Rep. Al Williams seeks re-election, says property taxes and grocery costs are hurting Georgians

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - For decades, Georgia state Rep. Al Williams, a Democrat, has represented District 168 at the state Capitol, covering Liberty County. Williams, a Vietnam War veteran, said he is as motivated now as when he was first sworn in to help the people of his community.

Awards celebrating Williams’ work as a businessman and 23 years as representative of Georgia’s 168th District line the walls and bookcases of his office. Williams, 79, is running for re-election against Kevin Remillard with the mission to help people who are hurting financially.

“So we’ve got to find the sweet spot on how do we give relief,” Williams said. “Because right now, property taxes are just one of the issues. A gas pump. A federal issue, of course. But locally, people have to fill their tanks. Grocery. Outrageously expensive now. It’s just tough to live. And it bothers me.”

“And when we go back to Atlanta, we’ve got to figure out how do we move from saying this is the best state to do business in in America and be able to honestly say the best state to live in, raise children in,” Williams said.

Housing relief plans

Asked what he would do to bring relief to Georgians if politics were not a factor, Williams said the state needs subsidized housing programs that account for the working poor, not just the lowest income earners.

“We have to do some subsidized housing that’s based not just on the lowest income, but on those analysis reports that are working poor,” Williams said.

“We have to be able to come up with a way to put some money into homes where we can lower the cost of homes with a state grant or subsidy, where we can make it truly affordable,” Williams said.

Growth and transparency

Coastal communities are also dealing with growth, especially warehouses and logistics. Williams said community leaders must be more transparent about that growth.

“So tell them the truth and let’s get the people involved in decisions of what does happen in their communities,” Williams said. “And I think we will be able to reach that sweet spot where everybody is happy because we need economic development. We need jobs.”

Williams said his push this year is literacy.

“My push this year is literacy. Our children can’t read. On third grade level in Georgia, 70% of our students are not reading on third grade level by third grade,” Williams said. “Economic development will elude us. It won’t reach its full potential until we change that.”

Committee assignments and funding

Asked how his committee assignments, including appropriations and rules, have delivered measurable state funding back to District 168, Williams pointed to his access on the appropriations committee.

“You gotta have access to the goal. And on appropriations, I have access to the goal,” Williams said. “And so we make sure that Liberty County, and if we look around at what the state has done here over the years that I’ve been in office, you’ll see that it does help to be able to have access to the first.”

Responding to calls for new leadership

Williams has served in office since 2003. Asked how he would respond to constituents who say it’s time for new leadership, he said the following:

“I agree, except in my case,” Williams said. “You see, new for the sake of new is foolishness. Now, if you want to get rid of me because I have the experience and I have the record, then that’s on you. But when I came, I was not a youth when I got here. But I’ve always believed in young people and what it takes. But so, to move a person because they finally reached the point where they can really help you, that’s political suicide.”

Constituents can contact Rep. Al Williams on Facebook.