Gary Pierce of Springfield is a write-in candidate for the 96 th District State Representative seat and is optimistic about his chances.

“A lot of people in Springfield and Decatur know me from my church and youth work,” Pierce said. “I think I will be the one to get more votes than both other candidates because I’m representing all of the people.”

Pierce, who is African-American, is an alcohol and substance abuse counselor and ordained minister who ran unsuccessfully in the 2016 Republican primary for state representative. Pierce said he was rebuffed by the GOP chairmen in Macon and Christian counties when he indicated he wanted to run again this year. He then resigned as a Republican precinct committeeman and tried at the last minute to get on the 2018 ballot as a third-party candidate.

“I filed as the Jobs Party, but because I started late I ended up getting only about 900 signatures and the Democratic Party contested my petitions so I didn’t make it on the ballot,” Pierce said.

That’s when Pierce mounted his write-in campaign, and he is distributing fliers and yard signs that graphically show voters how to properly enter his name on the ballot so their votes will count.

Pierce cited gun violence, youth activities, the opioid epidemic, job creation infrastructure improvements, and curbing illegal immigration as his top priorities. He was been married for 31 years and has three adult children.

They keep doing the same things at the Capitol and nothing is happening, so they need some different approaches,” Pierce said. “We need to stop beating around the bush, we need to make some changes. I feel like I would be the better advocate overall.”

–David Blanchette

Gary Pierce