DALTON —
Allan Pippin says he has thought of running for City Council in Varnell since moving there in 2001. Now the time seems right.
“The last two years I’ve been attending City Council meetings on an almost monthly basis, even work sessions,” said Pippin, who operates Pippin Insurance Agency on Cleveland Highway just below Varnell. “I’ve watched the mayor and council operate, seen them work things out. We’re got a good group of folks running Varnell.”
Pippin, 48, is running against Jaramie Bickford, Sheldon Fowler and Clyde Williams II for Seat 3 in the nonpartisan special election on July 20. Former councilman Thomas Burnett resigned after moving out of the city. The City Council seats are citywide seats. The unexpired term ends in 2011.
A lifelong Whitfield County resident and insurance agent for 20 years, Pippin and his wife, Tammy, have two children, Sarah, 14, and Samuel, 12.
Pippin said he believes growth will come to Varnell “subtly” because of the current economy, but he’s aware there are many residents of the community who live just outside the city limits and do not have access to city services.
“I’d like to see more property owners come into the city,” he said. “We have great services in our police and sanitation departments. Our sanitation department is second to none.”
Pippin said his platform is “community involvement.” If elected, he would like to make beautification a pet project.
“There are some abandoned homes and areas where neighbors could help neighbors with cleanup,” he said. “A key vocal point is the (historic) Varnell House. I’d like for us to have a community meeting on the lawn and talk about what we can do to beautify our city. I’d like to see us put in some flower gardens, plant some crepe myrtles, you know, volunteer our time. Then we could celebrate with everyone bringing some homemade ice cream after it’s over ... by making our city more attractive we could potentially attract new residents and businesses to our city.”
Pippin said his experience as a businessman — planning budgets, performing analyses and “knowing when to spend and when not to spend” — would be an asset to Varnell.
“You have to run the city like a business,” he said. “I feel like I can add my knowledge to that seat.”
Election
Candidate profile: Pippin believes time is right
- Local Election News
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Qualifying for local, state candidates finished
Qualifying for local and state elections ended Friday at noon.
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And they’re off
Qualifying for local elections got off to a busy start on Wednesday.
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Former Sheriff Stafford running for office again
Former Whitfield County sheriff James E. “Jim” Stafford says he will be a candidate for sheriff this year.
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Qualifying starts Wednesday in Whitfield, Murray
Whitfield and Murray County voters will find out officially this week who will be running for local offices. Qualifying for the July 31 general primary starts Wednesday in both counties and will conclude Friday.
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Miller joins field running for county clerk of Superior Court
Susan Miller says she will run for the Whitfield County clerk of Superior Court this year as a Republican. Miller was defeated four years ago by Republican Melica Kendrick when Miller ran as a Democrat.
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Qualifying for local, state candidates finished
- State Election News
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Qualifying opens next week for state offices
Political and non-partisan candidates hoping to get elected this year will be qualifying next week.
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State Sen. George Hooks won’t seek another term
State Sen. George Hooks will not seek a 17th term in the Georgia legislature.
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APNewsBreak: Chamber to run congressional ads
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is launching ads in Florida, Missouri, Hawaii and Ohio as Democrats struggle to hold Senate seats and their slim majority. The Republican-friendly lobbying group is also targeting 17 House races from New York to Minnesota.
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Newt Gingrich wins Georgia Republican primary
ATLANTA (AP) — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich claimed a decisive victory in the Georgia Republican primary Tuesday, a desperately needed win in his former home state as he looks to make another comeback in the GOP presidential race.
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Ga. officials align with GOP candidates
The Republican speaker of Georgia’s House of Representatives laughed when asked if he had endorsed any GOP candidates for president.
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“Thank God, no,” House Speaker David Ralston said.
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Qualifying opens next week for state offices
- National Election News
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THE RACE: Obama, Romney working to stay on message
President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are being buffeted by crosswinds as Obama fights to keep his job and Romney works to wrest it from him. Both know where they want to go, but getting there is something else.
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Romney, GOP guvs have differing takes on economy
In Virginia, Gov. Bob McDonnell runs TV ads hailing the state’s business growth. Ohio Gov. John Kasich tells anyone who will listen that 100,000 jobs have been created or retained on his watch. And Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder promotes a state budget that’s on solid ground for the first time in a decade.
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Third party group gives up seeking a candidate
A private organization established to run a third-party candidate in this year’s presidential elections has thrown in the towel, saying no one mustered sufficient support for such an effort.
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Shift on marriage energizes immigration activists
President Barack Obama’s shift to support gay marriage is energizing young Hispanic voters who have been working side-by-side with gay activists in their push for immigration reform. The alliance has been growing nationwide and helping dispel what many say is an outdated notion that Hispanics are less tolerant of gays than the general public.
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Ads highlight cozy campaign-super PAC relationship
Looks like President Barack Obama’s allies got the hint.
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THE RACE: Obama, Romney working to stay on message
