In Episode 84 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey sits down with Richard Wright, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, for a wide-ranging conversation as part of the Candidate Conversations series. Wright shares his remarkable personal story — from dropping out of high school, moving to Atlanta with dreams of becoming a rapper, and working at the airport for $6.25 an hour, to earning his undergraduate degree, MBA, CPA, and studying at Georgetown Law. Along the way, he explains how his life experience shaped his belief that Georgia needs leaders who can speak to people in the political middle and focus on practical solutions instead of partisan warfare. His campaign site frames that approach around “common sense leadership” and putting Georgians first.  

The conversation explores Wright’s platform on healthcare, Medicaid expansion, rural hospitals, housing affordability, tax policy, workforce development, and the need for more civility in state government. He makes the case that Georgia needs a lieutenant governor who can work with both parties, explain policy in plain English, and focus on helping working families, farmers, small business owners, and communities across the state. The episode also highlights his pitch as a moderate Democrat who believes most Georgians live in the “messy middle” and want better schools, effective taxation, and practical leadership.  

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Episode 33: "Next Gen Leadership with Zayvion Sheppard: A Conversation with Newton County’s Future Leader"

In this episode of The Town Square Podcast, hosts Gabriel Stovall and Trey Bailey sit down with Zayvion Sheppard, a rising leader in Newton County and the youngest-ever Student Body President at Georgia State University. Zayvion shares his inspiring journey of leadership, mentorship, and community service, including his work with the Young Democrats of Newton County (YDNC) and his nonprofit, For Atlanta By Atlanta (FABA). From opposing harmful legislation like House Bill 581 to tackling poverty in Atlanta, Zay’s passion for social impact and public service shines through. He talks about his vision for the future of Newton County and how young voices like his can shape the policies that will impact the next generation.

This episode highlights the potential of the next generation of leaders in Newton County. Zay’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership, mentorship, and community engagement are key to building a brighter future. Whether it’s advocating for education, economic empowerment, or creating opportunities for change, Zay’s dedication to making a difference is sure to inspire. Tune in to hear more about how Zay is leading the charge for positive change in Newton County and beyond.

Gabriel Stovall and Trey Bailey give a quick recap to the local primary and give some strategic advice on how to make your vote count in the runoff on Tuesday, June 18.

They continue their discussion about political binaries and how destructive that mentality can be for our nation and our local community of Newton County, GA.

And of course, the Donald Trump verdicts have them going back and forth about potentially electing a felon as President and how unprecedented this whole "mess" has become.

The challenge remains for Newton citizens to get to the polls and decide who will lead District 3 as the County Commissioner (Alana Sanders or Stephanie Lindsey) and who will lead the Newton County Tax Commissioners office (Brent Bennett or Avis Williams).