THOMASVILLE — Three Republican men seeking the U.S. House of Representatives seat held by Sanford Bishop are far from shocked that the incumbent plans to vote today for health care reform.

Bishop, D-Albany, said Friday will he will vote for the House health care bill.

“I think he made a bad mistake,” said candidate Bobby Brown, who is not surprised that Bishop will cast a yea vote.

Brown, a Thomas County resident, thinks the nation needs some type of health care reform. “But I certainly don’t approve of the Democrats trying to push it down folks’ throats,” he said.

When ask how Bishop’s vote will affect his campaign, Brown said he has divided his campaign into two halves, not unlike a football game.

“The first half of mine is running against Mike Keown,” the candidate said. The second half will be aimed at putting Bishop out of office.

“I think he’s lost touch with what Southwest Georgia wants,” Brown said, in reference to Bishop.

Keown, also a Thomas County resident, called Bishop’s Washington, D.C., office and asked that Bishop not vote for the bill.

His campaign generated — via automated telephone calls — thousands of calls to Bishop’s office. Within the first four hours of the calls, those receiving the messages used automated dialing provided with the phone messages to call Bishop’s Washington office.

“He’s made his decision,” said Keown, District 173 state representative. “He’s a grown man. He’s going to have to live by it.”

The candidate said Saturday he is more concerned about the country than he is about his campaign.

In November, Keown said, voters will have a choice: Bishop or a change.

“I think he can’t do anything but help my campaign,” he said.

A Lee County resident, Lee Ferrell announced Tuesday he will seek the Second Congressional District House seat.

“I think he’s shooting himself in the foot. It’s unbelievable,” Ferrell said Saturday afternoon.

Although Ferrell thinks Bishop’s actions will help his campaign, he said some people will always vote for the incumbent — “no matter what.”

“I think it’s going to be a lot easier to unseat him,” Ferrell said.



Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400,, ext. 1820.