POLITICS

Advance voting starts Monday for Richmond County special elections. Who is on the ballot?

Miguel Legoas
Augusta Chronicle

"I'm a Georgia Voter" stickers are hitting the Richmond County streets once again.

Three special elections will kick off with early voting Monday to decide on an empty seat on the Richmond County Board of Education, the next mayor of Blythe, and a new Blythe city council member.

The school board is looking for a new representative from District 6, which covers a large portion of south Augusta, including schools like Cross Creek High, Gracewood Elementary and Windsor Spring Elementary. The candidates include Learning Tree Christian Academy owner Laura Green and community activist Ed Lowery. School board member A.K. Hasan currently holds this seat, but only as an interim following the unexpected death of Tyrique Robinson, who would have taken over from Hasan this year.

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Blythe's new mayor will be either City Councilman Ed LaJoie or Tom Cobb, who served as mayor from 2000-2010 and was elected again in 2017, but declined to take the office due to health issues. This came after the sudden resignation of former mayor Curt St. Germiane in January.

Filling the empty seat on Blythe's city council could be U.S. Army Veteran Michael Rineer, technician Phillip Stewart, or former candidate Rebecca Bartlett Newsome.

The schedule for advance voting is as follows:

  • Monday, Feb. 27 - Friday, March 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Monday, March 6 - Friday, March 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Monday, March 13 - Friday, March 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Election Day is Tuesday, March 21, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those unsure of their eligibility and polling location can check out their online "My Voter Page."