LaFayette Councilman Bill Craig
LaFayette, Ga.'s city government should have plenty of new faces after this fall.
Leaders are searching for a new city manager, and as many as three council seats could be up for election without incumbents.
Councilmen Bill Craig and Eric Tallent said last week they do not plan to turn in qualifying paperwork later this month. Councilman Norm Hodge, who is not up for re-election, has told other councilmen he may step down because he is moving.
And the city began accepting applications last week to replace retiring City Manager Johnnie Arnold.
"After 25 years of this, I'm ready for some peace and quiet," Arnold said. "As soon as they hire someone, I'm going to turn the reins over to him."
The 63-year-old manager, who has worked in LaFayette for the past 13 years and city government for a quarter century, has recently had eye surgery. He plans to stay on part time long enough to train his replacement, but said March 31 is his last day no matter what.
Craig, in his eighth year on the council, said the time has come for him to leave politics.
"I think it's just time for me to retire," he said, pointing out that he is 77. "If you take that and add four [years], I don't think so. That's not fair. We need some younger people."
Age is not an issue for Tallent, who is 40. A state trooper, he said he was "probably not going to run" because of increasing demands at work and personal reasons.
Attempts to reach Hodge were unsuccessful last week, but city staff and other council members said the schoolteacher was looking at moving outside the city, which would force him to resign.
Wayne Swanson, the other councilman up for election, says he plans on trying to stay on board. "I just enjoy trying to help people when they call," he said.
For the vacant seats, at least two men have made it known they are eyeing election runs.
James Cole, a 32-year-old corrections officer at Hays State Prison, has launched a campaign page on Facebook and says he plans to run for Craig's seat.
Listening to people and improving infrastructure will be two areas of focus for him, he said.
"The last couple of years things have really begun to decay," he said. "It just doesn't seem to be a top priority for the council."
Melvin Bridges, a 77-year-old preacher, also is thinking about running for Tallent's seat. The former councilman said he's "giving it consideration" and "thinking strong about it."
Qualifying for the election runs for three days beginning Aug. 29. The election is Nov. 8.
Correspondent Timothy Bradfield contributed to this story.