Familiar Face Enters Mayor's Race

A politically active member of the city and county for 20-plus years has added his name to the ever-growing list of Douglasville mayoral candidates. 

Harvey Persons, 63, a former Douglasville City Council member and current vice chairman of the county’s planning and zoning board, officially announced this week that he will seek the office this November.

Four other candidates have announced they will run: Councilmen and ; ; and Ron Wilson.

Longtime Mayor Mickey Thompson announced he wouldn’t seek re-election during his State of the City address Jan. 18.

Persons, who has lived in downtown Douglasville for the better part of 33 years, said running for mayor wasn’t something he just up and decided one day; it’s always been in the back of his mind.

He has served on various boards and committees in addition to city council and said he thinks its time to give back even more. 

“I’ve been very fortunate and blessed in a lot of ways,” he said. “And I think I have the responsibility to give something back.”

And he’s already given plenty.

Persons went to Waycross High School and would go on to attend Georgia State. Married for 33 years to wife, Sherrie, the couple has three adult children and eight grandchildren.

Now retired, Persons worked in the home heating and air-conditioning business for 35 years. He served on city council from 1989 to 1995, with his last year as mayor pro tem.

“I can manage large or small organizations,” he said. “I’m motivated and passionate about whatever I do.”

Following his time on council, he became the first chairman of the newly-created Douglasville Planning and Zoning board. At one time, the city and county were combined. He now serves on the county board.

He’s served on the board of Habitat for Humanity and the Council for Battered Women. He’s been a mentor through the Board of Education and won numerous service awards throughout the years.

And now he has his sights set on the mayor’s office.

“I know it’s something I want to do, know that it’s something I can do,” he said. “We’ll just have to trust their (voters) wisdom.”

Persons said he sees some of the biggest issues facing Douglasville as downtown revitalization, making sure law enforcement continues to get what they need in tough financial times and over-all a fiscally responsible approach to city government

We need to make sure residents continue to get the services “they have, need and expect” though, he said.

Persons said he’d like to come into the office and get folks excited and energized about a vision for Douglasville’s future.

“I’d like to help make Douglasville the best place to live in the nation.”