VIDALIA — Two men are making a bid in the mayoral race for the City of Vidalia, one campaigning on his record and the other on bringing a new philosophy to city government.

Hyram Copeland

Fifteen-year incumbent mayor Hyram Copeland said he plans to run his campaign on his record and the accomplishments Vidalia has seen during his tenure.

“None of that would have been possible without the people and the employees of Vidalia and the support they have given,” he said.

Though he is running on his record, Copeland said, among other long-term projects he has for the city are opening a port of Vidalia, a Vidalia marina, recruiting business and industry and working with the recreational board to build a new recreational complex.

“We have a lot of projects I want to see completed,” he said.

Copeland said he plans to take his campaign to the people by knocking on every door and hearing what people have to say.

“In 1992, with our first campaign, we made a promise to make Vidalia a place to move to instead of from,” he said. “I feel like, working with the people of Vidalia, we have accomplished that.”

William “Bill” Murray

Twice elected as an alderman for District 3, William “Bill” Murray has been self-employed for the last 10 years with Murray-Corban Commercial Foodservice Design Consultants.

This campaign is not an indictment of the current administration, Murray said.

“I feel that after a while, a change in philosophy is necessary to provide balance in government,” he said.

Among Murray’s campaign ideas are to publish the revenue the city gets from the hydroelectric station and eliminating all built-in increases on city services, and if increases are needed a public explanation will be provided.

He is committed to keeping Vidalia moving forward, Murray said.

“I will not, in any way, stop progress,” he said. “I will balance it with fiscal responsibility and open government so people are aware of the whole story.”

That would allow the citizens of the city to conclude for themselves how things are going, Murray said.

“I think people are capable of digesting both good and bad and determining if the good outweighs the bad,” he said.