Democratic Party Ninth District
Christopher Strickland

My father tells a story about going with his father to vote. It was 1960, and Carl Sanders was challenging Governor Marvin Griffin. As my grandfather left the voting area, one of his friends yelled, "Who did you vote for, Silas?" Papa replied, "I voted for Griffin." "What did you do that for? Griffin's a scoundrel." My grandfather politely responded, "Yeah but Carl such a nice guy I didn't see any reason to ruin him."

My grandfather was what you'd call a yellow-dog Democrat. Back before states were blue and red, there were so many yellow dogs in Georgia that to be elected you had to put a "D" after your name. Thank goodness those days have passed, but I wonder if things are really any different.

I live in Flowery Branch, Georgia, right in the heart of Republican country. Most people here say they vote for the candidate, not the party, but still it's almost impossible to run as anything but a Republican. Have we become so skeptical as to believe there's nowhere else to look for candidates with smart solutions to real problems? Or have we perhaps become used to the scoundrels we've elected so that, like my grandfather, we don't want to ruin anyone else?

During the 1980s, when Republicans were scarce in the South, one of their arguments was that we needed a two-party system so a real minority would keep the majority honest. Strangely enough, once Republicans became the majority, they saw no further need for a counterbalancing minority.

Hey, who needs a two-party system when you have the Richardson/Cagle Republican party? This legislative session could best be described as the "Shootout at the Capitol." The House and Senate lined up for a duel, took three steps, turned and fired. They were so busy fighting each other they forgot about your business and mine, and about the state they were supposed to represent. This year was a complete waste of time. We see what happens when there's an absence of leadership in the General Assembly: no significant reforms in tax legislation, no significant education reform, nothing done about the hot-button issue of immigration.

This has to change. We need representatives who see great ideas and promote them. Georgia deserves a legislative body which knows it isn't nearly enough to be just almost the worst in the country in SAT scores, not nearly enough to give teachers a bare-minimum raise that doesn't offset the rising cost of living, not nearly enough to talk about reduced class sizes and then not implement them.

And it's not enough to talk about tax reform and then not do it. We need to deal with regressive tax policies and pass real reforms that make the system fair to all.

It's not enough to ignore immigration. We have to deal with an influx of working immigrants who want a shot at the American dream, and also deal with those who are here for improper purposes.

What can we do? We can tell our representatives that the well-being of the people of Georgia is more important than who will be elected Governor in two years. That's more important than blue or red. Cooperation is not a dirty word, nor is hard work, nor is dedication. We have to get things done in Georgia, and we can do it if we don't worry about who gets the credit.

Christopher Strickland was born and raised in Hall County, Georgia. The son of a second generation cotton mill worker, Dr. Strickland attended Hall County schools and received degrees from Shorter College, Augusta State University, and the University of Georgia. He currently serves as the Director of Choral Activities for Creekland Middle School in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Christopher and his wife Kelleigh reside in Flowery Branch, Georgia, with their two children Emmaleigh and Maggie. Christopher Strickland has recently decided to campaign for the State House District 25. This is his first run for political office.