Local

Woman's house burns to the ground days after she enters mayor's race

TEMPLE, Ga. — A woman attempting to become the first black mayor of Temple, Ga., finds it odd that four days after getting into the race, her house burns down.

Karen Powell qualified for the race Tuesday. Saturday night, a home she owns off Old Bremen Road was destroyed by fire.

Powell told Channel 2's Tom Jones she is in total shock.

"I'm a little jittery, yes. I'm a little nervous," she said. "I've had the worst weekend I've ever had in my entire life."

Powell said her sister and son are battling serious illnesses.

"I just qualified. All of this, it was just like a domino effect," Powell said.

She was away from home Saturday when she got the call that her home was on fire. Fire officials are investigating how it started and whether it not it was an act of arson.

Powell said her son lives in the house but wasn't home at the time. The house is in Haralson County but sits on the same property as Powell's home, which is in Carroll County.

Powell has two other challengers in the race. And while she finds the fire suspicious, she's not ready to say if it had anything to do with her race or if it was intentionally set.

"It's just a lot of questions right now with no answers," Powell said.

Haralson County is investigating the incident.

Authorities said the state Fire Marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also trying to determine if this fire was an accident or if it was intentionally set.