State Rep. Joyce Chandler first won District 105 four years ago with just 51 percent of the vote.
In her reelection bid two years later, she had better name recognition and more experience, and pulled in almost 53 percent vote. But it was the closest margin of any state legislative race that year.
Getting elected has never been a cinch for Chandler. And, despite financial and other assistance from fellow Republican lawmakers, Chandler’s path to re-election this year seems just as challenging.
Two Democrats and a Republican are trying to unseat her, and Chandler said she’s not taking victory for granted.
“I’m working hard,” she said. “I’m going door to door. I’m doing everything I can to win.”
Chandler is among the dozens of incumbent legislators facing opposition in Tuesday's primary election.
In the Grayson-area House District 105, Chandler faces Republican David Crocker, who says he's running as "a real conservative, not someone who only campaigns as one."
Chandler said the district leaned Democratic when she sought re-election two years ago. Republicans in the General Assembly helped her out last year by redrawing district boundaries. A majority of voters in the 105th now vote Republican, Chandler said, but Democrats still think they have a shot at winning.
House Republicans and others GOP heavyweights apparently are concerned enough about Chandler’s prospects that they have contributed at least $36,500 to her campaign in recent weeks.
“They seem to want me back,” she said.
Chandler, 75, is a retired school counselor who now works as a consultant and trainer. If re-elected, she said her priority would be supporting Gov. Nathan Deal’s education reform effort.
Crocker, 50, is an account manager for a transportation company. He said his priorities include passing religious liberty legislation, term limits for legislators and eliminating income taxes. He criticized Chandler’s support of last year transportation funding bill, which raised the state’s gas tax to pay for road improvements.
“We need a transportation bill, but we don’t need to put more taxes onto the people of Georgia,” Crocker said.
Chandler said she didn’t want to raise taxes but felt it was necessary to pay for road and bridge construction.
Two Democrats also will square off in the district Tuesday.
Donna McLeod, 48, is a chemical engineer. She said transportation is a top priority, and she favors a voter referendum on expanding mass transit in Gwinnett.
McLeod also would like to make it easier to register to vote in Georgia. One way: automatic registration when residents turn 18.
“People have to vote if they want change to happen,” she said.
Her Democratic opponent is Perry Green, a medical device sales manager. He did not respond to requests for comment.
On his website, he says he wants to improve funding for education and make school class sizes smaller. He says he also would help establish community safety plans and try to attract quality businesses to the county.
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