Perry candidates gear up for runoff

With the District 2 Post 2 runoff election rapidly approaching, candidates John “Jack” James and Joy Peterson are sticking to their guns by maintaining a face-to-face approach in their campaigns.

Both candidates said getting out and talking to the people was the best approach to hearing about the issues that matter the most. “We believe that talking to the individual people is the best way to get things done,” said James. “We’ve talked with as many people as we can. That was our goal and that is still our goal.”

“We had knocked on almost 1,500 doors prior to the election in November. We feel like we’ve made some good end roads in areas in ways that we didn’t the first go around,” said Peterson

Earlier this month, Peterson and James came out neck and neck in the Nov. 5 general election with 215 (38.38%) votes going to Peterson and 201 (36.81%) to James. They will face each other again in the Dec. 3 runoff; here’s what each candidate had to say about it.

James doubled down on his statements that he is a good choice for council because he’s a former Perry business owner (the Perry Garden Center), a longtime resident (44 years) and an advocate for others. He referenced again his participation and strong influence in the fight against the installation of a 72-unit-multi family apartment complex on Macon Road. The construction site for the complex is adjacent from Cheshire Subdivision, where James resides. “Of the candidates that are left, I was the only one who really stood up for the people in Perry, particularly in Cheshire,” he said. “I stood up for the people in Perry, and I think I would continue to do that as a member of City Council.”

He also promised he would get to the bottom of the additional fees added to Perry’s utility bill. He refers to the fees as taxes in disguise, and said they were added years ago to pay the city’s debt, but the city did not inform residents of when the fees would be removed. He says this is something that should be explained. “That’s $400 dollars a year that people are paying and we don’t know when it’s going to end.”

Now, when Peterson meets with residents, she makes it a note to inform them that she is not a “one issue candidate.” She ensures that she carries the concerns of all developments in Perry, not just the ones close to home. “I have spent a lot of time throughout the district and heard similar things that are important to people, no matter what area they live in,” She said. “I have, on several occasions, taken questions from voters and done some research and gone back to them with some answers. Knowledge is good and everybody needs to understand what they’re paying what it goes toward and what it’s based on.”

She promised representation for any and all District 2 residents and to be as concerned for residents in distant parts of the district as she would her own neighbors.

In reference to the current race, she said the “tone has changed,” as she had multiple campaign signs “disappear” or be altered in some way. Still, she has a bright outlook on the coming election. “We’ve had to be more vigilant… we’ve worked hard from the beginning and we just continue to do that,” she said. “We just continue to trust that the circumstances in our life is the same as every other circumstance and that God’s in control. That’s who we are.”

Early voting ended began Thursday, Nov.21, and ended Wednesday afternoon. As of 2:33 pm Wednesday, the Board of Elections Office reported 111 early votes. Voting for the Dec. 3 election will take place at Rozar Park from 7a.m.-7p.m.

Notes: Saturday, Oct. 26, it was reported that Joy Peterson obtained a master’s degree from Georgia College & State University. That was incorrect. Peterson does not have a master’s degree, but instead earned additional certificates in intellectual disabilities from the aforementioned institution. It should be noted that this correction was made at Peterson’s request. We apologize for any confusion.