Pine Mountain businessman Steve Earles has less than four weeks to figure out how to cut into Kip Smith’s large advantage in the race for the vacant Georgia House 129 seat.
Smith was the leading vote-getter in a four-man race to fill the seat held for 17 years by his father, Vance Smith, now commissioner of the Department of Transportation. Kip Smith got 49.4 percent of the vote and fell less than 60 votes short of winning the race without a runoff, according to totals supplied by the Secretary of State’s office.
Earles got 22 percent of the vote, more than 1,200 fewer than Smith.
Smith easily carried Harris and Muscogee counties, while Earles took a small victory in Troup County.
The runoff will be Dec. 1.
Earles, who owns wellness centers in LaGrange and Pine Mountain, said there has to be a way to contrast the two candidates.
“I would like to see head-to-head debates,” Earles said Wednesday. “The message can be gotten out.”
But Earles said part of the challenge is competing against the Smith family’s political base in the district.
“I can’t practically say that I can compete against a machine like that,” Earles said. “But I know they are scared and disappointed. I will not go away and I will not surrender.”
Kip Smith said he was “pleased” with the result and will work hard to gain people’s confidence in the coming weeks. He said he was open to participating in debates with Earles, but he would continue to do what gave him the most votes Tuesday.
“We have got to go door to door and come face to face with as many voters as we can,” Kip Smith said. “We have had the opportunity to go to forums and speak on the issues. The people want to see you, and they want to meet you.”
Earles, 56, said while Kip Smith’s name was on the ballot, it was Vance Smith’s name and recognition that many voters considered.
“I don’t think Kip Smith has the reputation to get 49.4 percent of the vote,” Earles said. “I am not going to be ugly, but I don’t think he has earned it. I don’t think Kip Smith’s name got 49.4 percent of the vote.”
Kip Smith, 27, takes exception to that.
“We had an election and it had Kip Smith’s name on the ballot,” he said. “That’s the number of times someone hit Kip Smith’s name. Vance Smith was not on the ballot. I am proud of my heritage, not only being the son of Vance Smith, but being the grandson of Vance Smith Sr.”
Smith, who is managing partner of the Dallas Chipley Group that manages commercial real estate, points out that he did well in Muscogee County, where he lives, and Harris County, where he was raised.
“I had great support from my hometown and the community I live in,” Smith said. “To carry the area where you live and work says a lot.”
The turnout for the runoff in the district that includes small parts of Muscogee and Troup counties and almost all of Harris County will likely be small. Turnout Tuesday was about 12 percent and that included municipal elections in some Harris and Troup communities.
The House 129 race will be the only contest on the ballot in four weeks.
There will also be a condensed advance voting period.
The election falls the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, so advance voting in Muscogee and Harris will likely be the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Elections officials in Troup County estimate the runoff, which will include half of the county’s 16 precincts, will cost about $10,000.
In Harris County, which must open all 12 precincts, it will cost between $8,000 and $10,000.
In Muscogee County, the cost should be about $27,000.
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