Voter registration deadline looming

A voter registration deadline is approaching: the Secretary of State's Office says October 10 is the last day to sign up to cast ballots in elections that will be held on November 7. Voters in Athens have a transportation sales tax referendum and two special legislative elections, and there are municipal elections around the region. Advanced voting begins on October 16. 

Republican Houston Gaines and Democrat Deborah Gonzalez are running in House District 117, the race to replace Regina Quick, the former state Rep who left the legislature for a judgeship. Four candidates—Republicans Tom Lord, Steven Strickland, and Marcus Wiedower and Democrat Jonathan Wallace—are campaigning to replace Chuck Williams, the District 119 Representative who was appointed director of the Georgia Forestry Commission.