What to know about Augusta area 2023 elections as candidates qualify

Abraham Kenmore, Augusta Chronicle
Updated ·3 min read
FILE - Robert Halvorsen, 92, casts his vote at First Baptist Church of Augusta on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. This year there will be two municipal elections in November, along with a vote on approving a sales tax for the Augusta Entertainment Complex.
FILE - Robert Halvorsen, 92, casts his vote at First Baptist Church of Augusta on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. This year there will be two municipal elections in November, along with a vote on approving a sales tax for the Augusta Entertainment Complex.

Qualifying has opened for this year's elections, including municipal seats in Richmond and Columbia counties.

The only county-wide election will be on whether or not to approve a 0.5% sales tax to raise $433,196,500 for major renovations to the Augusta Entertainment Complex, including the James Brown Arena. The vote would cover a $250 million bond, including interest over time through 2043. The vote was authorized by House Bill 230 earlier this year, leaving the final decision up to voters.

This election follows on a vote in 2021 where residents rejected a property tax proposal to fund the arena project. If this vote fails, it could be another five years before the work happens, according to prior reporting in the Chronicle.

Explainer: Why does Augusta need a new arena and a sales tax to pay for it? Coliseum authority explains

Municipal elections in the Augusta Area

All elections, unless otherwise noted, will take place on Nov. 7 of this year.

Richmond County

  • Blythe City Council: Non-partisan election for two candidates. As of Tuesday morning, there were two qualified candidates: Daniel Martin and Mike Rineer. Candidates can qualify through Friday at the Blythe City Hall. The fee is $27.

  • City of Hephzibah: The election will be for two city commissioner seats currently held by David Usry and Clay Fulcher. As of Tuesday morning, Clay Fulcher had qualified to run. Qualification will run through Friday at the Hephzibah City Hall and the qualification fee is $35.

Columbia County

  • City of Grovetown: The election will be for the mayor of Grovetown and two city council seats. As of Tuesday afternoon, three candidates had qualified for mayor — incumbent Gary Jones, Deborah Fisher and Ceretta Smith — and three for city council — Eric W. Blair, Marsha Keating and Richard Bowman. The qualification fee for the office of mayor is $306 and for the councilmember seats is $150. For more information, call the Grovetown City Hall at (716) 863-4576, ext. 411.

  • City of Harlem: The election will be for two city council seats. As of Tuesday afternoon, incumbent Gregg Stokes was the only person who had qualified. Qualification will run through Wednesday. The qualification fee is $108. For more information, call the Harlem City Hall at (706) 556-3448.

Aiken County

All elections in Aiken County this year have already passed the registration deadline for candidates.

  • Aiken County Council, District 8, Special election: This election will take place on Oct. 17 between Democrat P. K. Hightower and Republican James Hankinson to fill the seat vacated by Willar H. Hightower Jr. this spring.

  • City of Aiken: The election will be for the city mayor and two city council seats. The mayoral candidate will be one of two Republicans, Teddy Milner or Rick Osbon, who are facing off in a runoff Tuesday. As of Wednesday morning, the runoff was headed to a recount. They may face a write-in in November. City Council District 1 will see Republican Demarcus Sullivan running against Democrat Gail Bush Diggs, and in City Council District 3 Republican Kay Biermann Brohl is running without opposition except for write-ins.

What to know before you vote

Richmond County Board of Elections Executive Director W. Travis Doss Jr. said the deadline to register to vote in November elections is Oct. 10.

Voters should check with their local Board of Elections website and Georgia voters can check with the Secretary of State my voter page at mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ to make sure they are still registered and their information is up to date. If voters need to make corrections or update their information, Doss said they can do so online or in person at the Board of Elections office.

Richmond County elections information is available at www.augustaga.gov/3117/2023-Election-Information.

For information on Columbia County elections, visit www.columbiacountyga.gov/318/Board-of-Elections.

Aiken County elections information is online at www.aikencountysc.gov/DspDept?qDeptID=RNE.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Election qualifying this week for municipal seats - what to know