The Pike County Republican Women hosted several special guests at its Wednesday meeting, including its 2016 scholarship recipients and several Republican candidates that are bidding for seats in the upcoming city and county elections.

Virginia Sanders, PCRW president, introduced the scholarship recipients as outstanding students and future community leaders. The scholarship recipients are: Laken Maulden, Pike County High School, and Hayes Lee and Carter Senn, Pike Liberal Arts School.

The Pike County Republican Women also welcomed four candidates who are seeking to server their community in the political arena.

Chad Copeland is the Republican candidate for Pike County Commission District 4 seat. He will oppose Democratic candidate Steve Thrash in the November General Election.

Troy Mayor Jason A. Reeves is seeking re-election and Lawrence Bowden, a former Brundidge city council member, is seeking the mayor’s seat in Brundidge. Stephanie Baker, who is a candidate for Troy City Council District 4, is unopposed and was certified by the Troy City Council at its Tuesday meeting.

The candidates, who are seeking positions in city elections on August 23, do not have to declare party affiliations.

Copeland thanked the Republican Party for its support in the primary election. He said he could not have canvassed the county without the support of county Republicans.

“District 4 is a big area and to try to cover it was overwhelming,” Copeland said. “It was a real challenge because if anybody will talk to me, I’ll talk back. I had a lot of people going door to door for me and that made a big difference and I appreciate it.”

Copeland said he will be knocking on doors again after the city elections are out of the way.

“What our county and our country needs is strong Christian leaders,” he said. “We need conservative leaders on our county commissions, as our majors and judges, all the way up the chain.”

Baker, who tossed her hat in the political arena for the first time, said running for the Troy City Council District 4 seat without any opposition placed her in a unique position.

“But not having to campaign, I won’t have that opportunity to share my ideas and visions with voters.

But I am open to ideas and suggestions from the community and will appreciate those who share them with me.”

Baker said her background in communication and economic development and in life lessons learned have helped prepare her for service on the city council.

She said she will dedicate her talents and gifts to that service.

“I know I have a lot to learn so I’m not going to kick back my heels,” she said. “I’m open to ideas and suggestions. I will always have an open ear to the community.”

Bowden expressed his appreciation to the PCRW for keeping the Republican Party vibrant in the county. He then, laughingly, as them all to move to Brundidge and vote for him in the mayoral race.

“With six candidates, the race is up in the air,” he said. “There will be a runoff and my objective now is to get in it.”

Bowden explained that in 1994, the Brundidge City Council passed an ordinance to employ a city manager who would assume some of the duties of the mayor with the exception of the city’s police and volunteer fire departments.

“The council actually has no function unless it is sitting at the council table,” Bowden said adding that he would like to have the opportunity to serve the city, not as a councilmember as before, but as its mayor.

Reeves said serving the City of Troy as its mayor is the greatest honor he has ever had.

“It humbles me to serve and I take this job incredibly seriously.”
Reeves said his concern is always for the safety of the city employees and city residents.

“Every night when I put my head on the pillow, I think about our police officers, our firefighters, the men in the bucket trucks. I want to ensure their safety out there.”

Reeves said the city has increased the public safety budget by 25.7 percent and hired seven additional police officers.

He said the city is accountable for every dollar spent. He added that Troy enjoys the lowest rate of combined sales and property taxes.

He also acknowledged that these are trying times for cities, large and small.

“As crazy as times seem, God is still on the throne and we are going to be okay,” he said.