Griffin launches new political campaign

Published 11:01 am Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Just when Floyd L. Griffin Jr. thought his time in political office had come and gone, he finds himself back in the thick of things again.

This time the former state senator and first Black man to become elected mayor of Milledgeville is seeking to be elected as one of the newest members of the Georgia House of Representatives.

Griffin recently qualified for the newly-created District 149 House seat, which includes a majority of Milledgeville and Baldwin County as well as smaller areas in Jones and Macon-Bibb County.

He is seeking office as a Democrat. His Democratic challenger is Phyllis Tufts Hightower from Macon. The winner will face state Rep. Ken Vance, in the general election in November.

Vance is a Republican from Milledgeville, who is considered the incumbent candidate.

Griffin recently launched his latest bid for political office with a kickoff rally that included a host of prominent friends at Central Georgia Technical College in Milledgeville. They included former Macon Mayor Jack Ellis, state Sen. David Lucas and his wife, Elaine Lucas, who is a member of the Macon-Bibb County Board of Commissioners.

Other prominent friends in attendance included Toomsboro Mayor Joyce Denson, as well as Baldwin County Democratic Committee Chairman Quentin T. Howell and Macon-Bibb Democratic Committee Chairman Joshua James Billings and several pastors.

“I’m emceeing today,” said Griffin. “And you probably say why would you emcee your kickoff? Because I have some very close friends here today.”

He said since he regards them as such close friends, he wanted the honor of introducing each of them.

Griffin said it takes leadership and masses of support and voters to get elected to office and that he prays to God that he will be the chosen one in the upcoming election to serve in public office again.

“Floyd, when I look at your poster and I see that you were a former mayor, former senator and retired colonel (in the U.S. Army), but what is more important than all of those titles, is husband, father and grandfather, I know it about you,” Ellis said. “Even though we know that you said you are that one, and the pastor was so right. It only takes one.”

Ellis was referring to comments made by a pastor before he spoke.

“I think about Harriet Tubman,” Ellis said. “We could go on and on since it’s Women’s History Month.”

Ellis said he and others would support Griffin in his quest to become the new District 149 state representative because they realize he has the experience, know-how, compassion and passion to represent everyone in the new district.

Griffin, a Vietnam veteran, said he has come up with a campaign slogan: “The Urgency of Now.”

He said so much is going on right now in the political arena across Georgia and in this political race.

“It is very important that we participate in the political process from the standpoint of voting,” Griffin said. “Our democracy is just hanging on by threads, and if we don’t have some urgency about getting out and voting for the person that we think will help save this country from a democracy standpoint, and yes, like reproduction rights, women rights — should we put it like that because there’s more than just reproduction rights.”

He said voting rights, Medicaid expansion, etc. are at stake.

Griffin said he often tells voters that if they are going to be on the landing, they have to remember to be on the takeoff.

“This election is going to take off late next month with early voting,” Griffin said. “When early voting starts is when we are going to be waiting to load up.”