For Waynesboro office
Former mayor takes on former vice-mayor
By Elizabeth Billips Associate Editor

Jenkins

Two political veterans will face off in the Waynesboro mayor's race Nov. 6.

With qualifying beginning next Wednesday, the city's former mayor George DeLoach will be pitted against its former vicemayor Pauline Jenkins.

Both hopefuls announced their intentions to The True Citizen Monday.

DeLoach, a former state representative, is banking on his political experience on the municipal and state levels.

Jenkins wants to make double-history as the city's first female and first black mayor.

Jenkins served on city council for 12 years before losing her Ward 2 seat to Chick Jones in 2005 by a 49-vote margin.

The 55-year-old educator retired from Georgia Power in 1995 and is currently employed by the Richmond County Board of Education as a resource coordinator. With a BA in business and organizational management and a masters in education, Jenkins believes her mixed business/education background will serve the city well.

She says one of her top priorities will be reaching out to local youth.

DeLoach

"We need to get a better handle on our young people," she said. "Everybody is saying our children are bad, but nobody is trying to find a solution."

Jenkins also wants to help unify the community, both racially and politically.

"I want to bring the city together, not only race-wise, but by getting the city, the county and the board of education to work together more cohesively … not only so that we can help our children, but so we can help our whole community."

DeLoach made his candidacy public at the Waynesboro Rotary Club meeting yesterday (Tuesday). He's been in the political arena for decades and was Waynesboro's mayor from 1980 to 1992.

He served eight years in the House of Representatives and lost a close race for the state senate seat to JB Powell last November.

DeLoach says one of his top priorities will be making Waynesboro more business friendly.

"In the last few years we've made it hard for businesses to get established here with all these restrictions and loopholes," he said. "I want to make Waynesboro probusiness."

The expansion of the neighborhood watch program is also high on his to-do list, along with a push for more recreation, parks and green space.

"We need to give our children something to do," DeLoach said.

The University of Georgia graduate says he'll be drawing on experience and connections made not only from his elected positions, but from his appointments to the Georgia State Board of Funeral Services, Georgia Department of Community Affairs and, most recently, the Governor's Rural Development Council.

With four of Waynesboro's nine seats expiring, the municipal government could undergo major restructuring.

Last week, both current mayor Jesse Stone and vice-mayor Neal Leonard, who holds a Ward 2 seat on city council, announced they would not seek reelection.

The two other expiring council seats are held by Bill Tinley and Willie Roy Williams, both of whom are expected to run again.

Qualifying for all four seats will be held at the Burke County Court House Aug. 29-31.