Early Political Campaigns
Thompson's first political venture was an unsuccessful race on September 27, 1961, to fill a vacancy on the Bibb County, Georgia Commission. Earlier, he had left Friedman's and opened his own jewelry business in Macon. Thompson reasoned, correctly as it turned out, that publicity from a campaign would generate new customers to his business. He finished fourth in a field of six but had been bitten by the political bug.
Acting on the advice of a friend, former Mayor B.F. Merritt, Thompson in 1963 ran for alderman on the then nonpartisan ballot and unseated incumbent Bert Hamilton, a Mercer University professor.
On the council, Thompson differed with Mayor Merritt on many issues. The crime rate in Macon soared; municipal finance problems were so severe that the city had to borrow regularly; there were still 150 miles of dirt streets; city services were needed for newly-annexed areas.
Read more about this topic: Ronnie Thompson (Georgia Politician)
Famous quotes containing the words early, political and/or campaigns:
“Pray be always in motion. Early in the morning go and see things; and the rest of the day go and see people. If you stay but a week at a place, and that an insignificant one, see, however, all that is to be seen there; know as many people, and get into as many houses as ever you can.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)
“He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“That food has always been, and will continue to be, the basis for one of our greater snobbisms does not explain the fact that the attitude toward the food choice of others is becoming more and more heatedly exclusive until it may well turn into one of those forms of bigotry against which gallant little committees are constantly planning campaigns in the cause of justice and decency.”
—Cornelia Otis Skinner (1901–1979)