Republican Party Ninth District
Kevin Harris

During the past weekend, Republicans from across north Georgia gathered in White County for a very special weekend. Concerned citizens, candidates, and elected officials from every county in the district were in attendance for the activities.

On Friday night, the 9th Congressional Republican Party officially kicked off the 2008 election cycle with the Road to Victory Banquet. State Republican Chair Sue Everhart was in attendance, thanking the crowd and congratulating the 9th District for its leadership and recent success. The crowd heard from a number of officials including Representatives Amos Amerson, Representative Carl Rogers, Senator Lee Hawkins, and Senator Don Thomas. State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox delivered the keynote address. The capacity crowd was inspired by a surprise visit by U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss.

The next morning, the 9th District GOP Convention took place in Cleveland, Georgia. The event featured a number of elected dignitaries in the Georgia House (Doug Collins, Tom Dickson, Tom Graves, Mark Hamilton, James Mills, and Jay Neal) and Senate (Jeff Mullis, Chip Pearson, and Jack Murphy). The keynote address for the convention was given by Congressman Nathan Deal. Due to popular demand, the text of the touching keynote address of U.S. Congressman Nathan Deal will be available on our website at www.gagop9.org.

The primary purpose of the 2008 convention was to elect the delegates and alternates to represent the 9th Congressional District at the Republican National Convention in September at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Voters elected Jeff Mullis (Walker County), Jay Neal (Catoosa County), and Josh Turner (White County) as delegates to the Republican National Convention in September. Bettye Chambers (Hall County), Dr. Charles White (White County), and Col. Lee Ellis (Forsyth County) were selected as alternates.

Josh Turner and the White County Republican Party hosted a wonderful weekend, which included several record marks. The attendance at the banquet was the highest in the history of the banquet. In addition, a record number of sponsorships and funds were received to assist with the banquet and associated costs. Most importantly, however, 9th District Republicans enters this year with the strongest number of public servants, community leaders, and interested candidates in the history of our party.

A coalition of Republicans, conservative Democrats, and independents has emerged in North Georgia that will be able to effectively provide leadership for our area. While Democratic party bosses talk of the past, the 9th District Republican Party is proud to be part of a leadership team that will allow communities to prepare for the future.

Kevin Harris, Mineral Bluff, is the Chairman of the Ninth District Republican Party, he holds a Bachelor of Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia and is a private consultant, teacher, and a life-long resident of the North Georgia mountains.

Quick Fact: In a recent column, it was pointed out that Chattooga County has an unemployment rate of 14.5 percent. Two quick facts: 1) Chattooga County is not in the 9th Congressional District, and 2) Chattooga County is one of two counties in Northwest Georgia which have continued to elect Democrats at the local level.