Macon votes today in partisan primary

People in Macon are headed to the polls today to decide which candidates they will put in office come November. And they have a lot to choose from.

Five Democrats and two Republicans are running for mayor in the state’s only partisan primary election. The winners from each party will face off against one another in November.

Interest in the race is high, and turnout is expected to be heavy. Many voters say they’re looking for a candidate who can re-unite the community. The new mayor will replace Jack Ellis who is Macon’s first black mayor and serving his second term.

Phillip Groce is white. He voted for Ellis the first time around, but not the second.

“I had great hopes that he was actually going to be a unifying force. Especially when it came to the racial makeup of the city. Instead what has happened is just the opposite. It’s actually become more divided,” he said.

Groce voted for Robert Reichert, who is the only white candidate in the Democratic primary.