Local & State Headlines

Fullerton opts to run

• Carol Fullerton formally announces her candidacy for the state House of Representatives.

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — Former Albany City Commissioner Carol Fullerton officially announced her candidacy Thursday for the State House District 151 seat.

Fullerton said she decided to run for the seat after former seatholder Freddie Powell Sims, D-Albany, committed to running for the State Senate District 12 seat.

“She asked if I would follow her to Atlanta next year and work hard in the House of Representatives while she partnered with me in the Senate,” Fullerton said Thursday morning. “Not only did it seem like a good fit to us, but to our area legislators as well.

“Many Albany and Dougherty County locally elected officials have encouraged us also. I thank them all and promise to work closely with them in representing our city and county.”

As a state representative, Fullerton said she would take on issues such as health care and education. Nearly 40 people were on hand Thursday morning to support Fullerton’s candidacy, including Sims, Dougherty District Attorney Ken Hodges and City Commissioner Jon Howard.

“I think she (Fullerton) would be a good state representative from a local level because I’ve worked with her on the city commission in the past and she’s worked in a collaberoative effort to get things done,” Howard said. “She will be a team player.”

Fullerton said she is working on putting together a campaign committee and strategists now. She said she didn’t know of any other candidates running for the seat, a rather new experience for her because she’s “never had a free ride” to an elected office.

Because several who contemplated a run for the office had pledged their support to her, Fullerton said she would “seek their opinions and thoughts throughout this term.”

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