8 Georgia Democrats to Watch during Primaries/General Election

(1) Nelva Lee (D-McDonough)

The Democrats couldn't have asked for a more stellar candidate in Dr. Nelva Lee as she attempt to unseat Republican Rick Jeffares for State Senate District Seat 17.

Dr. Nelva Lee is the President and Founder of the MiTio Institute and the MiTio Foundation. The MiTio Institute is an Online Medical Interpreting and Translating Diploma Training Program & comes for a strong military family, her mother served in the U.S. Army & husband is a Gulf War Veteran.

Lee, a Conservative Democrat represent the Hispanic, military, black, Christian, and female voter having lived in places from Hawaii to Seattle, now settling just outside the Metro Atlanta Area. Her background and experience in small business, healthcare, and education are top priorities for SD 17 constituents. She is a top tier candidate for the DPG. I will definitely keep my eye on this race!

(2) Kevin Brown (D-Buena Vista)

Marion County Commisisoner Kevin Brown will take on party switcher Mike Cheokas (R-Americus) for HD 139. Brown, 43 is a Bluedog Democrat hails from the same hometown as former Negro League great Josh Gibson who was called the Black Babe Ruth. Brown is a executive director & is a father of 6. Family Values is a big deal to Mr. Brown.

(3) Thomas Coogle II (D-Montezuma)

Businessman/Grocer Thomas Coogle is also a political newcomer, running for the seat being vacated by the retirement of Lynmore James. Coogle, 34 is a Pro-Business, Pro-Growth, Chamber of Commerce Conservative Democrat who championed Christian Values, Job Creation, Right to Bear Arms, protecting our senior citizens & creating a better environment for young people Coogle hails from Macon County & if victorious in July, it could send a message that Conservative Democrats aren't dead just yet!

(4) Darrell Black (D-Milledgeville)

Businessowner Darrell Black is back, this time running for Senate District 25 against Johnny Grant who has two republicans challenging him in the republican primary. Black ran in the special election back in  2007 but lost out to Rusty Kidd (I). Black is a moderate democrat who wants to improve the jib situation of SD 25.

(5) Dar'Shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia)

Incumbent Buisnessowner Dar'Shun Kendrick is beat back two democratic challengers for her HD 93 seat. Kendrick, a one term representative is one of the youngest members of the legislature. She is a former congressional intern, served as youth coordinator for the YDG & she was selected as one of Peanut Politics Hottest Democratic Women of Georgia. She owns her own business, Kendrick Law Practice & her constituent services are top notch. Send her back to the State House to continue fighting for bluecollar families in her district.

(6) Gene Mitchell (D-Douglas)

Mitchell is running for open State Senate seat left by Greg Goggins who retired before the end of the session. In 2004, according to his FB Page, Gene enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. His tour of service took Gene to over twenty countries across Africa, Asia, and South America. Gene was honorably discharged from the military in 2011. While on reserve status, Gene began attending Mercer University where he graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. I hope the senate leadership helps Mitchell in that race. He has the right makeup & background for that district. Keep a eye on that race.

(7) JC Cunningham (D-Valdosta)

Disabled Veteran JC Cunningham will take on Floor Leader Amy Carter, another party switcher from Valdosta for HD 175. Cunningham is running because he believe that it is time that the lawmakers of Georgia begin to reflect the spirit and pride of all Georgians. For the past several months he have been speaking and meeting with educators, farmers, small business owners, unemployed construction workers, seniors, and mothers throughout Valdosta, Hahira, Quitman, Dixie, Boston and Thomasville and I heard the same thing over and over. "Who in Atlanta is representing South Georgia"? "Does anyone feel our pain"? I give Cunningham a 50/50 shot at that seat...

(8) Bikram Mohanty (D-Valdosta)

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Mohanty at the State Capitol during qualifying period. Mohanty has the tall order of unseating longtime democrat, now republican Tim Golden for SD 8. Dr Mohanty is a occupational therapist

As founder and CEO of Innovative Rehab Solutionshehave employed healthcare and rehab professionals from South Georgia and have been able to successfully maintain these positions without major government intervention or any major debt.  His main issue is creating Jobs for the South Ga Economy

Is Floyd L.Griffin Planning a Political Comeback? Will Darrell Black run again in 2010?

There are rumblings up in Baldwin County for former State Senator & Mayor of Milledgeville Floyd Griffin (D-Milledgeville) to run for his old State Senate seat against Johnny Grant (R-Milledgeville) in this fall'a elections.

Griffin defeated incumbent state Sen. Wilbur Baugh in 1994 to become the first Black politician elected from a rural, White majority district in Georgia since Reconstruction. He is also a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College.

A Vietnam War Veteran, where he was a helicopter pilot,instructor pilot, aviation platoon leader and commander of a construction engineering company. After combat service he commanded an engineer battalion under General Norman Schwarzkopf, then served on the Army Staff at the Pentagon and was later promoted to the rank of colonel. Floyd Griffin has also worked as an educator. At Wake Forest University he served as an Assistant Professor of Military Science. He was the director of ROTC at Winston-Salem State University, where he coached the football team's backfield as they won two conservative college championships.

He served almosy 25 years in the U.S. Army before retiring & he flirted with a run for GDOT Board against Raybon Anderson back in 2008.

And keep an eye on small business owner Darrell Black (D-Milledgeville),
who is a owner of Flooring America Milledgeville who ran for HD 141 seat that was won by Rusty Kidd (I-Milledgeville) as a possible candidate for SD 25. If Griffin doesn't run for the SD25, look for Black as a possibility for that seat, as well as HD 141, where Rusty Kidd, who has already announced he's running for re-election has got to get the signatures needed to run again as a Indepedent.

Just who is Darrell Black, Democratic candidate for House District 141

Although the special election to replace Bobby Parham (D-Milledgeville) is non-partisan, there is a democrat running in the race & his name is Darrell Black. He is a local Businessman who is the owner of Milledgeville's Florring America. He celebrated the business's 25th anniversary back in May.

Flooring America is a national franchise that Black bought into in 2000.

The company’s Web site also claims that “every Flooring America store is locally owned.” Black lives in Milledgeville and is involved with John Milledge Academy football (his voice may sound familiar to radio listeners over in Baldwin County) and has been in several productions with the local theater group, the Milledgeville Players.

When questioned about how much business Flooring America has done locally, Black remained humbled but still proud of the impact his business has had on the community.

Well Darrell is about to embark on a new journey & that journey is hopefully to the State Legislature to serve out the term of Parham, who resigned to serve on the GDOT. He wil be going up against 3 others, including Rusty Kidd, who father legendary State Senator Democrat Culver Kidd was a State Senator,