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9th District Republican Party
Summer Picnic 2008
July 26
Lee Newton Park - Jasper
Great Music, Great Food, Great Speeches, and
Great Republican Camaraderie
Music by B.C. Boys - Big Canoe
Many thanks to Larry Toney, Chairman of the Pickens County Republican Party, and all the members who worked to make this event a huge success. They have hosted this event for many years and always do a superb job! To learn more about the Pickens County GOP, visit their web site.
Following the District Committee meeting at 10:00, delicious barbeque with all the trimmings was served to the Republican district members, their families and guests.. The attendance this year and last was at an all time high. Today there were approximately 200 attending.Fun and good Republican fellowship was the order of the day. Following lunch several candidates and elected officials spoke: See photos below:
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3.1. Pickens GOP Chairman Larry Toney and 9th District Chairman Kevin Harris welcome the Republicans to this annual picnic. 2. Larry introduces the first speaker, DOT Board Member Steve Farrow, who was recently selected for this position. 3. David Ralston of Blue Ridge, House District 7, gives an update from the GA House. Rumors are that he may be running for Speaker in January.
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6.4. Congressman Nathan Deal delivers a stirring key note address reminding the audience of the extreme importance of electing John McCain as our next president. He gave many reasons for this including his dedication to winning the war on terror and drilling off shore for oil. Obama is for neither. He also gave an update on the state of the House in D.C. and its less than adequate leader, Nancy Pelosi. See his upcoming Town Hall Schedule below.
5. Chairman Harris presents a check from the 9th District to Republican nominee for Whitfield County Sheriff, Claude Nix 6. Chairman Harris and GA GOP Chairman Sue Everhart present a campaign check to Melba Bennett, Republican nominee for Tax Commissioner in Gilmer County
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9.7. Melba Bennett, who was very touched by the unexpected donation, sits with Mary Jones also of Gilmer County. 8. GA GOP Chairman Sue Everhart speaks to the group and urges everyone to get out and work to return Saxby Chambliss to the U.S. Senate and elect John McCain as our next President. Bettye Chambers and Reva Jennings (no photos), who were recently appointed to serve on the Georgia Women for McCain Coalition passed out forms for the women to fill out to become part of this coalition. Click here to bring up form and print out. This group now has a new website at www.GeorgiaWomenForMcCain.org 9. Local candidates with Congressman Deal:
From left to right, State Representative Roger Williams, Incoming Whitfield County Commission Chair Mike Babb, Congressman Nathan Deal, Republican nominee for Whitfield Sheriff Claude Nix, and State Representative Tom Dickson.
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12.10. Reva Jennings of Cumming, long time member and leader in the 9th District, with her precious twin grand children who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the picnic. 11. J'Net and Don Viera of Hall County chat with Pete Costello. Sue Everhart, GA GOP Chairman, from Cobb County. 12. Judy Grammer of Walker County exits the serving line along with many friends.
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15.13. Members from White County: Joshua Kinsey, Josh Turner, Connie and Dwayne Turner. 14. Cindy and Pete Castello of Cherokee County 15. Pickens GOP ladies at the registration table: Marilyn Klask- Corresponding Secretary of PCRP and Alma Toney, wife of PCRP Chairman Larry Toney
Click here to read more about this great event by Chairman Kevin Harris.
2008 9th District Picnic
Another Huge Success
July 28, 2008
by Kevin Harris, 9th District ChairmanWhat a weekend! The annual 9th District picnic and quarterly committee meeting was hosted by Chairman Larry Toney and the Pickens County GOP. For the second consecutive year, it was one of the better attended and most enjoyable picnics in the history of the party. Congressman Nathan Deal, State GOP Chair Sue Everhart, DOT Board Member Steve Farrow, Senator Chip Pearson, and Representatives Roger Williams, Tom Dickson, David Ralston, and Martin Scott were among the federal and state officials in attendance. In addition, a number of elected officials and candidates seeking local office were also available to meet and discuss the issues with the voters. Many thanks to the Chairman Toney and Pickens County GOP team for such a great day!
Prior to the picnic, Pickens County was awarded the 2009 9th District GOP Convention in a unanimous vote following a detailed presentation by Mary Ellen Childree. Last year, Chairman Josh Turner and the White County GOP did a wonderful job, and Pickens County will be challenged to meet the high expectations for next years district convention. Congratulations to Pickens County and we look forward to partnering with their
Leading up to the 2008 election cycle, the 9th District GOP has partnered with local parties and concluded its strongest candidate recruitment and ticket-building effort in the history of the district. In all, there were 52 meetings with elected officials and perspective candidates in the five months prior to qualifying. These efforts were done in conjunction and partnering with the local county chairs/ leadership. One of the results of these efforts was a total of 10 former Democratic elected officials across North Georgia qualified as a Republican in 2008.
Following the completion of qualifying, a 9th District Election Task Force was created to provide a comprehensive overview of each race in the fifteen counties across North Georgia. From the report, the district committee during our meeting unanimously approved the 2008 strategy that included the 8 in 08 Campaign. The committee reviewed and identified the races that could need assistance during the 2008 campaign season. In the 8 in 08 Campaign, eight local races in the fifteen counties where Democrats were elected in 2004 were identified and reviewed. Due to a variety of reasons, however, the identified races this year should be competitive and the Republican nominee should have an excellent opportunity to present their case for change directly to the voters.
While there is much work to be done before November, the results of our efforts thus far have exceeded expectations. As a district we have completed much work, but there are 100 days left to ensure that our energy and momentum are not in vain.
This election cycle, there are 157 local positions that will be on the ballot in November across the 15 counties. While it is a lofty goal, I personally believe we can work to ensure that Republican incumbents and candidates win 75 percent of the positions available in North Georgia in November with just a little extra effort this year.
Thank you for what each of you do to grow the Republican majority in North Georgia! In November, we look forward to another record setting year in the 9th District GOP.
Kevin Harris
9th District Chairman
Visit the 9th District Republican Party Web Site: www.gagop9.org
Photo Page by Bettye Chambers
9th District Communications Director/Webmaster