Republican Party Ninth District
Kevin Harris

Following the 1952 election cycle, Republicans in Georgia faced the typical results that they had learned through generations of experience. Once again, the state election results were dominated by Democrats at the state and local level.

In fact, there were only three Republicans in the entire Georgia legislature. Fannin County businessman C.W. Kiker, of Fannin County, was the only Republican in the entire Georgia Senate. In the Georgia House, Gilmer County building contractor Joe Holloway and Fannin County department store owner Reid Mull were the only Republican state representatives. Even in 1953, Representative Mull said: "We think there are a lot of Republicans around us in actual fact, even if they are wearing a Democratic label". Mull believed that the business and government interests of the three Republicans had more in common than many of the Democratic officials wanted to believe at the time.

For too long, Republicans in Georgia were sparse or nonexistent. Even in 1953, C.W. Kiker believed the state could eventually see a "strong conservative party in the South and in the nation, no matter what the party name." It is difficult to imagine the vision and leadership that C.W. Kiker possessed to comprehend the trend that has began emerging in Georgia politics over the next fifty years.

For the last two decades, North Georgians have increasingly distanced themselves from the national Democratic Party. Then, at the state level, the same voting patterns emerged. Local Democratic officials who continued to be reelected have been successful only because they distanced themselves from their national party and its state and national candidates.

For multiple reasons, 2008 is an historical year for North Georgia politics. During the last three election cycles, county after county in North Georgia has transitioned from Democratic to Republican majorities. The 9th District Republican Party has actively worked with community leaders, the local political parties, and its officials to ensure that recent patterns will continue this year as well. By the time many of you read this column, qualifying week will almost be complete and the results of months of effort and energy will finally take form.

More than fifty years ago, it is not too difficult to imagine three secluded Republicans wondering if their party would ever be a viable party in Georgia. As North Georgia continues to grow its Republican majority, it is important to never forget the foundation that was provided by visionaries like C.W. Kiker, Joe Holloway, and Reid Mull.

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: A comprehensive economic tier ranking of Georgia counties by DCA shows that nine of the ten counties in Georgia with the lowest economic rankings have one common denominator: a Democrat Commission Chairman/Sole Commissioner. Furthermore, 47 of the 50 counties with partisan elections with worse economic conditions have an elected Democrat as its Chairman/Sole Commissioner.