Looking at the list of people who have filed so far to run for Governor of this State in 2010, there are quite a few more than you may be aware of.
First, let’s dispense of the “usual suspects”. Obviously, there are at present 7 Republicans running (in no particular order): Nathan Deal, Eric Johnson, Karen Handel, Austin Scott, John Oxendine, Ray McBerry, and Jeff Chapman. On the Democratic side, things are not quite as hectic, with 4 usual suspects: Roy Barnes, David Poythress, DuBose Porter, and Thurbert Baker. The Libertarians have a single candidate currently running, John Monds.
Honestly, expect one of those people to be your next Governor. Exactly which one is up for debate, and will be probably for the next 14 months or so. (Though in roughly 10 months, that list of 12 gets pared down to 3.)
However, there are some other candidates who have officially filed that you may not be aware of, and I wanted to at least mention their existence:
Daniel Alvin, who filed as a Democrat and lives in Savannah
Al Bartell, apparently running as an Independent, lives in Atlanta and his voicemail says he is a “Master Consultant”.
Carl Camon, the current Mayor of Ray City, running as a Democrat
Robert Ingram, running as a Democrat, lives in Hephzibah
Matthew Jamison, of Atlanta, no party listed. Even more interesting is that the phone numbers on his filing are either wrong numbers or have been disconnected. Is filing for Governor really that cheap, or did this guy just have some money he had no idea what to do with?
Berry LaSalle Perkins, also of Atlanta, also no party listed.
Here’s the thing: With Georgia’s ballot access laws as draconian as they are, you will never see these guys running with no party on a ballot. Not unless they can somehow convince 5% of the registered voters statewide to sign a petition to get them on it – and that would require a MASSIVE ground game, one that you would think would at least have a website or SOME kind of news article about it.
Even guys who are purportedly running for the Democratic Party nomination, such as Alvin and Ingram, need to set up some kind of website and get some kind of game going if they expect to be taken seriously. Heck, even Carl Camon has a website, and most barely expect him to get the full Ray City vote in the Primary!
But hey, all of these people have decided to run, and I wanted to at least mention them one time, just in case you were under the impression that you didn’t have any options at the polls! 
Great info on candidates we’ll never read about in the mainstream press. Thanks for keeping us informed.
I think it’s a bit unfair to group Camon in with the “also-rans” while including McBerry and Scott as being in the group that has a chance.
Camon’s been in the same debates as Baker, Barnes, Porter, and Poythress.
Sorry for posting twice, just wanting to clarify: I’m not saying Camon has a good chance at winning, just that he’s got about as much of a chance as McBerry and Scott do on the GOP side.
My point is that Camon is as serious a candidate on the Democratic side as McBerry/Scott on the GOP side.
Hope that makes sense.
RD,
The difference between Camon and Scott/McBerry is that Scott and McBerry have very active and fairly noisy campaigns, while on the DPG side Poythress and Porter seem to be the most active/noisy – and Barnes and Baker seem to be relying on their respective built in constituencies and little else at this point.
Jeff,
Maybe website wise. The candidates are making rounds, attending events, etc. They’re not getting anywhere near the attention of the GOP candidates, but they’re out there.
Camon was just on stage in Fort Valley with Barnes, Baker, Poythress, and Porter a few days ago.
RD,
In all honesty, website and news agencies – including other political blogs – are my primary way of getting information. I rarely even watch TV news or read a paper newspaper anymore, instead getting the vast majority of my news online.
It is a shame that we in Georgia have been conditioned to believe that you have to look a certain way, be from a large city, or be a millionaire to become Governor. I looked a Carl Camon’s website and saw him at a few forums, and I believe that the people of our state needs a “Carl Camon”. I will not be fooled again by polls, or anyone else’s opinion. I have taken the iniative to take a closer look at the candidates myself. Carl Camon has served our country in the military, he served his community for 15 years, was appointed to a state level position for 4 years, served as an educator for 15 years, and started a nationally known youth leadership program and served nationally for four years. Not only do I believe the he’ll get the majority Ray City vote, but I think he’ll get the majority Georgia vote. My research shows that he was elected five times as mayor in a city that has a population of 78% white, 18% black, and 4% other. We need someone who’ll represent all of us and not just the special interest. He may not get the big checks from those who want to keep their feet in the Government door, but I believe Carl Camon will get a big check at the polls from ordinary citizens like me, who just want their voices heard. I’m going to volunteer and donate to his campaign as well. Check out his website at http://www.camonforgovernor.com.