Two expected to challenge Mayor Hardie Davis

Feb. 20--A solo cruise to re-election became a likely three-way race over the last few days, as former commissioner Corey Johnson and political newcomer Gould Hagler revealed they will likely oppose Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis on the May 22 ballot.

"When I first found out that Hardie was unopposed, I assumed that somebody else was going to run against him," Hagler said. "If nobody was going to step up, sometimes you've got to do it."

Hagler, 33, will be one of the younger candidates to seek city office in recent years. Former Mayor Deke Copenhaver was 37 when he first ran for mayor in 2005. Commissioner Sean Frantom was 31 when he made an unsuccessful 2010 bid for commission while Johnson was 34 when he first ran for commission a decade ago.

Hagler was getting some guidance Monday from fellow Sanford, Bruker and Banks insurance broker Louis "Hap" Harris, who is known to advise Augusta campaigns. Harris served as an interim commissioner prior to Frantom winning former Commissioner Donnie Smith's seat in a 2015 special election.

Johnson told The Augusta Chronicle last Wednesday he was close to making a decision after being asked to run. He told The Chronicle he was about 80 percent certain Saturday he would run.

"A lot of people have come out and said they wish I would run," Johnson, 44, said. "It puts you in a frame of mind that this could happen."

A former state senator and representative, Davis won a first term as mayor in 2014 with 75 percent of the Augusta vote. He did not want to comment Monday on having opposition.

While neither Johnson nor Hagler have filed campaign affidavits or financial reports, Davis' Feb. 7 report said he received two contributions last year, $1,000 each from Republican state Sen. Jeff Mullis and the Boyd Gaming Corp., leaving him with $608.46 in the bank.

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