The closely-watched special election for Richmond County Board of Education District 6 has its first contender.
Ed Lowery, known for catering events such as campaign fundraisers, filed a declaration of intent to accept campaign contributions Wednesday with the Richmond County Board of Elections.
Chairing Lowery’s campaign is Evett Davis, the wife of Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis. His campaign treasurer is west Augusta retiree Lee Powell.
Lowery, who couldn’t be reached for comment, is a funeral director and former employee of the Richmond County school system and Augusta Parks and Recreation. He’s an officer with the Rev. Larry Fryer in Global Race Unity, which organizes Augusta’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration. Fryer lost a runoff for another school board seat last month.
“His heart is in the right place as far as education goes. He’s all for getting us out of the failing schools situation and doing programs for the children and trying to figure out a way to help out the parents,” said former commissioner Moses Todd, who is involved with the campaign.
Elections officials are preparing to conduct a special election March 21 once the board of education formally requests it. It’s the next available date under state law, said Travis Doss, executive director for Richmond County Board of Elections.
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Election under heightened scrutiny
The election has drawn heightened scrutiny because it’s being held to replace Tyrique Robinson. The 20-year-old candidate took his own life a week after he was elected in November. Robinson had been pressured to resign to make way for another candidate, Ben Hasan, to take the seat.
The school board has come under fire for its handling of the election and plans to allow A.K. Hasan, Ben Hasan’s brother, and the sitting District 6 trustee, to hold the seat until the special election. During redistricting, Hasan was drawn out of the district and his term ends Dec. 31.
Parent advocate Monique Braswell said allowing Hasan to serve when he no longer lives in the district is a bad move.
“I like everything about A.K., but at the end of the day it’s about doing right by our kids,” she said.
Braswell is backing another candidate, Laura Green, who hasn’t filed a declaration of intent yet. Green, who owns a daycare business, has publicly stated her interest in the post.
No one else had filed paperwork in the contest Thursday. Candidate qualifying for the post is scheduled for Jan. 17-19.
Susan McCord is a staff writer with The Augusta Press. Reach her at susan@theaugustapress.com
