State Rep. Clay Pirkle, Mickeayla Brockington vying for Ga. House District 169 seat

TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) - Clay Pirkle is running for Georgia House of Representatives. This time for District 169.

He has served as a representative for District 155 since 2015. During an interview with WALB, he talked about his passions: farming, education for children and the needs of the community.

Pirkle is a fourth-generation farmer who currently serves as a Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives. The district represents all of Ben Hill County, Irwin County, Turner County, and portions of Tift and Coffee counties.

Pirkle said before getting into politics, he never attended a board of education or county commission meeting. But he said he later realized the importance of politics, specifically in the state House of Representatives.

“It was a calling for me. It takes time out of my farming operation, but it is so important that your voice is heard in the general assembly — that this part of the state has representation,” Pirkle said.

Pirkle said education, economic development and healthcare are the three things that he feels the community should always have the best of and the easiest access to. He referred to these three things as a stable stool for our region.

Mickeayla Brockington is a Douglas native representing the Democratic party in this upcoming election for state representative of District 169.

She said she’s a caregiver, a mother, a wife and a God-fearing citizen.

Her inspiration for politics came to fruition during her time as a community advocate.

“I was an advocate before I got into politics. I saw exactly what was happening on the ground, why people were losing their homes, why people were stressed out every day just trying to make ends meet. I figured it out — it’s the politicians that was not representing them,” Brockington said.

Outside of politics, Brockington is a tax professional. She said she consults businesses on their needs to run a successful business.

“Being a tax professional has shown me different ways that graphs and charts actually matter. To even have taxation or no taxation. And with that, I understand the numbers do not lie, but people do,” she said.

Brockington believes the South Georgia community has waited for far too long for someone to speak on them. She said she wants to use her platform to do so.

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