Decision 2024: Meet Floyd Griffin, candidate for Georgia House District 149, Democratic Primary

Early voting began on April 29 and ends on May 17. Election Day will be May 21.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Two Democratic candidates are qualified for the upcoming Georgia House District 149 election.

Floyd Griffin and Phyllis Tufts Hightower are competing to win the Democratic nomination in the upcoming primary election.

41NBC’s Monica Diaz-Meek spoke with each candidate ahead of the May 21 election.

Candidate name: Floyd Griffin
Running for: Georgia House District 149
Campaign Website: Facebook

MONICA- Good afternoon. Today we have Floyd Griffin, who’s running for Georgia House District 149 joining us. Thank you for being here.

FLOYD- I’m super fantabulous. Glad to be with you tonight.

MONICA- I’m glad to have you here. Now, I have a few questions starting off. What do you think is the biggest issue or challenge that needs to be addressed? And how do you plan on fixing that if you are elected?

FLOYD- Well, let me let me say that my legislative experience, which I have, has led me to believe that there’s not one major issue. There are a number of issues. You have to keep those balls in the air at all time. I have approximately nine priorities that I would be looking at. And the first priority is women’s rights to choose and voting rights and Medicaid expansion. That is extremely important. I was reading in the AJC this morning and the headlines was over 300,000 children have been dropped from the Medicaid roll. Now, can you believe that? And in the United States and in Georgia, we have young people. We have children that cannot get the health care that they need. And another priority is this is a national priority. But all politics is local, and that’s democracy. I’m going to be playing paying very close attention to that, because if democracy is moving in the direction that it’s going. Now, all of my other priorities will be all involved. So I’m going to keep those glass balls juggling at different height when I get when I get in the legislature. And the old saying is that don’t drop a glass ball.

MONICA- Alright. Now, how is your background and experience prepare you for this role?

FLOYD- Well, I have extensive experience in my background. I’m a retired Vietnam veteran, served in the military for 23 years, commanded units, worked at the Pentagon and retired after 23 years. I moved back to my hometown, Milledgeville, to a family business funeral service business where my sister and I eventually became co-owners. I was the first African-American senator out of 23 of District and the first African-American elected in a majority white, legislated rural district. And I was also the first black mayor and, oh, capital city, Milledgeville, Georgia. So and I have been involved in and serving on boards. I’ve served on two of three College Board of trustees. I’ve served on on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Center, Board of Directors and I just am a community activist also. So I’ve been on the move.

MONICA-  Alright. Now, lastly, what would progress look like to you if you’re elected?

FLOYD- That’s a very good question. What progress was look like for me is get in involved with the Democratic caucus after the election and making sure that we elect a caucus leadership that is going to represent the Democratic Party and represent Georgia. Since our representative, James Beverly was the Democratic leader and he’s not running for office now. So we have to elect a new a new leader at the same time. Once I’m elected, then I need to also be involved with the district caucus here in Macon, in Milledgeville and Jones County. So that is part of the yes, that is the work that needs to be done the day after, after the election.

MONICA- Alright. Well, thank you for that. And thank you for being here.

FLOYD- I’m glad I’m glad.

Snippets from all candidates’ interviews will air on 41NBC News at 6 p.m., 11 p.m., DayBreak and 41Today. All interviews will also be posted in full on 41NBC.com on the following days:

Tuesday, May 7- Floyd Griffin
Wednesday, May 8- Phyllis Tufts Hightower