Meeting the candidates; a look into Albany’s Ward 1 election

ALBANY, Ga. – Ward 1 is up for grabs in the upcoming election. Because for the first time in over 15 years, its longtime commissioner has competition for the seat.

For Commissioner Jon Howard, this is the first time he won’t be running unopposed for the seat on the city commission since 2007.

And, he says as long as he’s able to continue the job, he wants to serve the people of east Albany.

“One thing is that my constituents are so faithful in public service to me. And, when they ask me to continue to run, I say ‘I will run as long as I am in the right mind and you and I are still alive,'” said Jon Howard, Ward 1 Commissioner, City of Albany.

The man running against Howard? Another man who grew up in east Albany, Lawrence McCray, who believes that it’s time for a shakeup in Ward 1.

We were able to speak with him following an open candidate forum about his campaign for the commission seat.

“My platform is basically based around kids and family, and recreation. Because if we guide our kids back away from the streets and build a background with recreation, we will solve some of the violence in the community and start to grow farther,” said Lawrence McCray, Ward 1 candidate.

For both candidates, one of the major talking points is bringing prosperity back to east Albany… as well as the first issue they plan on addressing to the commission should they win the election.

“We’ve got to find some type of way to collaborate. We have a high volume of poverty that’s almost 30 percent in southwest Georgia and we’ve got to work on a regional level to solve that…” said Jon Howard, Ward 1 Commissioner, City of Albany.

“My vision for east Albany is simple: changing the narrative. We want to change the narrative from being the slum, being the bottom of the barrel, and we want to become known as part of the Good Life City of east Albany in Albany, Georgia,” said Lawrence McCray, Ward 1 candidate.

“…I’ve learned a lot. Through some tough times, but today, I’m a better man than I was yesterday. And our city faces many challenges…And as mayor, that’s my goal. To work with the commissioners, to work with the community, and bring together a comprehensive plan that will address the needs of the city,” said Henry Mathis, mayoral candidate.

As Howard and McCray both have their visions for the east Albany community, they want voters in Ward 1 to know that there’s still plenty of work to be done.

Brian Roche reporting.

Copyright 2023 CBS 44 South Georgia. All rights reserved.