A political fundraiser at Buffalo’s Cafe Tuesday night was a who’s who of up-and-coming candidates for local races, along with other GOP officials. The fundraiser was to spur Darla Williams re-election campaign for the District 2 post of the Bartow County Board of Education.
Williams formally announced her candidacy at the event in her bid to continue representing Center, Allatoona, Emerson and Woodland areas. Williams wasn’t the only one to make an announcement. Attorney Travis Jordan announced his candidacy for District 1. District 1 includes White, Pine Log, Center, and Rydal areas.
Cartersville neurosurgeon Dr. David McKalip, who has previously announced his candidacy for the BOE District 3 post, was also at the event. District 3 represents Cassville, Grassdale Road, and the Hamilton Crossing area. Cartersville resident Dr. Randell Trammell, who is running for State School Superintendent, was also at the meeting.
Both Jordan and McKalip spoke at the meeting about their goals as potential school board members. McKalip talked about streamlining school budgets to be more efficient while still paying teachers well and providing top-rated education. Jordan has been a Bartow resident for four years and was once a substitute teacher in Virginia.
He said seeing some of the Republican resolutions presented by Dr. McKalip prompted him to think about running. He said it was shocking to find out Republicans didn’t always stand with conservative school policies.
Trammell took some time to motivate those at the meeting to demand excellence in Georgia schools and explain why he is running for the state post.
Georgia Media Group will publish a full interview with Jordan later where he talks about current issues facing Bartow County schools, including his views on extending the Senior School Tax Exemption beyond its sunset in 2028.
Melody Dareing is a freelance writer for publications in the U.S, Canada, the UK and Germany. She is a former news director of Adelphia Channel 4 and WBHF Radio. She is on Facebook, X, YouTube, content on Substack, and has a podcast on Rumble.