For the third time in two years, state legislators from the Georgia’s 9th Congressional District will, on Wednesday, decide who will represent the district on the state transportation board.

The 9th District stretches from Hall and White counties to Dade County on the Tennessee and Alabama borders.

The vote Wednesday will fill the seat on the board left vacant by Dalton attorney Steve Farrow. Farrow resigned from the board in August, citing personal issues.

State Reps. Doug Collins and Carl Rogers, both Gainesville Republicans, have said they will support Stacey Reece in his bid to fill the seat.

Reece, a former Republican state representative and Gainesville businessman, made known his intention to run for the seat shortly after Farrow resigned in August. Reece was once an announced candidate in 2006 for the state Senate seat currently held by Sen. Lee Hawkins, R-Gainesville, but he abandoned his campaign after news accounts of a lobbyist-sponsored wedding shower at a private club in Atlanta.

At least three others will oppose Reece in Wednesday’s election, including Chatsworth Mayor Tyson Haynes and former Lumpkin County Commission Chairman Steve Gooch.

Collins said Monday he hoped Reece would garner the support it will take to win the seat. Of the 24 representatives and senators who can vote Wednesday, 13 must support a candidate for him or her to win the seat.

Collins said Reece’s previous service in the state legislature serving on the House toll roads and authorities committee qualifies him for the job.

“He stayed in contact with the transportation industry and the issues that are going on, so I think, for Hall and for the district, Stacey will make a good representative on that board,” Collins said.

Rogers also has made no secret of his support for Reece. Rogers has traveled across the district with Reece, taking him to meet with other representatives and senators and ask for their support.

Since February 2008, two board members representing the 9th District have resigned from the post, which has a five-year term.

When Farrow was elected to the board in May 2008, he was filling the unexpired term of Mike Evans. Evans resigned shortly after he was elected to a second term on the board, citing a budding romantic relationship with then-DOT Commissioner Gena Abraham.

Evans, who is now married to Abraham, is currently campaigning to represent the 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Reece opposed Evans in the February 2008 election for the transportation board, losing the race to Evans by three votes.