Cherokee County Commissioner Resigns to Run for Georgia Senate

CTL Script/ Top Stories of May 9th 

Publish Date: May 9th 

  

Pre-Roll:  

From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast  

 

Today is Friday, May 9th and Happy Birthday to Billy Joel 

 

I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Times Journal 

1. Cherokee County Commissioner Resigns to Run for Georgia Senate
2. Pence Named President of Chattahoochee Technical College
3. Kemp Won’t Run for U.S. Senate in 2026

Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on medication 

 

We’ll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if you’re looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  

 

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STORY 1:   Cherokee County Commissioner Resigns to Run for Georgia Senate 

Cherokee County Commissioner Steve West has resigned after 10 years to run for Georgia State Senate District 21, following Sen. Brandon Beach’s resignation to become U.S. Treasurer. West, first elected in 2014, expressed gratitude for the community’s support and his accomplishments on the Board. Fellow commissioners praised his service, and attendees gave him a standing ovation. A special election will be held to fill West’s term, expiring in 2026, with details forthcoming. Several candidates have announced intentions to run for both West’s District 1 seat and the state Senate position. 

STORY 2:  Pence Named President of Chattahoochee Technical College 

Heather Pence has been named president of Chattahoochee Technical College by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). With over 20 years of experience at TCSG, including roles as interim president and executive VP for operations, Pence has supported key areas like finance and administration. TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier praised her leadership and dedication to technical education. Pence, who began her career auditing technical colleges, expressed her passion for the college’s mission of workforce training and education. She holds an MBA from Reinhardt University and oversees nine campuses offering 50+ programs across north Georgia. 

STORY 3:   Kemp Won’t Run for U.S. Senate in 2026 

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced he will not run for the U.S. Senate in 2026, leaving the race against Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff wide open. Kemp, seen as the GOP’s strongest contender, cited family considerations and pledged to support a strong Republican nominee. Democrats called the decision a setback for Republicans, while Ossoff, considered vulnerable, remains a formidable candidate, having raised over $11 million in the first quarter of this year. Kemp’s decision reshapes the race, with other GOP hopefuls now expected to step forward. 

 

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