Two Republicans are running to fill the seat of District 3 Georgia state Rep. Dewayne Hill, who has been in office since 2017.
Mitchell Horner owns several small businesses, and Dr. Darrell Weldon Sr. is a retired obstetrician-gynecologist who operates a farm.
District 3 covers most of northern Catoosa County, including a section along its eastern boundary. The reason Hill is not seeking re-election hasn't been announced, and efforts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.
Mitchell Horner
Horner said in a phone interview he announced his candidacy in December and has been busy getting the word out with flyers, phone calls, signs and meetings with voters. He said he's self-funding his campaign and has a good war chest.
"I'm a member of the local GOP in Catoosa County, and so I'm well familiar with all the groups and all the grassroots organizations, and so we're really pushing for victory in May," Horner said.
The Republican primary is May 24, and the general election is Nov. 8. The last day to register for the primary is April 25.
When asked about his platform, Horner said he's advocating for the repeal of the state income tax, because as a business owner, he thinks it hurts business. He said Tennessee, which has no state income tax, has a better environment for business than Georgia.
"You can see the vast difference in business between East Ridge and Ringgold, just go across the state line," he said.
Horner owns several businesses, including one that builds sport pontoon boats fitted with slides and trampolines and another that builds portable large-screen video games.
Much of his business is based in Tennessee, partly because there's not enough opportunity for manufacturing in Catoosa County, he said. He added that 85 percent of Catoosa County residents leave the county to go to work - and that is another reason to build its business base.
Also on his platform is constitutional carry of firearms, an issue that he said he's been pushing since his campaign began, and an educational tax rebate for private and home-school parents, so they can spend that money on their own children's needs. He said he's married and will home-school his two children when they get older.
Horner wants elected officials to have better communication with voters. If elected, Horner said he would maintain good communication and fight the state's good ole boy network.
Horner said he's working with Colton Moore, a candidate for state Senate in District 53, and Phillip Singleton, a representative in the state House who started a state-level Freedom Caucus last year, "which is basically to push for conservative values in the state House and Senate, and so that is what we are really working towards - to fight for North Georgia in the way other people have done on the national level."
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Darrell Weldon
Weldon said via telephone he got into the race because he said he's sick of politicians - mainly Democrats who don't do what they promise to do after they're elected.
When asked about his pitch to voters, he said, "I want to go down there and make sure we do things that will preserve our state. I wish I could do something to preserve our country, because we're in dire straits right now," Weldon said.
He criticized President Joe Biden, saying he is acting like rising gas prices are the only impact from the petroleum crisis, but Weldon said some farmers might go out of business due to the high cost of diesel and fertilizer. Things could get worse if the petroleum crisis doesn't get solved, Weldon said.
Weldon said he supports Hill and that the only reason he's running is because Hill decided not to.
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When asked what prepared him for serving in the statehouse, he pointed to his career as a physician. It's a public service position just like being an elected official, he said.
"I looked out for people when I was a doctor, or practicing as a doctor, and I want to look out for people when I go to the statehouse," Weldon said.
Weldon's son, Tom, held the seat for eight years.
Hill will have served six years when his current term is completed.
Weldon said his son told him that serving in the statehouse is a lot of hard work, including a lot of reading, staying up to date with bills and making sure to do what is right for the people.
Weldon said he hasn't done any campaigning yet because he didn't decide to run until he found out Hill was retiring. He said he hasn't asked Hill why he isn't running, calling it a personal decision.
From his interactions with his community, Weldon said voter integrity is an important topic. But he said changes have been made by the General Assembly that have reassured voters.
"The other thing [people need] to be reassured about is the economy," Weldon said, adding that taxpayers are needing relief.
He said he thinks the legislature will look to give people a break in the state income tax.
Weldon said he wants to be known as a statesman rather than a politician - because politicians are out for themselves while a statesman looks out for the people they represent.
"I'm a conservative, always have been conservative," Weldon said. "I put myself through college. I put myself through medical school. I worked hard all my life."
Since he retired three years ago, Weldon said he's been spending time with his children and grandchildren and working on his farm. He wants people to know he's pro-life and that he served 21 years in the Army Reserves. Weldon said he plans to raise money because he can't fund his run out of pocket.
Weldon said he's seen Horner's signs up around the district but hasn't met him in person. He said he doesn't know if he'd be willing to participate in a debate.
Contact Andrew Wilkins at awilkins@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659. Follow him on Twitter @tweetatwilkins.