LaHood retains house seat
VALDOSTA — Republican State Rep. John LaHood was reelected Tuesday in a landslide.
LaHood retains the District 175 House of Representatives seat, defeating Democratic candidate Treva Gear, according to preliminary numbers released by the Georgia Secretary of State office.
In Lowndes County, he received 77 percent of the vote with 7,470 votes. Gear garnered 23 percent of the vote with 2,269 votes.
LaHood also carried a large majority of votes in Brooks and Thomas counties, which are included in District 175. He won 64 percent of the vote with 3,554 votes in Brooks and 72 percent of the vote with 4,374 votes in Thomas County.
After serving a partial term as state representative, he said he is even more honored and humbled by the confidence and faith that the people of District 175 have placed in him.
“I am more committed than ever to ensuring the brightest days are ahead for the families and businesses of South Georgia,” LaHood said.
LaHood replaced former state Rep. Amy Carter in a special election race in February.
“In my time in the legislature so far, I have strengthened and established key relationships that enable me to be a strong voice for South Georgia,” LaHood said. “I understand what matters most to the families and businesses of South Georgia.”
His grandfather started Fellowship Home, a senior-living community, in 1978 on his family farm as a ministry to serve the seniors living in their community.
He said he has continued that tradition as a third-generation owner and operator of Fellowship Senior Living with five locations and 200-plus employees.
“With my business experience, deep roots, understanding and tradition of serving in this community and my conservative principles, I am humbled, honored and prepared to serve and get the job done for our families, farmers and businesses,” LaHood said.
He said he is committed to working hard to make Georgia the number one state to raise families, get an education, start a business, keep a job and have a meaningful career.
LaHood describes himself as a Christian conservative who said he supports freedom, less government, lower taxes and the Second Amendment.
He said he would stand up for South Georgia and give the people in rural counties such as Lowndes, Brooks and Thomas a voice.
“Oftentimes, we feel voiceless – like Atlanta takes priority over us,” LaHood said. “We need the right leader in the Statehouse to advocate for us — to make sure that our community doesn’t take a backseat to Atlanta and that we are given the same opportunities to grow and thrive as the rest of the state.”
All results are preliminary until certified. The county election board is expected to certify the vote Friday.
State Reps. John Corbett, Jason Shaw and Dexter Sharper all ran unopposed and retained their seats, as did state Senator Ellis Black.
Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256