Republican Butch Miller will be competing Tuesday to keep his newly earned seat in the Georgia Senate.

Miller, who won a May 11 special election to fill the unexpired term of former Sen. Lee Hawkins, will once again face Republican Jimmy Norman in the race for a full term to represent the 49th District.

Though it was Miller’s first run for office, he swept the polls in May with 78 percent of the votes.

Norman received 14 percent of the votes. Brandon Givens, a Libertarian who is not running in the primary, received 8 percent.

Miller, 52, is an owner and dealer manager of Milton Martin Honda in Gainesville.

Miller, who was sworn in May 20, said though the legislature is not in session he already has enjoyed working with people in the Senate district.

“We had a great deal of contact and communication from constituents regarding concerns of theirs for the 49th Senate District,” Miller said. “It’s been an absolutely energizing experience.”

Miller has continued to campaign since winning the special election.

“I need their support again on July 20,” Miller said. “I certainly don’t want to be overconfident and I respectfully ask that they come out again.

“It’s been a privilege to serve the constituents of the 49th District during these two months. I look forward to success in the primary and serving the constituents of the 49th District in the new term.”

Norman did not return calls seeking comment. The Flowery Branch native is a real estate broker and developer.

Three candidates are running for the District 24 seat in the Georgia House of Representatives.

The District 24 post, which covers a portion of Forsyth County, was vacated by Tom Knox, who is running for insurance commissioner. Mike Dudgeon, Anna McManus and Doug Wright are all Republicans vying for the seat.

Dudgeon, 42, is chief technology officer for Qualia Labs.

He said he wants to, “support our schools, defend our values and help reform our tax code and regulations to attract jobs.”

McManus, 44 is a commercial insurance agent and consultant. She said she is running to help stop “out of control spending” which she believes is going to “bankrupt our future and rob our children of the opportunities that we’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy.”

Wright, 51, is a stay-at-home father who said he felt called to public service.

“More than anything right now I just think government is just out of control. I truly believe that the people in the country are behind the change,” Wright said.

In Senate District 50 — which covers Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Hart, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, part of White counties — incumbent Jim Butterworth is being challenged for his seat by Terry Rogers, again.

Butterworth, a Republican, defeated Rogers for the seat in 2008. He lives in Habersham County and works as a pilot for Delta Airlines. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was chairman of the Habersham County Board of Commissioners.

Rogers is managing partner of Diversified Technologies, a recycling business. He serves as vice chairman of the Banks, Rabun and Habersham County Joint Development Authority and vice chairman of the Habersham Development Authority.
The Forsyth County News contributed to this story.