Albany City Commission to fill Ward 6 seat after passing of Commissioner Young

ALBANY, Ga. – It’s been just over a month since the passing of Albany Commissioner, Demetrious Young.

And, CBS 44’s Brian Roche spoke with one Albany leader about filling his spot on the city commission.

The untimely passing of Albany City Commissioner, Demetrius Young has left a hole on the city commission. We met with one city leader to talk about the special election now in place to fill that vacancy.

Ward 1 Commissioner Jon Howard told us about the final turnout for registration for the upcoming special election for Young’s seat.

As well as when the state of Georgia decided on the date.

“…And, once we did that and then they decided that the election would be on March 18, 2025. And, it ended today for that what’s going to qualify; there are three individuals that have qualified as of today for his (Young’s) Ward 6 seat,” said Jon Howard, Ward 1 Commissioner, City of Albany.

At the end of registration Tuesday afternoon, three candidates from Ward 6 registered to be on the ballot this March.

Commissioner Howard is optimistic that no matter who of the three gets voted on to the commission that they’ll be the best person to represent Ward 6.

“Well, this special election like I say, I know some of the individuals that have qualified, but I certainly hope that as whoever wins in March of this year, we certainly are hoping that they would be a team player and we can get along extremely well and work as a team and not as an individual,” said Howard.

While the seat will be filled though, the incoming Ward 6 Commissioner will have some big shoes to fill left behind by Demetrius Young.

“So, I certainly want the individuals of Ward 6 to know them Demetrius and I would join each other and we was friends for a long time and I certainly hope that the individuals that they can fill his shoes. Well, we said he had a vision. He was very energetic and had political aspiration and unfortunately, but god saw another fit for him to do,” said Howard.

The three candidates for the Ward 6 Commission seat are Samuel Wright, Samuel Matthew Gaines and Diana Brown.

Brian Roche reporting.

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