Dear Editor,
Thank you to everyone who helped elect me as the new District 2 county commissioner. I knew it would be close, and it proved it: I won by 18 votes.
There is no better evidence that, truly, every vote counts.
Thanks to my supporters who drove me all over town in their golf carts, vouching for me with friends and neighbors. Thank you to the pastors and deacons who welcomed me to their services, and let me say a few words. Thank you to the folks who made phone calls, helped with absentee ballots, and knocked on doors to get out the vote. Thank you to everyone who put up my yard signs. And thank you to the people behind the scenes for having those all-important one-on-one conversations with individuals in their circle.
All that hard work got us the win. It took a coalition to secure victory: Black, white, and Hispanic, city and county, older and younger. I am proud that not only Democrats but many Republicans voted for me. One loyal GOP supporter told me that I did not get her vote but that she seriously considered it. I consider that a win for honest, sensible, common-ground campaigning.
This election saw record-breaking turnout in Putnam and statewide, but in District 2, hundreds of registered voters still did not vote, and hundreds more citizens are not even registered. So, we still have work to do if we want our elections to truly reflect popular opinion.
Also, thank you to everyone who reached out after the election, including County Commission Chairman Bill Sharp. I look forward to connecting with all the commissioners before my term starts in January. We all want the same thing: to see our county continue to grow and improve.
I also want to offer my congratulations to Tom McElhenney on his commission win in District 1 and thank incumbent District 2 Commissioner Daniel Brown for his gracious concession and eight years of service.
Richard Garrett, Eatonton