9th District Republican Party “2008 Road to Victory Banquet” April 18, 2008 Black Bear Dinner Theater  Sautee, GA

Event Photo Page   On Friday night, the 9th Congressional Republican Party officially kicked off the 2008 election cycle with the Road to Victory Banquet in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia at the Black Bear Dinner Theater!  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.   Read more by Chairman Kevin Harris.    Above: Live piano music sets the tone for the evening. click on thumbnail photos to enlarge 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. White County GOP Chairman Josh Turner welcomes the large crowd to the Road to Victory Banquet. 2. M.C. Kevin Harris introduces candidates Claude Nix (Whitfield County) and Ken Smith (Murray County)-candidates for Sheriff   3. Surprise visitor Senator Saxby Chambliss brings news from D.C. and urges the audience of loyal Republicans to work to elect more Republicans in all offices. He said that he will support a bill by U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that would create a holiday on the federal portion of the fuel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day  4. Ayad Mohammed Majeed, an Iraqi refugee, and Chuck Butler, a law enforcement officer and native of Chatsworth, meet with Senator Chambliss.   Click here to read more about these combat brothers. Photo sent by John Arb   5. 6. 7. 8. 5. Congressman Nathan Deal greets the audience and brings news from the U.S. Congress. 6. Rep. Carl Rogers HD 26  (Gainesville)   7. Rep. Amos Amerson  HD 9 (Dahlonega)   8. Rep. Jay Neal HD 1 (LaFayette) with Chairman Kevin Harris.   9. 10. 11. 12. 9. Sen. Lee Hawkins, District 49, Gainesville  10. Sen. Jeff Mullis, District 53, Chickamauga  11. Sen. Don Thomas, District 54, Dalton   12. Candidate for 8th House District, Stephen Allison   13. 14. 15.   13. Carter Brown, Republican candidate for Walker County Court of Superior Court   14.  Dr. Rick Austin, Republican candidate for House District 10    15. Kendyl Brock Hunter, Chairman of the White County Board of Education.   Republican candidates for all offices were invited to the microphone to introduce themselves. Many in the audience participated.   Right: Former DOT Chairman Mike Evans addresses the Republican audience and apologizes. 17. 18. 19. 17.-18. Mike Evans speaks candidly to the Republican audience about his resignation on Thursday. Gena Abraham accompanied him to the banquet.  19. AJC Political Insider, Jim Calloway covers the event. Listen to Evans' entire speech.   Harris Blackwood of the Gainesville Times in photo 19 also covered the event and wrote two articles: DOT couple takes center stage at GOP dinner and a follow-up article     20. Sue Everhart 21. 22. Kathy Cox 23. 20. - 21. State Republican Party Chairman Sue Everhart thanked the crowd and congratulated the 9th District for its leadership and recent success. She reminded everyone of the State GOP Convention in Columbus May 16 - 17. She emphasized the need to work together to re-elect our U.S. Senator and  Congressmen. We have a great opportunity this year to pick up additional seats in Congress. You may register on line for the State Convention.   22 - 23. State School Superintendent Kathy Cox was the keynote speaker of the evening and gave a very informative presentation on the Strategic Education Plan for the State of Georgia. Many scores have risen in recent years even though we do have a ways to go.   Scenes from around the dinner theater   24. 25. 26. 27. 24. J'Net Viera, Don Viera, Wesley Clark of Hall County with Truett Moss of Gordon. 25. Doug Grammer of Walker County, Kailor Gordy of Catoosa, Sen. Jeff Mullis (and son)   26. Kathleen McGuire and Reva Jennings of Forsyth on left.   27. Right: Phil and Sally Forest of Gilmer County with Brad Scott, Catoosa Chairman   28. 29. 30. 31. 28. Dr. Walter Jagiella and wife of Walker County on right.   29. Dwayne & Connie Turner, Sue Turner, Barbara and Dr. Roy Brogdon, all from White County     30 - 31 More scenes of happy Republicans around the room.     www.helenblackbearresort.com   Location of Black Bear Resort and Dinner Theater 32 Dawn Way Sautee, GA 30571 FROM ATLANTA, GEORGIA ON I-85: APPROX. 85 MILES & 1 ½ HRS. Go north on I-85 to I-985 and continue northbound on I-985, (approximately 40 miles north of that point). Turn left at Hwy 384/Duncan Bridge Road.  Proceed 16 miles on Hwy 384 until it dead ends into Hwy 75. Turn left & go ¼ mile south, look for our billboard on your left and follow the dirt road beneath the sign. Black Bear Lodge and Cabins FROM ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ON GA 400 NORTH: APPROX. 86 MILES & 1 ½ HRS. Take Georgia 400 northbound until it ends. Continue straight ahead on the county 2-lane road (Long Branch Road). Go 5 miles to the traffic light. Turn right onto Hwy 52/115. Go 13 miles to Cleveland, GA. At the traffic light and courthouse, turn left onto US129 North. Go to the next traffic light and turn right on Hwy 75 North, go 5 miles north, look for our billboard on your right just south of the Shell gas station at Carolina Springs and follow the dirt road beneath the sign. Black Bear Lodge and Cabins FROM CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE: APPROX. 132 MILES & 3 HRS. Take I-75 South. Go South on I-75 to Dalton, GA. Take Hwy 76 East to Ellijay, GA. from Ellijay, continue south on Hwy 52 to Dahlonega, GA. Then continue on Hwys 52/115 to Cleveland, GA. At the first traffic light in Cleveland, turn left on Hwy 129 North to the next traffic light. Then turn right onto Hwy 75 North toward Helen, GA. Go 5.3 miles north on Hwy 75 and look for our billboard on your right just south of the Shell gas station at Carolina Springs and follow the dirt road beneath the sign. Black Bear Lodge and Cabins     HelenBlackBear.com Helen Black Bear Resort 210 Dawn Way, Sautee, GA 30571 706-865-0093 or toll free 1-877-734-2467   District Convention - Saturday, April 19, at White County High School 2600 Hwy. 129 North, Cleveland -- one mile out of Cleveland Read more in column one of  www.gagop9.org State Call to all Conventions 2008 - Forms Photos and Web Page by Bettye Chambers        9th District Communications Director/Webmaster