The clock is ticking in the race to replace Commissioner Alvin Mason, who resigned June 17 with 18 months left on his term, citing health reasons.
On Thursday, the Richmond County Board of Elections announced that a special election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4 to fill the District 4 seat. Qualifying opens at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18 and closes at noon Wednesday, Aug. 20 at the Board of Elections office, 535 Telfair St., Suite 500. The fee to run is $360.
Two potential contenders have already stepped into the spotlight:
- Tanya Barnhill-Turnley, recently appointed as interim commissioner, is now representing District 4 temporarily. She hasn’t yet said whether she’ll run to make it permanent.
- William Harris, a veteran and retired educator who has repeatedly secured the Republican nomination for state House District 126, has filed paperwork to accept campaign contributions for the District 4 race.
District 4 covers the southwest side of Richmond County, including neighborhoods around Fort Gordon’s northern edge, Barton Chapel Road and areas north and south of Tobacco Road.
To qualify, candidates must be at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a Georgia resident for two years. They must have lived in District 4 for at least one year before the election, be registered to vote there and stay in the district throughout their term.
The winner of the Nov. 4 contest will serve out the remainder of Mason’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2026. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held Dec. 2.
