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Heimes makes it a race in District 4

Community activist challenges retired deputy police chief in July primary.

Savannah Morning News

It's officially a race in Chatham County's Fourth District, where community activist Marianne Heimes announced Tuesday she will challenge retired Savannah Deputy Police Chief Bill Lyght for the Republican nomination.
Commissioner Frank Murray is resigning to run for commission chairman.

"It's time for Heimes!" one of about 40 supporters shouted as Heimes, 71, wrapped up her announcement at the Wilmington Plantation.

Heimes has lived in the district for 25 years. She is a member of the library board, and helped shape land-use plans for the islands and southeast areas of the county.

"I've attended MPC (Metropolitan Planning Commission) and Chatham County Commission meetings for years. I know how government works, and how it needs to work for you," Heimes said.

She said several quality-of-life issues will be central in her campaign, including traffic and crime control, "smart" commercial development and monitoring how Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax money is spent.

Marianne Heimes
"I supported SPLOST. Now I want to make sure the money is spent the way it was proposed to voters," she said.

In attendance Tuesday were several district residents, including Board of Elections member Stan Kaczorowski, his wife and Republican district Chairwoman Carole Kaczorowski, and Republican Party Chairwoman Mary Flanders.

Heimes and her husband, Joe, have been married 47 years and have six children.

The Fourth District is the first of the commission's eight districts to become contested. Heimes and Lyght will face off in the July 20 general primary.

All eyes on Pete

Mum seems to be the word among those mulling a run for Chatham County commission chairman these days.

Commissioner Frank Murray, a Republican, is the only one who has officially entered the race.

Others whose names have surfaced as potential candidates seem to be playing the waiting game. And there seem to be two common questions among them:

Will Pete Liakakis run?

And if so, what party will he join?

The plans of the former city alderman, who lost last year's runoff for Savannah mayor, is the topic of much speculation.

Liakakis, who garnered support from both sides of the political aisle as a non-partisan alderman, has never been required to declare a party affiliation.

So, as would be expected, Republican and Democratic hopefuls are wondering where Liakakis stands – and how his plans might affect their campaign.

Liakakis is not returning phone calls. Five messages placed to his business in the last two weeks have gone unreturned.

For now, other potential candidates seem to be using the same line. Here's a sampling:

"I haven't made up my mind yet. And it will be awhile before I do," said former Mayor Floyd Adams, whom some suspect will run as a Democrat.

"I'd rather not show my cards just yet," said Pooler Mayor Buddy Carter, a Republican.

"My wife and I are still discussing it," said Rex Templeton, chairman of the Chatham County Democratic Committee.

"I'm thinking about it," said Dana Braun, a former city alderman who would run as a Democrat.

Touch-screen voting ready

Absentee voters for the March 2 presidential preference primary will be able to cast their ballots on touch-screen voting machines starting Feb. 17.

Absentee ballots can be cast in the county's election office, in Room 107 of the courthouse parking garage on the corner of Broughton Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Voters who wish to vote by paper ballot must send a written request to the Chatham County Voter Registration Office at P.O. Box 8232, Savannah, GA 31412.

Be sure to include your name, address, date of birth, election date, political party specification, reason you need an absentee ballot and your signature.

Advance voting for the primary election will take place Feb. 23-27. Advance voters can cast touch-screen ballots that week in the Elections office.