Freeman concedes to Epps in House District 140 race

By Matt Barnwell - mbarnwell@macon.com

State Rep. Allen Freeman has conceded defeat to Democratic challenger James "Bubber" Epps in the House District 140 race.

Freeman, a Republican from Macon, called Epps to congratulate him on his victory after returning home from an out-of-town field trip with his daughter's class Friday.

Although the state Republican Party may pursue a recount because Epps' margin of victory is less than 1 percent, Freeman said he doesn't plan to contest the results. Epps leads Freeman 10,002 votes to 9,832 votes, with only a few provisional ballots in Bibb County not yet counted. The Secretary of State's Office could certify the election results later this week.

"It has been a pretty impressive four years," Freeman, who was first elected in 2004, wrote in an e-mail to his supporters. "I am proud to have been part of our success. I wish Mr. Epps all the luck!"

Freeman also offered to assist Epps with help he might need during the transition.

Meanwhile, he plans to devote more of his own time to his family and his real estate career. Freeman said Monday he will stay active in the community as well.

"I'm down," he said, "but I'm not out."

The conciliatory conclusion to the campaign followed a fiercely contested race that turned bitter toward the end. Both candidates blamed the other for misleading voters in their advertising.

Freeman accused Epps of mismanaging sales tax revenue as a Twiggs County Commission chairman nearly 20 years ago, and Epps questioned Freeman's sudden departure as CEO of the Cherry Blossom Festival in 2004.

Epps said Monday, however, that all of that is in the past, and he has no qualms about calling on Freeman in the coming weeks as he prepares for the 2009 session of the General Assembly, which starts in January.

Epps will attend his party's caucus meeting Wednesday, and workshops for freshman legislators start next week.

Epps said he intends to speak with elected leaders in each of the counties the district represents - Bibb, Jones, Twiggs and Wilkinson - to find out what issues will be important to them in Atlanta next year. He said the district needs to pursue its agenda from a regional approach.

"To do that, all elected officials are going to have to work in unison," he said.