Campaign Continues for Macon – Bibb Runoff Candidates

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Election Day for the Macon – Bibb consolidated government has come and gone, and we now have a clearer picture of who will lead the brand new government….at least for a few of the races.

After the historic Macon – Bibb election, winners are smiling and thanking their supporters and their ready to take their positions come January 1st.

District 9 commissioner – elect Al Tillman says he felt his campaign remained strong even through controversy.

“This campaign as we spoke and talked about is about civility, integrity, and unity, and that’s what we exemplified in this entire election,” Tillman said.

“I think Macon dirty politics and mud slinging is over. I think we were able to prove that with a decisive win and victory.”

Others like District 2 commission candidate Larry Schlesinger says he’s ready to hit the ground running.

“I’m just going to keep doing the same things that we have done, leading up to this point, which is to get the message out that we want to create and bring to Macon and Bibb County jobs, jobs, and more jobs,” Schlesinger said.

Schlesinger finished in a runoff with candidate Henry Ficklin.

Ficklin says he’s working on meeting up with his supporters and also hoping to reach people he’s never represented before.

“Going door to door, knocking on doors and introducing myself because all of these people basically they may have known me, but some I’ve never represented before. So I’ve had a good time out, meeting people, letting them know what I’m about. And going door to door, I think that’s the way you win campaigns,” Ficklin said.

Macon Mayor Robert Reichert had little sleep before he hit the phones, thanking his supporters after finishing in a runoff with candidate C. Jack Ellis.

“The level of support we got in a seven person field, we thought was excellent, it gives us a great head start,” Reichert said.

He wants voters who didn’t vote for him before to hear where he wants to take the community.

“We want that person to know number one that the record of success as mayor of Macon over the last six years in pulling the community together. Because we realize we are all in this boat together, and if we don’t all row it in the same direction, we’re not going anywhere,” Reichert said.

We tried reaching out to mayoral candidate, C. Jack Ellis’ camp, they were unavailable today.

In all, five different races finished in a runoff.

Those elections for the new Macon – Bibb consolidated government are scheduled for October 15.