Judge’s Decision Allows Tillman to Stay in Race for Macon – Bibb Commission Seat

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A judge has found that Macon – Bibb District 9 commission candidate Al Tillman will remain on the ballot heading into the September 17 elections.

This comes after an appeal from a decision made by the Macon-Bibb board of elections.

Current Macon city councilman Henry Gibson made the appeal, claiming that Tillman was not a resident of the district he was running in.

For a little over a month, District 9 Commission candidate Al Tillman has received scrutiny from his political peers with accusations of him running in a district where he doesn’t live.

Back in August, the Macon – Bibb board of elections decided that Tillman had enough evidence proving he lived in District 9, after city councilman Henry Gibson filed a complaint, claiming he didn’t.

Gibson appealed the board’s decision and took the case to the Bibb County Superior Court.

The judge’s ruling says Gibson didn’t present enough evidence to change the board’s decision.

Tillman held a news conference at his campaign headquarters about the judge’s decision, he says its time for the city to focus on the issues.

“What we’ve got to do is we’ve got to stop the circus, we’ve got to add some civility and integrity back, and this is why I’m running, just for this, to stop the circus to show that we all have been witness to,” Tillman said.

Tillman says he’s willing to sit down with the only other candidate running in district 9, James Timley, and debate the issues.

41NBC spoke with city councilman Henry Gibson over the phone for his reaction to the judges decision, he said it’s not about him being unhappy about the decision, it’s about informing the public.

He says the law is vague to begin with and now voting for Tillman will be up to the people.

Elections are on September 17.

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