Three qualify Monday for House District 71 seat
By SARAH FAY CAMPBELLsarah@newnan.com
Three candidates have qualified for the District 71 seat in the Georgia House of Representatives as of 4 p.m. Monday.
Qualifying runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday.
A special election for the seat will be held Feb. 5.
The seat, formerly held by Billy Horne, R-Sharpsburg, became vacant upon the withdrawal of Rep. Elect Robert Stokely, R-Sharpsburg. Stokely is taking an appointment as a Coweta Magistrate Court judge.
A runoff election, if needed, will be March 5.
Today, Jan. 7, is also the deadline for registering to vote in the special election, for those who are not already registered to vote.
Qualifying takes place at the Georgia Secretary of State's elections division office in Atlanta. The office is located in the Floyd Tower across from the state capitol. The address is 802 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30334.
Candidates must live in District 71, have lived in the "territory embraced within" the district for at least one year prior to the date of election and have been citizens of the state of Georgia for at least two years. Candidates must be at least 21 years old.
The qualifying fee is $400; candidates who cannot afford the fee may file a pauper's affidavit.
Qualifying is open to all candidates; candidates may declare their political party at the time of qualifying but are not required to.
For more information call 404-656-2871.
