Statesboro has a mayoral race for the Nov. 4 city ballot, since Raymond L. Harris Sr., a U.S. Army veteran with civilian experience in information technology, signed up as a challenger candidate and paid the qualifying fee Monday afternoon. Incumbent Mayor Johnathan McCollar, now in his eighth year in office, had qualified that morning.
Harris, at least a 16-year resident of Statesboro but with longer connections to the area through his wife's family, told the Statesboro Herald that the city government's tax increases and spending habits became his main motivation to run. He and his neighbors and relatives were "distraught" after property tax increases began a few years ago, he said.
"Right now I just kind of see in government we need, pretty simple, you need somebody who can speak for the people and be a voice of reason when it comes to taxes, overspending, oversight, and right now I don't see that," Harris said in a phone interview. "What I see now is a little bit of an echo chamber on the spending; I don't see anybody really conducting any questions about what we have going on."
Instead, he "just sees a lot of 'yeas'" and nobody asking, "Like hey, wait a minute, is there another way we can do this? How can we save money if we do this?" he said.
Harris asserted that he wants greater accountability for spending and would bring to the mayor's office an approach to finances he knows from home.
"One thing I believe in, me and my wife, we have a budget; we have a savings, and those savings are not always for our own personal rainy days. They could be for a family member, a son, daughter — but we live within our means, and I believe that Bulloch County should also live within its means and make sure we spend every dollar as the citizens see fit, not any personal agendas or anything like that," he said.
His background
Originally from Winnsboro, South Carolina, near Columbia, he graduated from Columbia High School. His wife, Felicia Best-Harris, is also from Columbia, S.C., but had extended family in Statesboro, her husband said.
They've been married 33 years.
Harris served one year in the U.S. Army Reserves and then six years on active duty in the Army before being honorably discharged in 1998. He had been deployed to Bosnia as a "convoy specialist" mechanic, but did more "blowing things up" in onsite demolitions than fixing things, he said. He qualified as a gunner with heavy machine gun and grenade launcher and was certified in demolitions.
He was injured in an accident while in the Army, but after discharge, Harris served as a volunteer with the Georgia State Defense Force.
He also transitioned to civilian roles that included "key information technology (I.T.) positions" with companies including Kaiser Permanente, J.M. Huber Inc. and BellSouth, according to Harris and the press release issued for the launch of his candidacy
The release also mentioned experience in business marketing, web design and automotive sales. Harris also worked as a jailer for a few months with the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office. According to the release, he holds National Rifle Association instructor certification in pistol, shotgun, rifle and home firearm safety and also some FEMA emergency management certifications.
He retired from other employment a few years ago after qualifying for 100% disability through the Department of Veterans Affairs and having some health issues, he said.
Family business
He and his wife own a couple of small businesses, which he assists her in operating. One is Best Business Management LLC, whose current focus is operating a "carriage system," like a horsedrawn carriage, but electrically powered, for events such as weddings. They also do outreach programs for small businesses that need help with I.T. work or related skills.
Their other company, called Patriot Trikes & Motorsports Inc., was registered in 2024, intended to operate a dealership in Sylvania. But he said this venture is currently on hold because of some changes in the industry.
Raymond and Felicia Harris have two adult sons who graduated from Statesboro High. One still resides in the Statesboro area, while the other is in the Army, currently serving in Denver, Colorado, which is also home to the Harrises' one grandchild. Harris also has an adult daughter who lives in South Carolina.
When Harris came to City Hall to qualify, he was accompanied by Cassandra Mikell as his campaign manager. She said that her work in this capacity is entirely separate from her role with the Bulloch Action Coalition.
Unlike county offices, all Georgia city offices are officially nonpartisan.
Other qualifying
Candidate qualifying for the mayor's office and two Statesboro City Council seats — the District 1 seat held by Tangie Johnson and the District 4 seat held by John Riggs — remains open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. each day this week, concluding Friday, Aug. 22, with City Clerk Leah Harden at Statesboro City Hall, 50 East Main St. The qualifying fees are prescribed by state law as 3% of the annual salary of an office. So Statesboro's fees are $560 for candidates for mayor and $330 for candidates for City Council.
Riggs also qualified Monday, becoming a candidate for re-election. Johnson had not qualified yet but has said she plans to, since she was elected to fill a vacancy just last year and will only now be seeking a full four-year term.