MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- A former Macon city councilman wants to get back to a top seat on the new Macon-Bibb County consolidated government. Today, Mike Cranford announced his intent to run for the district 7 seat. Cranford served on Macon City Council in two separate terms for a total of 11 years.

Cranford says his 40 years of business experience, and 25 years as an attorney puts him in a unique position to help the city and county make the consolidation transition.

Here is Cranford's complete statement:

I am announcing that I intend to seek the District 7 seat under the new consolidated government. I had previously served on Macon City Council from 1995 to 1999 and then again from 2005 to 2012. I was Chairman of Appropriations and guided Macon thru the difficult recession years. I was also on the Service Delivery team and the SPLOST negotiations team so I am knowledgeable about the City and County finances. I have been in business for myself for over 40 years and I have been an attorney for 25 years therefore I think my business experience and my legal experience puts me in a unique position to again help the City and County make this transition.

MACON, Ga. (41NBC/WMGT) - Macon City Council members want the U.S. Department of Justice to get involved in the controversy over how elections will be held in Bibb County.

Lawmakers recently approved changing the county's elections to a non-partisan format and moving them from November to July.

Democratic party members say those moves were made to weaken black voting strength and that voters didn't approve those changes when they voted for consolidation in July.

Council Tuesday night voted 11-2 to ask the Department of Justice to investigate--this after Congressman James Beverly Monday filed a complaint with the DOJ about the situation.

"We feel good about what we're going to submit--or what we already have submitted--to the Justice Department, " says Macon City Council member Elaine Lucas.  "We are hoping that they will see the merit in our argument and will deny pre-clearance on this."

Lucas says the resolution will be accompanied by more than 75 signed affidavits and will be sent off to the DOJ first thing Wednesday morning.

MACON, Ga. (41NBC/WMGT) - Macon Councilman Henry Ficklin says his decades of experience are what the county needs on its new consolidated government.

Ficklin Tuesday put his name in the hat for the District 2 seat, which covers citizens from north to south Bibb County.

Ficklin recently got back into public service, winning city council elections in 2010 and 2011.

He says with the design of the new government, the county needs experienced representation that people can rely on.

"Whether it's elected officials or citizens, I will work with them to come up with solutions to solve problems that we face," says Ficklin.

He calls himself a fiscal conservative who's fought to keep taxes down, and says that he'll continue to do so.

Earlier this month, councilman Larry Schlesinger announced he'll also be running for the District 2 seat.