Gwinnett Daily Post

Melvin Everson got his wish, just a year later than he hoped.

Everson missed out on the honor of being the first black Republican since Reconstruction to join the General Assembly, but on Tuesday he became the first to win a contested election for the honor.

It also gave a lot of GOP officials happy to be able to tout a little diversity.

"We congratulate Mr. Everson on his historic victory and look forward to working with him over the coming months," Georgia Republican Party Chairman Alec Poitevint said.

The former Snellville City Councilman had support from the Republican elite even before election day, even garnering an endorsement from House Speaker Glenn Richardson.

"Melvin Everson is an honest, hard working member of his community and will be an asset to the House Republican Caucus," Richardson said. "His historic election is a tribute to his leadership, his vision for our state, and to the conservative values he shares with his constituents. It is a great honor for me to welcome Melvin as the newest Republican member

of the Georgia House of

Representatives."

The probation officer and part-time preacher couldn't help but notice the irony on the ballots Tuesday.

He won by just 27 votes - half of the margin he lost by when he faced Phyllis Miller in the Republican primary last year.

New addition to Smith clan

As if campaign season didn't cut into his sleep enough, Snellville Councilman Mike Smith could be even more tired over the next several months.

Smith and his wife, Laura, welcomed a new baby last week.

Regan Victoria Smith was born at 8:39 a.m. Sept. 19. She weighs 8 pounds, 10 ounces and is 18 inches long.

Mom, baby and big brother, Ethan, are doing fine, Smith said.

The councilman faces Terri Dippel in the Nov. 8 election.

Political Notebook appears in the Thursday and Sunday editions of the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Camie Young can be reached via e-mail at camie.young@

gwinnettdailypost.com.