Local Leaders React to Nonpartisan Elections for Macon, Bibb

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Democrats Joe Allen and Henry Ficklin share a common philosophy, and a passion for public service, but the two have very different opinions on nonpartisan elections.

Bibb County Commissioner Joe Allen says in order to be a good leader, above all, you need to be a person of service.

“People have got to work with their heart,” said Allen.

That’s why Allen supports nonpartisan elections in Bibb County, if the local bills that just passed through the state house of representatives are legal.

“If it gets out there, and it passes with the justice department I’ll support it all the way because I believe in nonpartisan local elections,” says Allen.

While they share the same passion for service, and a political party, Macon City Councilman Henry Ficklin says those titles define who you are as a leader.

“If you don’t know what philosophy they hold, then you don’t know what you’re going to get,” says Ficklin.

Ficklin says the people who voted for consolidation, voted for partisan elections, and it’s wrong to change the will of the people.

“It’s very high, if it’s not a high crime it would certainly be a high misdemeanor in my view to take the people’s vote their right of suffrage, and change it like that. We were hood-winked, we were tricked,” says Ficklin.

The two may not see eye-to-eye on the matter but they did agree, based on their party’s values, in this case, they say the people’s voices weren’t heard.

“If there was such a thing as treason in suffrage this would be it,” says Ficklin.

“As a representative of the Democratic side, I think they should have had a right to vote,” says Allen.

The mayor and chairman could not be reached for comment on-camera today. Spokesperson the mayor, Chris Floore, says Mayor Robert Reichert thinks the timing may not have been appropriate,
but he has always been in support of non-partisan elections.