By BETH ALSTON
beth.alston@americustimesrecorder.com
www.americustimesrecorder.com

AMERICUS — Early voting is already well underway for the Nov. 3 election for the District 6 seat on the Americus City Council. There are two candidates — Daryl Dowdell and Robert C. Ingle Sr. — who are seeking the seat, replacing veteran Council member Walton Grant who is not seeking reelection.
Robert Brady, Sumter County Elections supervisor, said that as of noon Tuesday, his office had collected 61 absentee in person (early) votes, and 10 absentee by mail votes. Early voting continues from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Friday, and polling will take place at the Rees Park Voting Precinct from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. next Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Daryl Dowdell is a correctional officer, serving as a detail supervisor for the Sumter County Board of Commissioners.
Educational background: Graduated in 1995 from Sumter County Comprehensive High School. Graduated from South Georgia Technical College with a degree in automotive collision repairs and is currently attending Troy State University, studying business management.
Dowdell is a member of the Welcome Masonic Lodge No. 249, Ak Rakim Shrine, Americus Shrine Club, Habakkuk Order of Eastern Star and Friends, a social group in DeSoto.
Why is he seeking election to this office?
“Because I basically want to help move Americus to the next levels that it has the potential to be.”
What can you say to make citizens vote for you?
“I want to work solely for my constituents and the community of Americus. I want to be their voice on City Council. I want to work with the mayor and City Council on existing matters; also I want to bring new ideas  to the table that I have. I want to work with the mayor, City Council and everybody to support economic growth by helping to restore jobs and businesses. I also ensure the taxpayers that their money is being spent and invested in an appropriate manner. I also feel that I could reach constituents of my age; also I can reach the level of the constituents older than me because I have that listening ear.”
Robert C. Ingle Sr., manager of Americus Career Center, Georgia Department of Labor.
Educational background: Graduated in 1966, from Jordan Vocational High School in Columbus; bachelor’s in criminal justice from Columbus State University and master’s in business at Georgia Southwestern State University.
Ingle was elected sheriff of Sumter County and served in that role from 2000 to 2004.
He is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Americus and sings in the choir. He also holds membership in Knights of Columbus, Masons, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shriners, American Legion and the VFW. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving from June 1966 until December 1969, and left with an honorable medical discharge, serving during the Vietnam era. He is also a licensed barber and plans to reopen a barber shop on West Forsyth Street in the very near future.
Why is he seeking election to this office?
“I’ve always dedicated my life to serving the public, whether it be cutting hair, waiting on the public that way or in law enforcement as sheriff. It seems I’ve always dedicated my life to serving the public and this is a way that I can serve the public with my knowledge and abilities to try to keep Americus as one of the best cities in Georgia. I believe it is; we have a good city. I, like many people in the community, have seen or believe I see an escalation of crime in Americus over the past few years, what with all the car break-ins, fires, murders, various things; it seems like the crime rate is up. And I want to help the public safety continue to be the top level public safety. I’d like to assist the City Council in getting a good, first-rate chief and then work toward the police department, the fire department and other public safety departments as far as keeping them at the top.
“I expect to be a sounding board or a representative of all the people in District 6 no matter what their background or special interests are. I expect to be the voice for everyone and for all the citizens of Americus as a whole because you can’t take one district and make it independent of the others. The city has to be a whole and work together as a team.”
What can you say to make citizens vote for you?
“I plan to be their voice and represent them and help them to have a good government that is representative of them but at the same time be a good steward of their tax money.”