Decision 2024: Meet Rick Williams, candidate for Georgia Senate District 25, Republican Primary
Early voting began on April 29 and ends on May 17. Election Day will be May 21.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Two Republican candidates are qualified for the upcoming Georgia Senate District 25 election.
Leland Olinger and Rick Williams are competing to win the Republican nomination in the upcoming primary election.
41NBC’s Monica Diaz-Meek spoke with each candidate ahead of the May 21 election.
Candidate name: Rick Williams
Running for: Georgia Senate District 25
Campaign Website: rickwilliamsforgeorgia.com
MONICA- Good Afternoon. Today we have Rick Williams who’s running for Georgia Senate District 25. Thank you for being here today.
RICK- Thank you.
MONICA- I’m glad to have you here. I have three questions for you today. First off, what do you think is the biggest issue or challenge that needs to be addressed and how do you plan on solving that if you’re elected?
RICK- Our issues in Georgia, that really faces a mental health and of course, safety for our citizens of the state of Georgia and also for medical care. So those are the issues that are really pressing that we continue to work on and we’ll continue to work on.
MONICA- Now, how has your background and your experience prepared you for this role?
RICK- Well, I served as a County Commissioner in the early 90s and then in 99 became Chief Registrar in Baldwin County. So I did that for 16 years, as well as being in the funeral business and being in the business to take care of people. So I’ve been spending my life as a public servant, of taking care of people. And, so that’s what my background is. I’ve spent six years in the House of Representatives and two years now in the Senate and wish to continue serving. I’m not a career politician, but I am a public servant, and I enjoy helping people.
MONICA- Now, what would progress look like to you if elected?
RICK- Progress would be more beds for the mentally ill. I’ve spoken with Commissioner Tan on numerous occasions, trying to find more beds to get the mentally ill, the help they need out of the jails and into treatment centers so that I can help. Right now they are a danger to themselves. They’re a danger to their families. They’re a danger to society in general. A lot of times, not being on the proper medication and not being taken care of. So this is something that is very important that we’ve got to address.
MONICA- Alright. So I want to dig a little deeper. You mentioned mental health and mental illness quite a bit. Why is that so important to you that you work towards fixing that problem?
RICK- Well, this is something that we’ve been working on. And being from Milledgeville, this is where mental health and the mental hospital was for many years. And so when the mental hospitals closed down, did you see more people out on the streets and you see more people that are needing treatment? And this is something that I’ve had to deal with, with constituents and families have come to see me, that they have a loved one who is undergoing a mental crisis and cannot get the help that they need. And so this is something that we’ve really got to do. And our sheriffs, I have seven sheriffs that I work with throughout my district. And these sheriffs, number one concern is space in their jail that they know they have people in their jails that are mentally ill, and they don’t deserve to be in their jail. They deserve to be somewhere where they can get treatment. And this is very important.
MONICA- Alright. Well, thank you, Mr. Williams. Thank you for being here today.
RICK- Thank you. It’s certainly been my pleasure.
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:
Wednesday, May 15: Leland Olinger
Thursday, May 16: Rick Williams
