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)
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