Smart money's on Sidney Ross joining DOT Board

That's because he's state Rep. Jay Roberts' apparent choice, and Rep. Roberts is the new House transportation chairman. But you never know with these DOT Board elections.

Soon to be posted on the main site:

Middle Georgia will get a new representative this week on the State Transportation Board, the body that helps set policy and spend billions at the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Legislators from Georgia’s 8th Congressional District, which runs from metro Atlanta down to South Georgia, will meet in Atlanta Thursday to replace outgoing member Larry Walker, whose resignation came as a surprise to officials last month.

Several candidates are in the running, including former U.S. Rep. Mac Collins and former Bibb County Commissioner Calder Clay. Former state Rep. David Graves, who represented the Macon area in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1996 to 2006, has also thrown his name into the hat. Former state Rep. Allen Freeman, also of Bibb County, has withdrawn his name from consideration.

But the man to beat may be Sidney Ross, a retired road builder from Ocilla, which is in Irwin County. He apparently has the backing of state Rep. Jay Roberts, R-Ocilla, who also happens to be the new transportation committee chairman for the House of Representatives.

“This looks good,” Roberts said. “But you won’t know until Thursday.”