Politics
Politics

Three file to run for empty House seats

By Christopher Quinn
Jan 13, 2012

One candidate has filed to run for an empty Atlanta seat in the state House of Representatives, and two Gwinnett men have filed to run for an empty seat in Gwinnett County.

Keisha Sean Waites, 39, of Atlanta, a Democrat and an emergency management consultant, will try to capture House District 60, which takes in southeast Fulton and north Clayton counties.

In House District 107, which includes a portion of Gwinnett County, Tom Kirby of Loganville, a Republican, is running for the seat vacated this year by Len Walker. Kirby, 50, is a human resource safety manager.

Paul Smith of Loganville, 47 and a Republican, also filed papers with the Georgia Secretary of State's Office to run for the empty seat. Smith is a minister.

About the Author

Christopher Quinn is a writer and editor who has worked for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 1999. He writes stories on Veterans Affairs, business including high-tech growth in metro Atlanta, Georgia's $72 billion farm economy, and he oversees assigning and editing news obituaries.

Follow Christopher Quinn on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

The federal government shutdown has meant the Department of Labor isn't publishing federal jobs data, meaning the economic picture is too distorted for economists and policymakers to make predictions and decisions. (Allison Robbert/AP) (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Credit: AP

Government shutdown is now the longest ever. Here’s how it’s affecting the state.

From air travel to food assistance to small business loans, Georgians are feeling the effects of the extended federal government shutdown.

‘Landslide’ PSC sweep jolts Georgia Democrats ahead of 2026 midterms

Georgia Democrats put Republicans 'on notice' ahead of 2026 midterms with Public Service Commission wins.

HOUSE DISTRICT 106

Democrats head to runoff election in Gwinnett state House race

Marqus Cole got 39% of the vote Tuesday while Akbar Ali got 32%, both falling short of the 50%-plus-one majority needed to win outright.

The Latest

A voter talks to a poll worker at the Wolf Creek Library in Atlanta on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

HOUSE DISTRICT 106

Democrats head to runoff election in Gwinnett state House race

OPINION

Dick Cheney’s last public act was to fight Donald Trump

Government shutdown is now the longest ever. Here’s how it’s affecting the state.

Featured

Public Service Commission candidate Peter Hubbard gets a hug from Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, during an election-night party in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.  (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC

‘Landslide’ PSC sweep jolts Georgia Democrats ahead of 2026 midterms

Georgia Democrats put Republicans 'on notice' ahead of 2026 midterms with Public Service Commission wins.

Atlanta traffic patterns are changing, report says. How it impacts your drive.

A recent study from Texas A&M University backs up what we're all seeing: Roads are clogged all day long, and by some metrics, traffic is busier than in 2019.

Mrs. America isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty

From beauty queen to cricket farmer to grief coach, Buford resident Paige Ewing keeps it real. She is the 2025 Mrs. America, and in January she will compete for Mrs. World.