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Turmoil hits district race

• A Dougherty County Commission candidate disputes his opponent’s campaign claims.

Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — Campaign literature sent to voters by incumbent District 5 Dougherty County Commissioner Art Searles sparked a protest from his opponent in today’s Democratic primary and drew the ire of prominent citizens mentioned in the literature.

Contractor Harry James said a letter mailed to District 5 voters by Searles implying that James had been coerced to run for the seat by prominent citizens in the community was an act of “desperation” by Searles.

“I think it’s sad that in this process of competition, for Mr. Searles it always comes down to somebody paying the opposition,” James said Monday. “I don’t even know some of the people he named, and I’ve actually fought with (former Mayor Tommy) Coleman for the last three and a half years.

“This is an attack on the moral fiber of my integrity, and it’s nothing more than a last-minute ploy to sway the undecided constituents. It’s an act of desperation; the buzz in the community is that the people are ready for change. I think people are smart enough to see through this cancer-like campaigning that eats away at the Christian-based fiber of my campaign.”

In a letter mailed to District 5 voters titled “A Vote for Me Is a Vote for You,” Searles wrote: “There are those who do not want me to continue my work for you. The likes of WALB-TV’s Jim Wilcox, ex-Mayor Tommy Coleman, District Attorney Ken Hodges, Dr. Ira Roth and many others are very angry with my successful vote against consolidation and standing up to make sure minority contractors get a fair share of contracts let by the county. They have finally found someone to oppose me so they can control my seat and make negative changes in the district.”

Hodges said the literature is an example of Searles’ dual personality.

“First of all, his proposition is absurd,” Hodges said. “I’ve never met the gentleman running against Mr. Searles; as far as I know I’ve never had a conversation with him. This literature, which I have not seen, further illustrates what many people know: that Art Searles is two people.

“The political Art Searles uses racist tactics that are destructive to Dougherty County, and that Art Searles is a cancer that should be excised. One-on-one, Mr. Searles is as charming a man as you’d ever want to meet. I’ve had pleasant dealings with him, and as a county commissioner I think he’s done a fine job. I’m not opposed to him as a county commissioner, but the kind of tactics he uses are destructive to Albany and Dougherty County.”

Roth, a local veterinarian, had harsh words for Searles.

“Anybody that still uses the terms ‘we’ and ‘them’ shouldn’t be an elected official because it is not inclusive for all of us,” Roth said. “It sort of demonstrates Mr. Searles’ motivation.

“Mr. Searles Jr. would love to have the admiration and respect that his father was able to convey over the years when he ran the Southwest Georgian. The differences and contrasts are stark and amazing, and it’s no wonder that Mr. Searles seeks publicity the way he does.”

Searles, reached after Monday morning’s commission work session, said he stood by the content of the letter.

“If this guy (James) wasn’t put up to running for my seat, why is he there?” Searles said. “Why all of a sudden is he interested in the County Commission? It’s clear that the people I named — and others — oppose the stuff that I stand for. If it’s not true, let him prove it. He can’t.”

James said a number of his supporters in the district called him about Searles’ campaign literature.

“He’s on the defensive now, and he’ll use any tactic to discredit me,” James said. “But the people of this district know me; they know my integrity. I think responsible people see this for exactly what it is.”

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