Watkinsville Election Forum Set Even Minus One Mayoral Candidate

Watkinsville’s nonpartisan special election on June 15 had taken on the character of an inter-party affair before the surprise announcement on Tuesday by Peter Steckel that he was withdrawing from the mayoral race.

The Oconee County Republican Party has organized a candidate forum for the election in partnership with Bethel Baptist Church for 6:30 p.m. on Monday (May 24), with Tim Bryant, WGAU news director and conservative commentator, serving as moderator.

Efforts by Oconee County Democrats to join as a sponsor didn’t work out.

Carolyn Maultsby, one of the two candidates for the open Post 1 on Council, also is listing herself as a Republican on her campaign signs.

Maultsby also uses the tag line on the signs from Donald Trump’s reelection campaign: Keep America Great!

Chuck Garrett also has qualified for the Post 1 election.

Steckel’s withdrawal from the race removes the more high profile race for mayor from the forum, though his name will still be on the ballot with that of Acting Mayor Brian Brodrick when early voting starts at City Hall on Monday.

Jennifer Stone, assistant director of Elections and Registration for Oconee County, which is running the election for the city, said as of late Tuesday morning that Steckel had not yet officially informed her office of his intent to withdraw.

For more on the story, please go to Oconee County Observations.