Gay state senate candidate bows out of Wednesday’s chamber forum

All but one of the six candidates in local races Nov. 6 will participate in the candidate forum that the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring Wednesday night. Not participating is Tim Riley, an Athens Democrat who for a second time is opposing incumbent Republican Sen. Frank Ginn for the 47th District seat in the Georgia Senate, said chamber president Tommy Jennings. Jennings said Riley reportedly will be on his honeymoon and plans instead to send his campaign manager, M.J. Bridges, to speak on his behalf.
Riley is an openly gay candidate, according to The Georgia Voice, an Atlanta-based newspaper for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Ginn said Monday that after mutual campaign appearances in 2010, he personally does not feel comfortable appearing with Riley.
“I really don’t like being on the stage with this guy,” Ginn said. “He’s just not my cup of tea.”
The other candidates at the forum will be incumbent Republican Jud Smith and his challenger, Statham Democrat James Scott, for Barrow County Sheriff; and incumbent Republican Steve Worley and his challenger, Winder Democrat Johnny Smith, for the District 3 seat on the Barrow County Board of Commissioners.
The forum is at 6:30 p.m. in the Colleen O. Williams Theatre at the Winder Cultural Arts Center, 105 E. Athens St.