E-Newsletter of the Georgia 9th District   --   July 4, 2008

  


July 4,  2008
E-News from the 9th District 


 
 Just in!  Huckabee Urges Georgia Supporters to Unite Behind McCain!
    Says “[We] Can’t Afford to Sit This One Out”


www.gagop9.org
Visit our website often since updates are posted nearly every day

 
 
 

1.


Chairman Comments
July 3, 2008
 

For Americans, this weekend is one of the most exciting times.  Fireworks, picnics, recreation and friends are usually at the top of most of our agendas. During this time, however, let’s not forget those who don’t have these opportunities because they are currently on foreign soil defending our freedom.

 If you are a Republican, the 9th District of Georgia is where you want to be right now. Entering the 2008 primary election cycle, the 9th District Republican Party is as strong as it has ever been! Citizens across North Georgia know and understand that local Democrat officials can no longer pretend to be separate from their national party. This election cycle, several outstanding officials chose to become Republicans.  In addition, we have the highest number of incumbent Republicans in the history of North Georgia.

There is a reason for North Georgia Republicans to be optimistic. During the recently qualifying period, over 250 people qualified as Republicans, while fewer than 80 qualified as Democrats. Of the 15 counties in our district, thirteen Commission Boards are chaired by Republican Chairman or Sole Commissioners. In addition, every county except one Commission Board has a Republican majority. And, for the first time in history, a majority of Sheriffs in our district are seeking reelection as Republicans.

 Beginning next week, there is a lot of work to be done.  Advanced voting will begin July 7-11, and will quickly be followed by primary election day. Following the July 15th Republican primary, I am confident that region and our 15 counties will have the strongest, most viable slate of Republican candidates we have ever compiled as a district. It has been a lot of work, but our Republic is well worth the effort.

 For each of you, we hope you have a wonderful July 4th.  Enjoy your family, friends, and freedom. On this 4th of July, take a moment to remember Rep. Doug Collins and his family.  Rep. Collins, who recently completed law school, will be deployed to Iraq later this month. The commitment he has persistently shown to God, family, and yes, country, is a shining example for many of us. He is a living reminder that, even in our society with all of the divisions, ideas, labels, and differences, we are all Americans.

 

 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
One of our closest allies, Rep. Doug Collins, was featured on WSB Channel 2 (Atlanta), July 3, between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.  Rep. Doug Collins is a great man, and we are fortunate to have him as part of the Ninth District GOP family. Rep. Collins represents parts of Hall and White Counties. As most of you know, Rep. Collins will be deployed to Iraq later this month.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July.  Because of dedicated people like Doug Collins, we live in a free country.

Kevin Harris
9th District Chairman
P.O. Box 1 -  Mineral Bluff, GA 30559
706-455-9200



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2.  9th District Annual Picnic - July 26  -  Mark your Calendar!
 

 

click thumbnail
photos to enlarge

Pickens GOP will be the host again for the 9th district GOP annual picnic on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at Lee Newton Park in Jasper. Once again this will be hosted by the Pickens GOP which always does a wonderful job.  Please note the change of date due to the Governor's Fish Fry On August 2.  This is always a great event with many interesting speakers including our own Congressman Nathan Deal.  A local group,  the BC Boys, will be providing the music.
Contact Chairman Larry Toney, Pickens GOP Chairman for information
770-893-8499.  More information to follow later. .

Get driving directions to Lee Newton Park in Jasper

The 9th District Committee will meet at 10 a.m. prior to the picnic.
 


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3. Visit National Convention Website -- sign up for updates

 
             
            Convention Housing
Georgia Delegation to the Republican
National Convention will be staying at the
   DoubleTree Hotel Minneapolis - Park 
   Place - Hotel Website

   Saint Paul's Hilton Garden Inn to Host Minn. Delegation;
   Hyatt Regency Minneapolis to Welcome Republican
   National Committee  Read more.
  § Delegates - What does a delegate do?
 § Become a Georgia Digital Delegate
 

 

  2004 National Convention in New York City
View photo pages made for the 9th District and the GA GOP at that Convention
 View unedited versions of all the convention diary pages with more photos on this web site: • Pre-convention • Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday • Thursday • Thursday Night Finale


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4. Recent Weekly Republican Articles by Members of our 9th District
The 9th District is proud to publish  some excellent "Republican Articles of the Week" on the  home page page of our website. Current interesting articles are located in column three.
Click here to read from website in column three.

If you would like to submit a Weekly Republican Article, please contact Kevin Harris, District Chairman

Below are the most recent articles:


A Shot Across the Bow July 3, 2008
by Sally Forest, 9th District Secretary, of Ellijay
Weekly Republican Article
June 27, 2008
 by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle of Hall County
 

When Will We Say Enough?
 June 16, 2008
by Kevin Harris, 9th District Chairman
 Mineral Bluff, GA

 
Republican Article of the Week  6/6/08
 by Doug Grammer
owner of South-eastern Mortgages 
and State Committee member of the GAGOP

 

§ May '08 E-Newsletter
§ Congressman Deal
   Keynote Address to the District Convention
   

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5. Recent News from  9th District Counties
 
▪ Fannin County GOP opened  its 2008 election headquarters on June 21, 2008 
  Read more  --  Fannin County website
▪ Dawson County
  Dawson County Republican Party Forum a Success - May 27 at the Bowen Arts 
  Center  Read more. 6/1/08 -- Dawson County website
▪ Hall County - Conservative Forums June 14 and July 12. Candidates to speak  Read
  more at www.hallgop.com
▪ Whitfield County GOP News
   Get to Know the Candidates' forum.- June 2 at 7:00 p.m. -- Whitfield County website
 
Many of you are very familiar with Earl Ball. One of the small few who was involved in the development of the Whitfield County Republican Party and he has been instrumental in building the party over the past decades. He is one of the greatest men of character that Whitfield County/Dalton has ever known and he has been a blessing to all who have had the privilege to know him.
 
I found out this evening that Earl suffered a severe stroke on Wednesday of last week. I went to the hospital and I spoke with his son and he told me, as of Thursday morning, they didn't give him much of a chance to overcome his condition and things had turned for the worse. However, Friday morning things began to turn in his favor and he has been improving over the weekend. He is now alert and speaking, but still very weak. He is currently in Room 2113 at Hamilton Medical Center, but he may be moved as soon as Thursday to begin his rehabilitation. I am not absolutely sure, but I believe his son told me that will be going to Quinton Memorial Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, here in Dalton.
 
Earl has been a blessing to us all. Please keep he and his family in your prayers. If you wish to send cards or flowers, the hospital will forward them if/when he is moved.
 
Thank you.
 
Chuck Payne
▪ The Dade County Republican Party will host a "meet & greet the candidates" on
  Saturday, July 12, 2008.  Read more.
▪ Gilmer County GOP  No meeting in July -- on vacation.
   Gilmer Republicans qualified 19 candidates - Read more  Linda Wright, Chairman 
▪ Murray County  Murray County Republican Party Road to victory Banquet with John
  Oxendine on August 18, 2008. Read more  -- John Arb, Chairman
 
   

Check for special events in all counties by going to www.gagop9.org/News_Events.htm and click on the county name at the top.

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6. Handel blasts move to halt voter ID for July 15

Here they go again!

By RHONDA COOK
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/03/08

The Georgia Democratic Party late Thursday asked the courts for a temporary order to stop the state from requiring photo identification of potential voters in the July 15 primary. Read the rest of the story. . .
 
 

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7 . NEW STATE LAWS EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2008 – WEEK 2
     Forwarded by Sen. Renee Unterman

 

Here is a further list of new state laws that will go into effect on July 1, 2008.

 

HB 1300--Allows local school boards to make a determination of make-up days required at the end of the school year following emergencies or disasters.

 

HB 535--Changes present unused law concerning Mental Health Ombudsman and establishes the Office of Disability Services Ombudsman which will investigate complaints and provide periodic reports.

 

HB 1041--Requires a background check including fingerprinting through the Ga. Crime Information Center for Registered Nurses licensing.

 

HB 1105--Requires Hospitals to administer, prior to discharge, flu vaccine to any elderly patient 65 or older during the period of Oct. 1 to March 1 of any year

 

 

SB 433--Provides extensive revision of the Certificate of Need law which governs bed expansion and capital equipment purchases by hospitals and the medical community.  Expands exemptions for non-medical capital outlay and eliminates CON requirement for expenditures under $2.5 million (from $1.7 million) and loosens a number of CON requirements.  For Ambulatory Service Centers, redefines single specialty to include general surgery and requires 2% of annual gross income  to be spent on indigent or charity care yearly. Allows destination cancer treatment centers to locate in Georgia under certain conditions, limited  to one location within 25 miles of the Atlanta Airport, requiring 3% charity care and requiring 65% of the total business from out of state residents.

 

SB 1--Revises Sexual Predator law to exempt the 1000 ft prohibited zone if the registered offender owns the property on which the offender’s home is located.  Must register this exemption with the local sheriff. Also applies to ownership of other property within the zone that is owned by the registered offender.

 

HB 1346--Creates the crime of organized retail theft where the intent of two or more people is to shoplift property over time to sell to a fence for resale.

 

SB 400--Authorizes investigators for the Ga. Forestry Commission to make arrests  and investigate arson of forestlands and creates the offense of arson of lands with varying degrees of punishment.

 

HB 1104--Revises Georgia's charitable solicitations laws.  Tightens reporting requirements of paid solicitors and fixes the amount they can receive from proceeds.  Exempts local fire departments if raising under $25,000 yearly.

 

HB 993--Allows seniors 75 or older or disabled to bypass a waiting line for absentee voting.

 

SB 366--Adds telecommunications devises to the list of items an inmate in state custody cannot have  in their possession.

 

SB 417--Requires the Department of Transportation to establish and report on attainment  benchmarks on transportation projects of $10 million or more and requires a report of savings achieved by value engineering studies.

 

SB 369--For active and retired military personnel, allows a disabled parking permit to be issued by a military physician or by a practitioner of the healing arts.

 

State Parks Passes at Libraries

 

Get a state park pass from your library!

 

You can save the $4.00 parking fee at Georgia State Parks by “checking out” a park pass at your local library with your PINES or other library card.

 

The pass is good for seven days.  There are 63 parks and historic sites in Georgia. 

 

Additional info:  www.georgiastateparks.org

Or www.getoutdoorsgeorgia.org

 

 

Deannie Robinson
Office of Secretary of the Senate
353 State Capitol
404-656-5040

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8. Political Cartoons of the Day  
 


We are NOT Drilling
off shore or in ANWR


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9 .  View


Fourth of July Tribute
Independence Day

History of July 4

Have a Wonderful 4th of July!

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10.  Attention County Chairmen

Your County Party has a space reserved for your county news, list of officers or whatever you would like posted on our 9th District web site.  See: http://gagop9.org/News_Events.htm and click on your county name up at the top. Feel free to write a brief paragraph or two about your county party and your events. We especially need a list of your current officers. Be sure to check to see
if what we have on this page for your county is correct
 

Please forward this to all of your members who have e-mail addresses.

Thank you so much for helping to make our 9th District web site current and informative!

Many thanks for your contributions.


Bettye Chambers
Communications Director/Webmaster
5904 Fox Tail Cove
Buford, GA 30518
770/271-2595


The End   www.gagop9.org

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                                                     District 9 -- Officers

     Kevin Harris
      Chairman
Wesley Clark
 First Vice Chair
Mary Jones
 Second Vice Chair
Bobby Valentine
Treasurer
     Louise Little
       Asst. Treasurer   
      706-374-6638
      		Sally Forest
 Secretary		 Jim Powell
Asst. Secretary
 		 Nathan Deal
Congressman -
Web Site

     Regional Directors:

     Southeast
     Reva Jennings
      Hall, Forsyth		 Northwest
Regina Parris
 Catoosa, Dade, Walker,
Whitfield		 Mountain
Clint Smith
Union, White, Lumpkin,
Dawson		 Central -
Mary Jones
 Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens,
Murray, Gordon
 

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P.O. Box 1 -  Mineral Bluff, GA 30559
706-455-9200

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