Dougherty Co. Democratic Committee hosts Albany City Commission Ward 6 Candidate Forum

ALBANY, Ga. – The Dougherty County Democratic Committee recently hosted the Albany City Commission Ward 6 Candidate Forum, providing the community with an opportunity to engage with the candidates.

Participants included Diana Brown, Samuel Gaines, and Samuel Williams Wright, who addressed general questions and introduced themselves to Albany residents.

Community members also had the opportunity to pose their own questions to the candidates.

Key topics discussed during the forum included transportation, rural voter access, the housing crisis, crime, mental health concerns, and the overall state of Ward 6 in Albany, Georgia.

“We work with the people of the community with what they are doing. We make spaces to get them to jobs, help them get jobs, help them find resources and that’s what you do,” said Samuel Gaines, Albany City Commission Ward 6 Candidate.

Gaines highlighted the importance of connecting residents to resources and creating opportunities that can help the community thrive.

For Diana Brown, revitalization starts at home, in the neighborhoods where people live and work every day.

“To do downtown revitalization, we need to also look in our communities. What about our communities? We can put half of the money in the city, we can put half of the money over here downtown. But, what about our citizens?” said Diana Brown, Albany City Commission Ward 6 Candidate.

Meanwhile, Samuel Williams Wright focused on transparency and staying connected to residents long after Election Day.

“I have heard a lot of people say, “Well, once they are elected, I don’t see them anymore…” But, I would like to institute a townhouse meeting between the people that I represent and myself. Whereas they can come to me once a month and voice their concerns,” said Samuel Williams Wright, Albany City Commission Ward 6 Candidate.

While the candidates differed in approaches, they shared a common goal… To create a stronger, more unified Albany.

“Let’s have a comprehensive feasibility report and see. Work together with everybody and make it work overall, not just the south side and the north south,” said Gaines.

“We need these better jobs. We need that tax revenue to flow back into our community. We need to lock arms and walk together, like I have been doing,” said Brown.

“We need to come together without all these divisions and work for a common cause so that our whole city can rise,” said Wright.

Voters will have their chance to decide who will represent Ward 6 soon.

Early voting will be held from February 24 through March 14 in the Candy Room at Riverfront Resource Center located at 125 Pine Avenue. Election Day is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, with polls open from 7 am to 7 pm.

“I think my background in investments and construction and my life experience for 67 years. I will be accessible, accountable, trustworthy, and I’m capable of making competent decisions. So, your voice, your choice,” said Wright.

“We can all say we are going to do this and we are going to do that. But, what have you been doing? Where have you been? I am a great, dedicated advocate for the community. I have been there. Been in several commissioner meetings. I know the work and I know what our community is worth,” said Brown.

“We keep talking about money and finances and those things. We got to take our time. We have to help our workforce out and we’ve got to bring finances here. How do we do it? One step at a time. The program, we get ready for it, we do a feasibility report to find out where, how and what to do with our finances,” said Gaines.

De’Andra Jacobs reporting.

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