualifying began Wednesday, and candidates wasted no time throwing their hats into the race.

Those so far seeking Hamrick’s former nomination include 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.

But the field still has time to grow—those interested in getting on the Republican primary ballot must qualify in Room 341 of the Georgia State Capitol, 214 State Capitol, Atlanta, today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. The qualifying fee is $400.

Residents must be qualified to vote by Oct. 8 to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 6 special election—being held the same day as this year’s general election. Should no candidate receive at least one more vote than half the vote total, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff set for Dec. 4.

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. Residents in District 30 would have to be registered to vote by Dec. 10 to vote in the special election.

Qualifying for that Jan. 8 special election is also being held this week in the Elections Division of The Office of Secretary of State, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 802 Floyd West Tower, Atlanta, 30334. Qualifying will be held today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. Just as in the Republican primary special election, the qualifying fee is $400.

Hembree’s departure from the House District 67 race left a vacancy for Republicans to fill. State GOP leaders for Hembree.

Gravley faces Leigh Mcmutry, a Democrat from Winston, in the Nov. 6 general election. .

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

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