Senate candidates start campaigns in ernest

The race is on, and the campaign slogans have been picked separating the two Republican candidates running so far for the state Senate's 24th District.

Incumbent Joey Brush, who officially announced his re-election bid last week, said his campaign's theme will be "Results Matter."

Former Columbia County Commission Chairman Jim Whitehead chose "A Senator with Substance" as his slogan.

The messages serve to set the two men apart as they stump for the newly redrawn district.

"The only totally new area I have is Elbert County, which I haven't represented before," said Brush, who has served in the state Senate since 1998 after four years in the state House.

He said he spent Monday visiting Elbert County and McDuffie County, and gearing up his campaign machine with the regular session of the Legislature finished. He said he planned to highlight the work his done in the Senate, including working with the governor on education reform packages, the appropriations process and transportation items.

Brush said it was difficult to describe what kind of campaign to expect in the race.

"I think those things are hard to predict," he said. "I think you always assume that the candidates think it's going to be a spirited and a tough campaign. You have to assume that."

Whitehead also said he has been making the rounds in the counties now included in the district to broaden support.

"We're on the phone every day talking to all seven counties," said Whitehead, who served on the county's Board of Commissioners for eight years, including two as chairman.

"One thing I keep hearing is they want to have more input and more communication with their representative."

Whitehead said he and supporters plan to drive a bus to Atlanta on April 28 during the official qualifying period for the state races.