It’s time to exercise your right to vote

City of Blackshear to choose mayor and three district representatives

Blackshear voters will elect a mayor and three council seats in this year’s municipal election.

Qualifying will be held Monday, August 18-Wednesday, August 20. The election will be held Tuesday, November 4.

The qualifying fee for mayor is $180 and the qualifying fee for each of the three city council seats is $72.

Mayor Keith Brooks is currently completing his first term, after being elected in a special election. Brooks has said he intends to run again for another term.

The district three, four and five seats are also up for election this year.

The district three seat is currently held by Dr. Corey Lesseig.

District three follows Strickland Avenue to Pomeroy Street, down to Barney Street, up Hendry Street to East Carter Avenue, across to West Carter Avenue and ending at the east city limits on the north side of Blackshear.

The district four seat is held by Theo Mackey. District four’s boundary begins at the west city limits (including the industrial park) and parallels the west side of CSX railroad before turning down Keller Street, to Gilmore Street, to Church Street, to Acosta Street, to SW Central Avenue, to Grady Street to South Highway Avenue, to Hendry Street, down a small portion of Ware Street to Ann Street, to Barney Street to Pomeroy and up to Strickland Avenue.

Chuck Ward holds the district five seat. District five’s boundary begins at the southern city limit and parallels the east side of the CSX railroad. The boundary turns to follow Gilmore and Church Streets to Main Street (Georgia Highway 15). The boundary follows Main Street to College Avenue, then runs south to Pittman Street, west to Elizabeth Street, south to Moody Street and then west to Williams Street, east to Longleaf Drive and then juts down Loblolly Lane to the city limit.

Lesseig and Mackey have announced their intentions to run again. Ward has indicated he will not run again.

No other candidates have officially announced for the mayor’s seat or for any of the council seats.