The southern District 3 for Lowndes County Commission is down to
only two candidates, one Democrat and one Republican, so there will
be no primary races and Tom Hochschild (D) and Mark Wisenbaker (R)
will face each other in the general election in November.
Retiring candidate Don Thieme (D) throws his support behind Hochschild.
District 3 is mostly the south half of the county,
but it also wraps around Valdosta to incorporate Remerton and VSU.
See

detail map
or
PDF of district 1,2,3
as found on

lowndescounty.com.

And Crawford Powell has withdrawn from the race for House District 174,
so that leaves only two candidates there, too:
Jessie Smith (D) and John L. Corbett (R), with no
primary races, to face each other in November.

Cody Gibson wrote for Valdosta Today 21 March 2014,

SIMS WITHDRAWS, LEAVES WISENBAKER UNOPPOSED FOR DISTRICT THREE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION,

DASHER, GA — The Lowndes GOP county commission primary field
for Commission District 3 was reclassified as
“uncontested” Thursday morning when Thomas Sims, Jr.,
withdrew from the race, Sims Withdrawal Letter. This leaves Lowndes
County Commission candidate Tally M. “Mark” Wisenbaker,
Jr., unopposed making him the de facto Republican nominee for the
Lowndes County Commission District 3 seat.

Crawford Powell wrote on his
facebook page 26 March 2014,

I have decided at this time I will not be pursuing the seat for the
Georgia House of Representatives District 174; and I will be
withdrawing myself for consideration for the upcoming election.

I am truly appreciative of all those that have supported and
encouraged me for this position and my prior elected and appointed
positions here in Lowndes County. It has been my honor to serve my
community; and I am so very proud to have had these opportunities.

I look forward to pursuing several business opportunities that have
been simmering on the back burner that now seem to be moving toward
the front. I think now it is best for me, and my family, to focus my
energies back into growing and expanding my business endeavors; and
hopefully laying the groundwork for another generation to follow.

I pray God’s very best for Lowndes County and the State of Georgia.

That leaves Jessie Smith (D) and John L. Corbett (R)
to face each other in November for House District 174.
See

Statehouse district map
as found on

GeorgiaInfo.

Powell

had previously qualified for his incumbent seat in
District 3 for Lowndes County Commission, before qualifying
for Georgia House District 174.
When he qualified for the House, that unqualified him for the County Commission.
Qualifying is closed, so he can’t run for his incumbent seat now.

Don Thieme wrote on his facebook page 27 March 2014,

I am supporting Tom Hochschild in his race for the District 3
Commissioner seat. I have a busy life right now, but I do hope to
run for elected office again sometime in the future.

He linked to
Cody Gibson in Valdosta Today, 27 March 2014,

THIEME DROPS FROM LOWNDES COUNTY COMMISSIONER RACE,
which quoted a longer statement from the retiring candidate:

I am withdrawing from the election for Lowndes County Commission,
District 3 Commissioner. This will mean that Tom Hochschild, my
colleague at Valdosta State University, will be running unopposed in
the primary and will be the Democratic Party nominee .

I have strong opinions about many of the issues which face Lowndes
County and a new vision of the future for the county. I am
convinced, however, that Tom shares that vision and will articulate
it well. While I was excited about my own candidacy, this is a very
busy time in my personal and professional life and I am not prepared
to sacrifice the time required to serve the county fully.

I fully expect that Tom Hochschild will win the coming election and
reinvigorate the county commission. Lowndes County will need their
hard work in coming years in order to preserve the blessings of our
natural environment here, provide more opportunities for our youth
and protect us in our homes.

Sincerely,

Don Thieme

-jsq