District 5 candidates make final push to voters

Registered voters in Macon-Bibb District 5 will head to the polls Tuesday to make a final decision on who will represent them on the county commission.

It’ll be the second time in recent weeks voters have headed to the polls to elect their new commissioner.

The seat opened up after the resignation of Seth Clark, who had a short bid for lieutenant governor.

The special election headed to a runoff after that March contest failed to produce a clear winner — someone who garnered 50% of the vote plus one.

Only 8.3% of the district’s 12,734 registered voters cast ballots.

Six candidates were originally in the race, but Andrea Cooke and Edward Foster advanced to the runoff.

Cooke, 45, is a therapist who garnered 523 votes in the March contest, falling just six votes short of winning the election outright.

The founder of Macon Mental Health Matters, she is also focused on continuing urban development and building more affordable housing.

Foster, 47, is the vice president of the Pleasant Hill Neighborhood Association. He won 205 votes in the March election. He said he wants to address crime and poverty in the district.

The Melody asked Cooke and Foster two final questions ahead of the Tuesday election. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Voters must report to their designated polling location.

District 5 covers parts of Vineville, Ingleside, Pleasant Hill, Napier Heights and Unionville.

How do you plan on representing everyone in your district?

— Cooke: “I plan to represent everyone in this district by staying rooted in presence, not just position. That means showing up, listening deeply, and making decisions that reflect the lived experiences of the people who call this place home. My approach to leadership has always been hands-on and people-centered. Through my work with families, neighborhoods and initiatives like Macon Mental Health Matters, I’ve helped bring no-cost counseling, wellness services and support directly into our community. As former board chair for Habitat for Humanity, I helped expand affordable housing options in Macon-Bibb. That work reinforced for me that good leadership starts with listening and follows through with action. I have been present for and with families in crisis, celebrated wins with neighbors and worked alongside people who don’t always agree with each other. That matters, because representation is not about choosing sides, it’s about building solutions that move all of us forward. I’m committed to being accessible, transparent and fair. Whether someone voted for me or not, they will have a commissioner who listens, responds and works every day to improve quality of life across the entire district.”

— Foster: “Every part of District 5 is unique, and each community has different needs. I plan to stay connected and engaged by regularly holding town halls and attending community activities so residents always have an opportunity to share their concerns and ideas. I also intend to appoint a point of contact from each neighborhood organization or neighborhood watch group who can communicate directly with my office. This will help ensure that quarterly meetings are held and that every area of District 5 has a voice in the decisions that affect them.”

What have you learned about your district over the course of your campaign?

— Cooke: “I have learned that our district is incredibly resilient and deeply interconnected in ways we don’t always recognize or talk about. I’ve learned that people want many of the same things: Safety, opportunity, stability and to feel seen and heard. I’ve also seen firsthand how challenges like housing, mental health and economic opportunity are not isolated issues. They overlap and impact families in real, everyday ways. This campaign has reinforced for me that solutions have to be holistic. We cannot address public safety without addressing mental health. We cannot talk about economic growth without considering workforce development and access. Most importantly, I’ve learned that our district is full of people who care deeply about our community. And when we create space for collaboration instead of division, we can do meaningful, lasting work together.”

— Foster: “Throughout this campaign, I have learned that District 5 is incredibly diverse and made up of people from many different backgrounds and walks of life. The district includes residents across all income levels, from higher-income households to middle-class families and low-income communities, and is approximately 57% minority. Because the district lines were redrawn during the recent redistricting process, I have also learned that many residents are not fully aware of which district they live in or who is supposed to represent them. That has shown me how important it is to increase community outreach and make sure residents are informed and connected to their local government.”