The race for Georgia State Senate District 9 will be one to watch: Senator Don Balfour, a veteran of the gold dome, who is currently under criminal investigation, is up against a political newcomer, Lawrenceville attorney Scott Drake.

Balfour’s challenger is ramping up his campaign and talking about ethics reform.

Incumbent Don Balfour, from Snellville, has served since 1992, making him the longest serving Republican in the Senate. In September, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation began investigating allegations that Senator Balfour filed false expense account reports. Balfour has said he made an “inadvertent mistake.”

Lawrenceville attorney Scott Drake is the democratic challenger in the Gwinnett county district. He says ethics reform will be a top priority for both Democrats and Republicans at the polls on Tuesday:

“To think that Don Balfour is going to be that candidate is ridiculous. If you look at his past record, when that 100 gift cap legislation went before the Senate, it went to the Rules Committee where he’s Chairman, it died there, he didn’t want it to pass and now he’s all for it. Well, who really believes that?”

Senator Balfour did not return calls for comment.

Tags: election, Don Balfour, parker wallace, scott drake