Mableton's Sheffield Announces Run for 12th Congressional District

Attorney Maria Sheffield of Mableton, a self-described “true Reagan conservative,” has officially announced her run for Georgia’s 12th congressional district seat, currently held by Congressman John Barrow, a Savannah Democrat.

Georgia currently has no law requiring candidates to live within the congressional district for which they seek office.

Sheffield, 37, was a close second in the nine-way 2010 primary runoff for state insurance commissioner, and now has three Republican opponents in the 12^th district contest: state Rep. Lee Anderson of Grovetown, Augusta businessman Rick Allen and Evans attorney Wright McLeod, as reported by the Savannah Morning News.

Sheffield stated in an release, which can be seen in its entirety here, announcing her candidacy on Thursday, “In 2012, we have a clear choice between my opponent, John Barrow, who is from Athens, lives in Savannah, and supports President Obama or myself with deep family roots in Laurens County and someone who opposes the liberal agenda of President Obama while supporting small businesses, farmers, and the traditional Georgia values of Faith, Family, and Freedom.”

Sheffield’s spokeswoman, Kathryn Ballou, said Sheffield will move to Laurens County, which is now within the recently redrawn 12^th district boundaries. The AJC’s Political Insider said Barrow also plans to move again to a residence within the newly redrawn boundaries, which cut him out of his district.

Litigation is currently pending regarding the redrawn boundaries, which have shifted Barrow’s district “north and west out of his Democratic-leaning Chatham County base and deep into Republican friendly turf,” according to the Morning News.