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Diane Ford
Special
COLUMBIA COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 3
Diane Ford (incumbent)
Age: 51
Occupation: Housewife
Education: Butler High School graduate, attended Augusta Technical Institute
Political experience: Columbia County Commissioner since 1993, currently serves as vice chairwoman
Civic involvement: member of West Acres Baptist Church, member of West Lake County Club, member of Columbia County Republican Party
Family: husband, Mike; one son Brian, 26, one daughter, Ashlynn, 23; one grandchild
Greg Kernaghan
Greg Kernaghan
Special
Age: 34
Occupation: shop manager for Kernaghan Paint & Body
Education: Evans High School graduate
Political experience: None
Civic involvement: member of Wesley United Methodist Church, reserve deputy for Columbia County Sheriff's Office for past 10 years, board member of Stratford Neighborhood Association, girls softball and boys baseball coach for Columbia County Recreation Department
Family: wife, Stephanie, two daughters, Avery, 10, Addison, 4, and one son, Evan, 7
STATE SENATE, DISTRICT 24
Joey Brush (incumbent)
Age: 48
Joey Brush
Special
Occupation: real estate developer and home builder; employed by Meybohm Realty and Brush & Co.
Education: Richmond Academy graduate, received a degree in civil engineering from Southern Technical Institute of Georgia Tech
Political experience: Began two terms in Georgia House of Representatives in 1991, has served in the state Senate since 1997
Civic involvement: member of Bible Cathedral, chairman Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation Inc., board member for Easters Seals, member of Thomson Lions Club, member of Toastmasters, serves on the Marketing Council for the Builders Association of Metro Augusta, member of county and state Republican parties
Family: wife, Jamie; three sons, BJ, 24, Nick, 21, and Corey, 18, and one daughter Casey, 15
Jim Whitehead
Jim Whitehead
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Age: 62
Occupation: owner of Jim Whitehead Tire and Auto
Education: Richmond Academy graduate, attended University of Georgia
Political experience: Served eight years on Columbia County Board of Commissioners from 1995 to 2002, including two years as chairman
Civic involvement: member of Wesley United Methodist Church, member of Jones Creek Country Club, Board Chairman of the Augusta Chapter of the American Red Cross, member of Columbia County's Sister City Advisory Board, member of Columbia County Republican Party
Family: wife, Peggy; two sons, Jim Jr., 38, and Bo, 28, and one daughter, Beth, 34
COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF
Lewis Blanchard
Special
Lewis Blanchard
Age: 39
Occupation: President of Executive Marketing Services
Education: Evans High School graduate, received degree from Aiken Technical College in Emergency Medical Training
Civic involvement: member of First Baptist Church, member of the Fraternal Order of Police, East Central Georgia Lodge, Columbia County School Business Partner, member of Columbia County Republican Party, Professional Member of Future Business Leaders of America, member of the Republican National Committee
Family: single
Clay Whittle (incumbent)
Clay Whittle
Special
Age: 44
Occupation: Columbia County Sheriff
Education: Augusta Richmond Academy graduate
Civic involvement: member of Day Springs Baptist Church, member of National Sheriffs' Association, member of Georgia Sheriffs's Association as well as training and standards committee member with the group, Board of Directors member for East Georgia Regional Police Academy, member of Columbia County Republican Party
Family: wife, Bonnie, two sons, Clayton, 11, Connor, 10
COLUMBIA COUNTY CHIEF MAGISTRATE
Richard Ingram
Photo by Donnie Fetter
Richard Ingram
Age: 44
Occupation: Attorney, managing partner for law firm of Fleming, Ingram and Floyd PC
Education: received degree in political science at Augusta State University, graduated from law school at Cumberland School of Law at Samford University
Political experience: none
Civic involvement: member of Warren Baptist Church, secretary/treasurer for Barrington neighborhood association, member of Columbia County Republican Party
Family: wife, Amy, two sons, Jared, 8, and Ricky, 13
Hal Morris
Age: 65
Occupation: owner of insurance agency
Hal Morris
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Education: Thomson High School graduate
Political experience: elected in 1979 as justice of the peace and served until 1983
Civic involvement: member of Warren Baptist Church, member of Elk Lodge of Augusta, past president of Columbia County Bulldog Club, past president of Life Underwrites Association, past president for South Columbia PTO and Evans Booster Club, past president of Martinez Merchants Association, former volunteer fireman in Martinez, coached Little League basebal and football for 10 years in the county, member of Columbia County Republican Party
Family: wife, Betty, one daughter, Sandra, 40, one son, Hal Jr., 44, and six grandchildren
Wade Padgett
Age: 39
Wade Padgett
Special
Occupation: Attorney, Columbia County Associate Magistrate
Education: received a degree in history from University of Georgia, graduated from law school at Georgia State University
Political experience: none
Civic involvement: served as Board Chairman for Leadership Augusta, Board of Directors member for Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce; member of Wesley United Methodist Church where he also serves on domestic missionary team, involved with Columbia County Recreation Department
Family: wife, Alice, one son Matt, 12, one daughter, Jordan, 11