Kemp sets candidate qualifying calendar

Secretary of State Brian Kemp has set the qualifying dates for two special legislative elections that will be held in November. Candidates running in House Districts 117 and 119 will have from September 11-13 to sign up for the races to replace former Athens state Representative Regina Quick and Oconee County Rep Chuck Williams, both Republicans. Quick resigned to take a Superior Court judgeship, while Williams has been appointed Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Former Rep Doug McKillip and former UGA SGA president Houston Gaines have said they will run in District 117, as has Athens attorney Deborah Gonzalez. Funeral home operator Tom Lord and businessman Marcus Wiedower and Steven Strickland say they will be candidates in District 119.

The special elections will be held on November 7. Runoffs, if necessary, would be held on December 5.