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Residents of Richmond Hill, Georgia, are preparing for a return to the voting booths this December to determine who will occupy the Post 2 seat on the City Council. This decision follows a recent election where none of the four candidates secured a decisive victory.
In the initial round, Kevin Bowes emerged with just over 30% of the votes, while Buck Holly garnered 24%, positioning them as the frontrunners for the upcoming runoff. Both candidates have expressed their commitment to being active and accessible representatives for the community.
Bowes emphasized his dedication to community engagement, stating, “Any chance I get to do any committees, volunteer with organizations, or just simply meet with people.” His vision is to be a visible presence both within and outside the confines of city hall.
Similarly, Holly highlighted his deep roots in the community, particularly in education and small business advocacy. “If there’s anybody in this community that’s plugged in to the education system and the strongest and most vocal advocate for small business, that’s me,” he asserted.
As the December election approaches, Richmond Hill voters will have the opportunity to choose between two candidates who promise to bring dedication and visibility to their roles on the city council. The outcome will shape the future of local governance and community involvement.
Bowes is a former campus police officer, owner of a local tax firm, serves as chairman of the Bryan County Planning and Zoning Commission, and is a member of the Downtown Development Authority.
“We all live in Richmond Hill. We love Richmond Hill,” Bowes said. “We want to see it grow, but we want to see it grow responsibly and is not going to be bearing on the taxpayers.”
Holly is a Marine Corps veteran, owner of eight different companies, volunteers with several youth educational programs, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
“I don’t believe that this position requires more political experience. What this position really needs is a strong focus on business acumen,” Holly said.
Growth is on everyone’s mind in Bryan County. Both candidates told News 3 that they will do their best to make decisions on council to manage that growth and any impacts from it.
Holly said he specifically hopes to nurture more small business opportunities in the area.
“I have led the charge in growing a company and had to adapt very quickly to rapid growth,” Holly said. “Nobody in this community that I know of is better qualified to lead during those transition times than a person with the experience who’s been there and done it in the trenches and been successful at it.”
Bowes said he’s seen firsthand how impactful growth can be through serving on the planning and zoning commission.
“It gives you a great perspective on hearing their lives to formulate those decisions and being a part of the development of Bryan County, but as well as the prevention of overgrowth and overexpansion as well,” Bowes said.
Early voting for this runoff is Nov. 24-26 and election day is Dec. 2.
Watch their full interviews here:
