Former Dalton City Council member Charlie Bethel rode a wave of Whitfield County support Tuesday to become the next state senator from District 54.
Bethel defeated former Fairmount Mayor Steve Brannon 58 percent to 42 percent in the Republican primary for that seat. No Democrats qualified, so Bethel will be the only candidate on the November general election ballot.
“I’m very grateful that the people of the 54th Senate district have chosen me as their representative,” Bethel said Tuesday night. “I’m excited about the opportunity to serve, and I’m looking forward to getting further educated and further prepared and hitting the ground running in January.”
Bethel said he would be meeting with Senate leaders and also working with other local members of the General Assembly to make sure this area is represented well.
District 54 includes all of Whitfield and Murray counties and parts of Gordon and Catoosa counties. Brannon carried Catoosa and Gordon counties, but Bethel built up a lead in Murray and Whitfield that he could not overcome.
Brannon said Tuesday night he believes Bethel will make a good state senator.
“I’m proud for him. It was a pleasure to meet his family. He was a real gentleman during this campaign, and we tried to return the favor,” Brannon said.
Bethel campaigned on a call for Georgia to improve its business climate and make itself more competitive with other states, particularly in the Southeast.
For instance, Bethel championed the elimination of the energy tax on manufacturing in Georgia, which would certainly have a major positive impact on the area’s industrial base, because he says it costs us jobs and lowers our competitiveness because our neighboring states don’t tax it.
“In this area, we know the importance of manufacturing jobs,” he told The Daily Citizen during the campaign. “But the state as a whole has not focused its efforts on how to create productive sector jobs. One example is our tax on energy used in manufacturing. Our neighboring states don’t do that.”
Bethel has also called for a reorganization of how the state collects sales tax revenue and suggested that the state could achieve both savings and better results by looking at long-term prison reform.
Dalton resident John Didier said Tuesday that he hoped to see Bethel get elected.
“I serve on the (Dalton) tree board, and I’ve been impressed with his thoughtful approach to dealing with our problems,” he said.
Born and raised in Fairmount, in Gordon County, Brannon served for eight years as the mayor of Fairmount, and before that was its police chief for five years.
In his Senate bid, he touted his experience as both a businessman and mayor as an asset for helping deal with the sea of red ink that the state continues to drown in, and told The Daily Citizen that he is at a “time in my life where I feel like I can help.”
Brannon said he felt he did well in his first try for state office.
“We appreciate everybody who threw their vote our way. This campaign meant a lot to us because we got to rekindle a lot of relationships we haven’t seen in years and make some new friends as well,” he said.
Election
Related Photos
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Bob Jenkins, right, congratulates Charlie Bethel Tuesday night at the Depot. (Misty Watson/The Daily Citizen)
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Jim Bethel, right, congratulates his son Charlie at the Depot restaurant Tuesday night following Charlie Bethel's win in the Republican primary for state Senate District 54. (Misty Watson/The Daily Citizen)
Discussion
Bethel surges to Senate win
- 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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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
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Newt Gingrich wins Georgia Republican primary
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Ga. officials align with GOP candidates
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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
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Ads highlight cozy campaign-super PAC relationship
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THE RACE: Obama, Romney working to stay on message
