Fort Valley Councilwoman Says She’s Running for Mayor Because it’s Time for a Change

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – One city councilwoman in Fort Valley says it’s time for a change, and that’s why she’s running for mayor.

Barbara Williams is running against 16-year incumbent current Mayor John Stumbo.

For 16 years, Williams has been on Fort Valley’s city council.

During that entire time, she’s sat next to her mayoral opponent.

“It’s now time, sometimes when you stay in office for a long period of time, you get a little bit stagnant with things,” Williams said.

The retired educator says she’s ready to face the challenge and feels like she embodies the entire community.

“I’m retired, I have worked all of my life, I have taught most of my life, and so I want to get the chance to represent the entire population of this community,” Williams said.

Heading into November elections, Mayor Stumbo thinks he has an advantage. The 16-year incumbent says he wants to continue working to meet the needs of people in the city.

“The question is where can I find the resources to satisfy those needs. So there is some value to experience, and I guess any incumbent politician would say that, but I really think I can improve that,” Stumbo said.

He says his goal, if he were re-elected, is to continue Fort Valley’s small town feel with a balance between residential, commercial, and industrial success.

He thinks those factors, along with improving the quality of life in the city, will help him when voters head to the polls.

“If I’m coming from out of town, do you have libraries, do you have hospitals, what are your schools like, what kind of church community do you have?’ All of those kind of quality of life issues,” Stumbo said.

Williams wants to start a mayor’s roundtable in the community and is hoping to reach out to college kids at Fort Valley State, saying the city should embrace them, and create more opportunities for jobs after they graduate.

EARLY VOTING IN FORT VALLEY

OCTOBER 14 – NOVEMBER 1

MONDAY – FRIDAY

8 AM – 12 PM/ 1PM – 5PM