Smith Draws Last Minute Opposition

Unfortunately, Becky Vaughn, the Bogart Democrat, who challenged state Sen. Brian Kemp (R-Athens) in 2004 qualified minutes before Friday's noon deadline to run against state Rep. Bob Smith (R-Watkinsville) in the Nov. 7 election.

The Kemp-Vaughn contest was close, but the race was kept close only because of Democrat-dominated Clarke County. Smith's 113th House District is heavily Republican. District 113 includes all of Republican-ripe Oconee County, and parts of Clarke County (precincts 1A, 1C, 1D, 6A, and 6D), Morgan County (Apalachee and Bostwick precincts, both rural, conservative farming communities), and Oglethorpe County (Beaverdam, Crawford, and Wolfskin precincts, all rural, conservative and agriculturally based).

In the 2004 Senate race, Vaughn carried the 113th district precincts in Clarke County, but lost all of the other precincts that encompassed both the 46th Senate District and 113th House Districts).

Rep. Smith is a tireless and skilled campaigner and should defeat Ms. Vaughn by a comfortable margin.

The Athens Banner-Herald published an article today about the end of legislative qualifying in Northeast Georgia.

Extended qualifying sends hopefuls off to the races
2006 elections

By Blake Aued
blake.aued@onlineathens.com