Ferguson picks up endorsements

Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 2, 2016

By Tyler H. Jones

tjones@civitasmedia.com

Ferguson

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2016/06/web1_FergusonDrewWEB.jpegFerguson

LaGRANGE — Congressional candidate and former West Point Mayor Drew Ferguson has picked up four endorsements from former opponents, his campaign announced Wednesday.

Chip Flanegan, Richard Mix, Sam Anders and Rod Thomas all endorsed Ferguson, who faces fellow GOP contender Mike Crane of Newnan in a July 26 runoff election for Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District. The runoff winner will face Democratic nominee Angela Pendley in the November general election.

Georgia’s 3rd Congressional seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, who is not seeking re-election.

In a statement Wednesday, the former mayor’s campaign noted the four candidates and Ferguson combined received more than 50 percent of the vote in May’s primary election.

“These are all honorable men who ran honorable campaigns,” Ferguson said in a statement Wednesday. “They made me a better candidate, and they all had ideas that I will take with me to Washington.”

In response to the endorsements, the Crane camp wrote in an email to the Daily News:

“We believe the distinctions in this race have always been clear, now it is even more vivid for the voters to see. It is and will continue to be us against the big government and big business insiders who stand contrary to virtually every principle of freedom and limited constitutional government that we cherish. They pretended to be something else, now they show their true colors. The establishment is afraid of liberty because they can’t control it. For freedom-minded Georgians, the choice has never been so clear.”

Ferguson finished second to Crane by 93 votes, with both clinching 26 percent of the total ballots cast. Another Republican contender, Jim Pace, came in third with about 2,000 fewer votes than Ferguson. Pace has not endorsed a candidate, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Tyler H. Jones is a reporter with LaGrange Daily News. He may be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2155.