DAVISBORO, Ga. — It's a big race in a small town.
Davisboro has a population of 1,832 people.
Folks who live there say they like to maintain the peace and quiet of their town. To keep it that way, every vote matters.
"It's a quiet, peaceful, loving little town," Doris Ivey said.
"It's a farming community, it's real lowkey, everybody knows everybody," Jeff Taylor said.
"If you need something, somebody's there to help you," Councilman Larry Ivey said. "No matter who you are or where you're from."
The Iveys have lived in Davisboro for over 20 years and say they're ready for a change in leadership.
"The last administration has divided us, and we are not used to division," Doris said. "We are used to unity."
Jeff Taylor owns property in the town his family grew up in.
"Back then, you could go down there and get a coke float for a nickel with ice cream," he recalled. "Those were the good days!"
Taylor likes to pick pecans from the trees near city hall and the Davisboro Community Center.
He thinks representatives should better address the concerns of the people who voted for them.
"People in Washington, you elect them to go up there and represent you, but they don't do that," he said. "They represent the party."
Councilmembers are non-partisan, though, and local elections matter-- especially in runoffs.
Randy McNealy and Valarie Gail Brown will head to head as they run for Mayor of Davisboro.
They're natives of the area and want to see their city grow.
"You didn't have to worry about goin' out playing in the street with the kids, with your friends, as long as you were home by the time the streetlights went on," McNealy said, recalling his childhood in his hometown.
"I love this city; I love the people in this city," Brown said. "The citizens have always been very nice to me. We've always gotten along together. That's what I wanna see come back-- togetherness."
McNealy is retired and has a brewery business he operates with his son.
His father and father-in-law were both mayors before him, he said.
"My father was actually mayor when we got the prison," McNealy said.
Brown has served as a Davisboro council member for almost 30 years.
She also worked at the Washington State Prison, Davisboro's largest employer.
"I always was taught on my job: If you follow policies, you won't go wrong," Brown said.
Folks in Davisboro are invited to join a citizens' forum with the candidates on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Shiloh CME Church. It's located at 254 Tatum Street.
"We have two great candidates," Doris said. Either would be a great asset to this town.