Griffin seeking state office in newly created district

Published 11:00 am Monday, October 21, 2024

Floyd L. Griffin Jr. hopes to win the Georgia House District 149 seat in this year’s General Election slated for Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Griffin is no stranger when it comes to politics — either on the local side or on the statewide stage.

A Vietnam veteran and retired Army colonel, Griffin made history when he was elected the first Black man to serve as a state senator from Milledgeville and Baldwin County. After serving in that capacity, he became the first Black mayor of Milledgeville.

He has since run for other local and state offices but was unsuccessful in those campaigns.

In a recent interview with The Union-Recorder, Griffin said he is ready to serve the people again.

Griffin, a Democrat, is challenging incumbent state Rep. Ken Vance for the Georgia House of Representative District 149 seat.

Griffin was asked what he believes the clear difference is between him and Vance, who was a member of Milledgeville City Council when Griffin served as mayor.

“I haven’t had any kind of relationship with Ken Vance since I went out of office as mayor,” Griffin said. “I haven’t even seen him but a handful of times, and since he’s been in the state legislature I’ve only seem him one time in Milledgeville. And there have been several events and activities that a sitting legislator should have been there, but [he] was not.”

Griffin said if a person seeking political office and wants to represent all of the people within his or her district, it’s important to show face for if no more than just to walk and greet people for a while and then leave.

While Griffin is retired, he noted that Vance still has a job and works outside the district he represents.

“Now, that’s not against the law or anything, but that means that you are not around the district during the work week to hear the needs of the people as much as a person who is retired such as me and can devote the time to listen to the needs of the people in the district,” Griffin said.

Griffin said if constituents wanted make appointments about concerns, Griffin said they could do that more easily with him than with his opponent.

“I’m going to commit myself to the needs of the people in this district and do what I can to help them,” Griffin said.

Griffin said he wasn’t criticizing Vance.

“You see, I’m running my campaign the way I believe is necessary to come out the winner on Election Day,” Griffin said. “I have my particular strategy in place and I know what I want to do.”

Griffin said he has not mentioned his opponent’s name during the campaign.

“When I have said something referencing him, I have said my Republican opponent,” Griffin said.

Griffin said the election boils down to one word.

“And that’s experience,” Griffin said.

He contends he has a wealth of experience in dealing with multi-district representation and diverse constituency.

“Every election I have run in has been a majority white district,” Griffin said. “This is the first time that I have run in a majority black district. It’s not that much, but it’s considered a majority Democratic district. And every time that I have won has been against an incumbent in a majority white district.”

Griffin pointed out what is was like to be an African-American candidate in a majority white district and what he had learned from such experience.

“You learn that you have to be able to work both sides of the color spectrum,” Griffin said. “And the political spectrum also. A white person doesn’t have to do that. They should do that, but they don’t.”

Griffin contends his opponent has not worked as hard as he has to let people in minority communities know he is serious about representing them in Atlanta.

Griffin said many constituents in minority communities of District 149 don’t know his opponent.

“A lot of them are wondering why is he just now coming out in some areas of the district and he’s never been to their homes before seeking their support and vote,” Griffin said.

Griffin said he believes he is the best candidate in the race.

“Hands down, I’m clearly the best choice, overall, for the people of District 149,” Griffin said.