Wednesday, January 8, 2025–9:45 a.m.
-John Bailey, Rome News-Tribune-
This story is possible because of a news-sharing agreement with the Rome News-Tribune. More information can be found at northwestgeorgianews.com
Longtime community advocate and businesswoman Shonna Bailey is the second person to toss her hat in the ring to fill the Post 4 Floyd County Commission seat vacated by the late Larry Maxey.
“Mr. Maxey was a dedicated and well-regarded public servant,” Bailey said in an announcement. “These are big shoes to fill but I believe we need someone who is committed to carrying on his legacy, which is a commitment to the community he so ably served.”
This won’t be Bailey’s first bid for a County Commission post. She ran against Allison Watters in 2020.
At this point, one other person has announced a run for the Post 4 seat. Chip Hood, a local businessman who has served on the Floyd County Board of Education, announced his bid in December.
Bailey said in a statement Tuesday that her goal as a county commissioner “is to ensure that we have smart development throughout Floyd County. To me, that means working to improve our infrastructure and housing opportunities so that we can handle our growth efficiently.”
She also cited education and protecting elderly and disabled populations as her reasons for seeking a post on the County Commission.
“It means safeguarding our education system and protecting our youth from school closures and excessive busing,” the statement read. “It means watching out for our seniors (and the) disabled and those struggling with mental health challenges so that they can lead safe, independent lives. For me, this is about service and community.”
She has served on the Parent Advisory, Information and Education Committee for the Floyd County Health Department, as a mentor support specialist for Rejuvenate Hope — a DFCS grant-funded program — and at Southeast Elementary School. In her release, Bailey also cited previous work on union committees in her time at International Paper.
She currently serves on the NAACP Executive Board and volunteers as a chaperone at her granddaughter’s school. She’s also provided educational and social support regarding gun violence through her work on the nonprofit Keion Harper Foundation.
If the number of people talking about running for the post comes to fruition during qualifying week — Jan. 27-29, at the Floyd County Elections Office — there’s a decent chance of a runoff.
While Hood is a Republican and Bailey is a Democrat, in this race, there will be no party primary. All candidates running will be attempting to achieve the 50% plus one vote threshold on March 18 to win outright. If no one is able to poll that high, then the top two vote getters will face off in the runoff. No runoff date has been set at this point.
