MILLEDGEVILLE —
For the first time since what is now Georgia’s 25th Senate District was redrawn in 1962 and then-former state Rep. Culver Kidd was elected to the senate, Milledgeville’s representation in the chamber will now hail from somewhere besides Georgia’s former capital.
Burt Jones (R-Jackson) handily defeated democrat Darrell Black (D-Milledgeville) to capture a seat in the state Senate.
Jones celebrated the victory Tuesday evening at his headquarters in Jackson. He said he is ready to go to work for the constituents of the 25th District and is feeling good about the campaign.
“We are feeling good,” he said. “It was a great campaign and we are really happy. All our hard work — it looks like it is going to pay off.”
Jones outspent Black on the campaign trail, but despite Tuesday’s outcome Black said he hopes to keep issues at the forefront.
“Obviously, we are disappointed,” Black said. “I was hoping Baldwin County would have come in [stronger].”
Black said he will continue to advocate for state jobs through Central State Hospital’s redevelopment and future plans for state institutions. He also said he plans to push to keep transportation in the sights of state and local leaders given the upcoming deepening of the Savannah River harbor and expected increased capacity at the Port of Savannah resulting in ensuing traffic.
Jones said he hopes to take some time to relax Wednesday, but plans to start early as he continues to learn the district.
“I’m looking forward to taking a rest tomorrow,” Jones said late Tuesday. “We’ll be watching the outcome of the presidential election.”
Before the session starts, Jones said, he will concentrate on meeting as many people as possible.
“I will spend the next few weeks getting acquainted with other newly elected senators and party leadership,” Jones said. “I will continue going all over the district and getting to know members of the different governmental entities.
Jones will become the senator from Georgia’s 25th Senate District when the Georgia General Assembly convenes in January. He became the republican nominee after a successful primary challenge against state Sen. Johnny Grant (R) of Milledgeville.
In Tuesday’s election Jones carried Bibb, Butts, Green, Jasper, Jones, Putnam, Morgan and Walton counties while Black carried his home county of Baldwin.
At press time, the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office reported that Jones earned 44,104 votes or 62.91 percent of the vote to Black’s 25,216 votes or 37.09 percent.
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