Latest news with #BryanCounty
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats in Bryan County hope to sway residents to vote blue as election cycle ramps up
Democrats in Bryan County are looking to garner support and bolster nominees that can spearhead more blue votes at the local level and beyond. In Richmond Hill, qualifying for mayor begins Aug. 18. The governor's race is heating up too as there are candidates who have announced their bid and have kicked off their respective campaign for the general election in May 2026. According to a voting map on Bryan County is predominantly red. Despite an area that has strong Republican backing, residents like Corey Foreman, president of the Bryan County Democratic Committee, want to change that. 'There is more hope in Bryan County than most people realize — and when we come together with purpose, things can change faster than anyone expects,' said Foreman. 'The numbers don't lie. Even if you think this is a county that cannot be flipped, I promise you, it's not. The potential here is real — and growing.' At the heart of the matter is concern regarding the Republican stronghold not only in the county but in the state. Foreman said affordable healthcare and the cost of living are top of mind. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Attorney General Chris Carr, Lt. Governor Burt Jones are also Republicans. According to Ballotpedia, Republicans make up 55% of Georgia lawmakers, including Ron Stephens, Jesse Petrea and Lehman Franklin, who all serve portions of Bryan County. Foreman said there is a place in the Democratic Party for those who may not see eye-to-eye on every topic. However, he feels strongly that issues such as reproductive rights and access to affordable health care are at the forefront of the party's concerns and issues Foreman says are controlled by the GOP. 'The Democratic Party needs action and to show the commitment of the true policy that we want to change for the people,' said Foreman. 'There is a little bit of fear - some Democrats aren't as bold and outspoken as others. I don't want to keep talking about the issues in Georgia and then hoping that the Republican control fixes it. I want the Democratic Party to step up and be the change.'In 2021, Bryan County was named the fastest growing county in the state, according to U.S. Census data. With its growing population comes opportunities for Governor Gubernatorial Candidate and Democratic Senator Jason Esteves to flip red voters blue. Foreman was recently appointed to President of the BCDC and since then, he has been working diligently to ensure residents feel the presence of Democrats in their community. He spoke before a large crowd at a rally last month protesting Trump's Big Beautiful Bill and has attended a handful of other rallies. The party also hosted a community Q&A earlier this month with leaders from around the reigon, including Alderman Kurtis Purtee of Savannah and Commissioner Justin Frazier of Liberty County. Democratic gubernatorial and Senator Jason Esteves visited Savannah Aug. 3 as part of his campaign tour but said he plans to come back to South Georgia to talk to voters in Bryan County at a later date. Esteves said the goal is not necessarily to turn the entire county blue, but to earn some of the republican votes, even if it is a small percentage. 'Does it mean that we win the county? No, but have we made progress and does that mean we have a Democrat as governor? Yes, and that's the kind of progress that we're going to be making not only in Bryan County but across the state," said Esteves. But it's a tall order in a state led by sitting Gov. Brian Kemp that swung back to red in the 2024 presidential election and in a country with a Republican-majority House and Senate. Esteves said one of his primary goals is to highlight issues within the economy, such as a lack of affordable housing or the need to provide capital for entrepreneurs to start their own business. His number one goal is to keep the conversation of affordability in all aspects at the forefront of his conversation when talking to voters. 'I think if Democrats talk to voters and in counties like Bryan County or a blue county about how we're going to keep and grow the money in their pockets, then we can win by building a broad-based coalition,' said Esteves. 'What voters want to talk about is how we can help make life more affordable for them so that they can afford a place to live, food on the table and health care.' Esteves wears hats that may appeal to a variety of voters. He is a lawyer, business owner of an urgent care and two breakfast restaurants and a former middle school social science public school teacher. Still, his political stint has been a relatively recent endeavor as the state Democratic Party treasurer since 2019, and the District 35 Senator since 2023, representing Douglas and parts of Fulton County. 'It was former President Barak Obama who said we need to stop looking for Messiahs, we need to stop looking for someone to save us,' said Esteves. 'We have to do the hard work to save ourselves. No one is coming to save us in this state. We're not going to celebrity our way to victory - it's nothing but hard work and meeting voters where they are." Foreman said he is seeing an increase in membership numbers in the Bryan County Democratic Committee not only from newcomers to the area but from the existing Democratic base in the county. 'On the statewide issues, they are realizing that these issues are all the same,' said Foreman. 'I feel like people are open to new leadership and new conversations. The base of Democrats in Bryan County, they are growing. They're not the loudest but they're present and they're starting to get louder.' Foreman is calling on his community to get involved at the local level. 'Richmond Hill municipal qualifying is coming up in August and we need people ready to step forward and run,' said Foreman. 'If you've ever considered being that voice for change — this is the moment. I want you to be involved. I need you to be involved.' Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@ Jillian Magtoto contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Corey Foreman and Jason Esteves talk politics among democratic party Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GDOT says I-16 infrastructure improvements will not have impact on hurricane evacuations
The Georgia Department of Transportation announced in May, a $450 million plan to widen 32.5 miles of I-16 from two to three lanes both directions. The improvements will stretch from the I-95 interchange to State Route 67 near Denmark and will help alleviate traffic congestion along the corridor. The project will span four counties (Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham and Effingham). According to GDOT, construction is slated to begin in 2027. Kyle Collins of GDOT said funding was advanced in the fiscal year 2024 state general fund budget. GDOT's website shows $30 million has been budgeted for preliminary engineering. "Currently, these improvements would be almost all state DOT will take those funds as far as possible in this corridor," said Collins. More: Stephen Nottingham of FREN Foundation shares vision for interactive park for Richmond Hill The highway not only serves much of the state as the most direct access to Savannah and the Georgia coast, but is also a thoroughfare that motorists use when evacuating from hurricanes. It is also a key route for the state's freight network to the ports in Savannah and Brunswick. According to GDOT, existing traffic numbers currently range from 31,000 to 50,000 daily and is expected to rise to 52,000 to 99,000 under no build conditions. Collins said expected growth in the region prompted staff to prioritize the project but Eric Anderson, who lives on the north end of Bryan County, feels planning of the project should have begun years ago. More: What is being done to help prevent wrecks outside of the Hyundai plant in North Bryan? "My concerns are that when they started approving all the warehouses and the attempt for Volvo and then eventually Hyundai, that is when this should have been discussed," said Anderson. "They have approved and built too much too fast and they are now woefully unprepared and it is going to cause even more traffic issues because they waited until after the fact." Residents such as Cindy Schnur Harrison said construction fatigue has begun to set in. 'I realize I-16 needs to be widened to three lanes but for those of us who live along or near the Highway 280/I-16 area, we are so sick and tired of the construction, excessive traffic, traffic jams and accidents,' said Harrison. 'I can't imagine how the traffic will be if and when I-16 widening begins. The traffic problems won't just be in our area but will be on-going for miles and miles to months and years. I think we all would just like a break for a while.' Construction of the I-16 at Old Cuyler Road Interchange will begin the third quarter of this year and has a two-year timeline. However, Collins said that project should be wrapping up before widening of the I-16 corridor begins. More: Highway 21, Old River Road and Blue Jay Road listed in study for major road improvements 'Construction should be ramping down on the new Old Cuyler Interchange in the early months of 2027 as it is beginning on a potential I-16 reconstruction section on the I-95 end of the corridor,' said Collins. Harrison also expressed concern regarding the overpasses. Collins confirmed 20 bridges will be repaired simultaneously with the road improvements, meaning there will be traffic impacts. Collins said GDOT will mitigate traffic congestion stemming from the project with lane closure hours, among other things. Some residents expressed concern on social media about what impact the project would have if residents needed to leave due to a storm. In years past, evacuation orders have put thousands of motorists on I-16 and at some points, bringing it to a standstill. However, Collins said widening of the corridor will not impact the state's ability to implement its evacuation plans. More: Search warrant leads to arrest of woman with multiple drugs in Guyton 'Detailed coordination and planning ensures construction wouldn't impede the state's robust hurricane evacuation process if the need arose,' said Collins. That process includes contraflow on I-16 east and west bound lanes from Savannah to U.S. 441 in Dublin, totaling 125 miles. GDOT will also mobilize 300-500 employees to set up specialized equipment, a number of staff members will begin working 12-hour shifts and maintenance crews will be on hand to clear debris from roads. The online comment period will be open until June 26. Click the link here to submit questions and suggestions through the comment form. Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Residents raise concerns over GDOT's I-16 widening project
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Want to serve on the airport board in Bryan County?
Calling all aviation enthusiasts. Applications are being accepted for the Richmond Hill–Bryan County Airport Authority. The city of Richmond Hill made the announcement on their Facebook page, calling on those interested in serving their community to apply. Board members will play a key role in aviation planning and gain experience in working in local government. Appointees will also oversee the long-term vision of the airport. More: Stephen Nottingham of FREN Foundation shares vision for interactive park for Richmond Hill Gov. Brian Kemp signed The Richmond Hill-Bryan County Airport Authority Act, or House Bill 763, May 1. In doing so, it enabled the county to establish an airport authority board. Bryan County appointed three individuals to serve on the airport authority board earlier this month. Bryan County Manager Ben Taylor, County Commissioner Gene Wallace and Marvin Daniel of Richmond Hill have been appointed to Post 1, Post 3 and Post 5, respectively. Taylor's term will run so long as he maintains the position as County Manager. Wallace and Daniel will each serve four-year terms. The board will have 11 members total and all appointments must be submitted by the end of June. According to Bryan County, the board is expected to be established in July. "After establishment, there will be an initial period for board members to meet one another, establish bylaws and handle other organizational matters," said Nicholas Beard, public information officer for Bryan County. "Exact dates for these next steps are still being determined." State legislator Ron Stephens, who spearheaded the bill, said in a previous interview that having board members who are familiar with the landscape of the county is significant. More: What is being done to help prevent wrecks outside of the Hyundai plant in North Bryan? "This board is starting from scratch," said Stephens. "It's important to have continuity between the taxing authorities involved." Trip Addison, vice president and treasurer for the Development Authority, told the Savannah Morning News in a previous interview that, 'The Airport Authority will have bonding ability and they can decide how much they want to build based on what they can afford from a revenue perspective." Stephens believes it will be several years before construction of the airport is complete. More: GDOT says I-16 infrastructure improvements will not have impact on hurricane evacuations 'The idea that it's going to take five years before it comes to fruition is a good thing,' said Stephens. 'The feds will have to get involved, as well as the state. That will give the county time to plan and get its infrastructure together.' The airport study shows most of the general aviation travel flows through Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport. As that traffic flow continues to increase, a secondary airport will be needed to divert those flights. Chatham, Effingham, Liberty, and McIntosh are listed as the four contiguous counties that are part of the study area. As of 2023, there are 449 registered aircraft in the study area with 34 of those being registered in Bryan County. The total population within the study area in 2022 was 501,721, which results in a ratio of 0.89 registered aircraft per 1,000 residents. More: 'A safe haven for our family': Residents share significance of Sterling Creek Park Although a definitive location of the airport has not yet been determined, the study shows a proposed location to be a few miles away from Exit 87 on I-95 Southbound. The study estimates the property would take up more than 300 acres of land. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, June 25 at 5 p.m. Click here to apply. Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Aviation enthusiasts encouraged to apply for airport authority board
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carter Infinger working with consultants to devise plan for Congress election run
Bryan County Chairman Carter Infinger (R) said he is considering a run for Georgia's 1st Congressional District – a seat incumbent Buddy Carter said he would not run for again since he announced he will challenge United States Senator Jon Ossoff. The decision is still up in the air for Infinger, who said he has established a team of people to help determine his path forward. 'I'm just kind of looking at it and seeing if it's a good option for me and my family to do it,' said Carter. 'It's a lot of work. I think August is when you can qualify, so I've got a little bit of time. My consultants are looking into it. We need conservative leadership in Washington and someone who is going to look out for the people. I am a regular guy, I think I can look at things with a different perspective. I'm not a business owner, so I don't have to worry about that being impacted or impacting my decision making." More: Why did Sterling Creek Park close? Infinger said he wants to help cut down on the nation's debt, among other things. "I want to protect Medicare and Medicaid and have no taxes on social security. They should not do that," said Infinger. "We need to secure borders for our country. You have to come through the legal system. Those are some of the issues." When asked what helped prepare him for his potential run for Congress, he pointed to the county's success in lowering the millage rate and the work that went into getting the county ready for the state's largest economic project-to-date, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. 'When I got elected, I want to say the millage rate was 9.43 and its either 5.6 or 7 today,' said Infinger. 'That takes a lot of work with the staff to see what we can cut every year and make sure we continue to roll those millage rates back. With the Hyundai deal, I was fortunate enough to be part of that. It took a lot of effort. My job as chairman is to go out and get as much money as we can for our county and get things done around the area without costing taxpayers and that's what I have done. All of that infrastructure being put up there is not really costing the taxpayers any money.' More: New community for retirees offers active, elegant setting with resort-style amenities In February, candidate Kandiss Taylor, a Republican from Baxley, who previously ran for Governor of Georgia under the slogan "Jesus, guns and babies," announced that she would be running for the District 1 seat. Infinger said if he is voted into Congress, he will continue to maintain the same level of availability to his constituents, saying he is just a phone call away. 'I'm a regular guy and I'm easily approachable,' said Infinger. 'I'm not hiding behind anybody. I'm honest. If I get elected to Congress, I'll represent the folks in the First Congressional District the same way I represent the folks here now. There would be a learning curve but I can do it." Carter is married and he and his wife Karen have two children. He was first elected as a county commissioner in 2010 and has been the chairman for nine years. Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Carter Infinger is thinking about running for Congress.
