Godfrey withdraws from HCC race

GAINESVILLE - He was the first to qualify for the July 20 primaries, now Paul Wayne Godfrey has become the first to withdraw.

Godfrey signed up Monday, the first day of qualifying, for the Hall County Commission seat now held by Bobby Banks.

But Godfrey - a teacher at Lanier Tech - has now announced his intention to withdraw, reportedly because his candidacy is in violation of the Hatch Act. That law prohibits participation in partisan elections by individuals whose employment is dependant in part or in whole on federal funds.

Godfrey had planned to run in the Democratic Primary.