The May 24 Democratic primary for the Long County District 2 Board of Commissioners seat could not have been much closer than it was.
In a three-way race, incumbent Robert Long received 130 votes, just four more than runner-up Charles Brady and five more than third-place finisher Wallace Shaw.
A recount confirmed that result, meaning Long and Brady advanced to the runoff.
The winner will face Republican Mike Riddle, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary, in November.
Voters who cast ballots in the Republican primary will not be able to vote in the runoff because it is on the Democratic ballot, and primary voters must stay with the same party’s ballot in the runoff.
However, registered voters who did not participate in the primary may choose the Democratic ballot to vote in the District 2 commissioners runoff.
Here are the candidate profiles for Brady and Long that the Coastal Courier published in the run-up to the primary.
Charles Robert Brady
Charles Brady, 50, has been married for 28 years to his wife, Carol, and they have three children and six grandchildren.
Brady attended Bradwell Institute and is retired from the Maneuver Area Training and Equipment Site on Fort Stewart and the Georgia National Guard.
“I am currently employed with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office where I am a lieutenant in charge of security at the Justice Center, Annex, and Historical Courthouse,” he wrote.
Brady has lived in Long County since April 2009 and attends A New Beginning Church.
On what makes him qualified for the seat, he wrote, “I enjoy helping people and take pride in all I do. I feel I can make a difference in Long County.”
Revenue is one of the big problems for Long County, Brady wrote. He said the county is growing fast in housing and population, but not in business and industry.
“We need to see how we can take some of the burden off the property owners,” he wrote.
Along with increasing industry and business, Brady wrote that he wants to “look at ways to repair our road system, both dirt and paved. And do my best to help solve the problems of the citizens of Long County.”
Initiatives that Brady would champion if elected include hiring a county administrator, “redo the county pay for employees,” and adding recreational areas in the outlying areas of the county.
Robert Long (incumbent)
Robert Long, 63, is married to his wife, Dale, and they have one daughter and two grandchildren.
Long wrote that he is a 12th-grade graduate and a lifelong resident of Long County. He worked for the Georgia Forestry Commission for 34 years.
Long believes he is qualified for the position because of his “experience with working in government and people,” he wrote.
Roads and infrastructure are the most important issues affecting the district and the county, Long wrote.
He will represent all residents of the county “by listening and working to try all avenues. To accomplish their areas of concern,” he wrote.
If elected, he will “try to move our county forward by bringing in new business and adding jobs.”
“I hope that we can relieve some of the burden of taxes that is solely on the property owners backs,” Long wrote. “One other thing I would like to see achieved is our county road system paved and unpaved upgraded.”