New Georgia lawmakers elected

By SHANNON McCAFFREY

Associated Press Writer

Voters selected legislators to fill four vacant seats at the Georgia statehouse in runoff races on Tuesday.

The results don't change the balance of power at the Capitol. Republicans hold comfortable majorities in both the House and the Senate.

Democrat Donzella James was battling for a return trip to the state Senate representing southwest Fulton County. James, a failed congressional candidate, was leading Torrey Johnson, also a Democrat, with 53 percent of the vote, according to unofficial returns.

Kasim Reed had represented the 35th state Senate District before he left to run for mayor of Atlanta.

Also in Atlanta, Simone Bell, a community organizer and activist, was ahead of lawyer Asha Jackson in the 58th House District, which represents east Atlanta and some west DeKalb neighborhoods. Bell had 53 percent of the votes, according to unofficial returns.

In west Georgia, Kip Smith, a Columbus businessman, claimed the House seat that been held by his father, by defeating Pine Mountain businessman and fellow Republican Steve Earles. The district includes parts of Muscogee, Harris and Troup counties.

Smith pulled 65 percent off the vote and Earles 35 percent with all precincts reporting. Smith's father, Vance Smith, left the seat open when he took the helm of the state Department of Transportation.

In Milledgeville, Independent Rusty Kidd won a runoff race for the 141st House District. Kidd defeated Democrat Darrell Black, pulling 64 percent of the vote to Black's 36 percent, according to unofficial returns.

Kidd is the son of veteran state legislator Culver Kidd and has worked as a state Capitol lobbyist for the Medical Association of Georgia. Paralyzed from the chest down following a 1999 motorcycle accident, he has been outspoken on the need for stem cell research.

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On the Net:

Georgia Secretary of State, http://www.sos.ga.gov