Update: Karen Handel, Candidate for GA Governor

Our campaign got off to a fantastic start last weekend. At the GOP State Convention in Savannah, we launched our "Bring It On" campaign, website and video in front of an enthusiastic crowd of committed Republicans. Our campaign video has already been viewed over 4,000 times online - follow this link to see it for yourself!

After the convention, it was on to Glynn County for several events. First, I stopped in to see my good friend Dottie Ann Smith who graciously hosted an event with some friends. Then, we headed to the Glynn County GOP dinner where Steve and I caught up with Ruby Robinson, Kevin Gough, Rep Jerry Keen, Ken Trobaugh, Mack and Leslie Mattingly and many others. I'm also glad I had a chance to visit with Republican trailblazers like Virginia Ramsey and Willou Smith, who literally helped pave the way for me and other Republican women.

Last Sunday, we held a very well attended reception with members of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. It was a great opportunity to share with these community and business leaders my thoughts on several key issues facing our state. I also attended the Georgia Chamber's opening event, and even in this crowd, the launch of our "Bring It On" campaign was the talk of the evening.

The momentum from the convention has carried over into this week with an incredible number of volunteers and supporters joining our team.

As I continue traveling the state and spreading the message, I hope you'll take a moment to visit our new website at www.KarenHandel.com. Here, you can see the video, read about my stances on our state's important issues, catch up on recent press, and even join our campaign team. Also, please forward this e-mail to friends and family so they might do the same.

Finally, I want to give my sincere thanks to our volunteer team who helped make the State Convention a success last weekend. Our goal was to generate excitement and enthusiasm for our campaign, and we couldn't have done it without you. I genuinely appreciate your hard work on my behalf.

Thanks again for all your help and support and for your continued friendship and prayers!
Karen Handel

Today's Links:

National Blog Calls Karen "Bold Reformer"
Erick Erickson of RedState.com wrote a piece this week laying out a roadmap for GOP success in 2010. He mentioned Karen as one of the outsider reformers who will lead the charge. See the article here.

Contribute Today!
Karen needs your support to reach the many voters across Georgia. Join her team and help spread her message of reform by making a donation today.
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Austin Scott Calls on GOP to Fight for Conservative Values, Youth Vote

Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, took his campaign for governor to the Georgia Republican Convention in Savannah over the weekend.. He called on party members to help him “rebuild” not “rebrand” the GOP by explaining to younger voters why conservative principles provide the most opportunity for prosperity in Georgia.

“As a man who was elected at the age of 26, I understand the power, the energy, and the victory that this generation can deliver for our party. This generation demands servant leaders prepared and willing to lead from day one. I am prepared to do just that.

“We as a party, and especially those of us who are elected, must take responsibility for what happened this past November.

“As your governor I will never sacrifice our principles for liberal policies from Washington, handed down by people who in their own words have said they have never been proud of this country,” Scott said.

Dozens of Scott’s supporters and volunteers traveled from around Georgia for the event.
“We will rebuild this party with a dynamic, energetic, and exciting movement that incorporates the next generation of voters and maintains our core beliefs that life is precious, God is good, and we are one nation under God.

“We are overwhelmed with the support we have received from around Georgia this weekend. College students, families, and dozens of ordinary Georgians made the journey with me and my wife, Vivien. We are grateful for their help, and we are ready to fight for Georgia’s future in the days ahead,” Scott said.

Austin Scott’s remarks at 2009 Georgia Republican Convention:

“Thank you for allowing me the privilege to wear the Republican brand for 14 years.

“We’re gathered here in Savannah. It is a beautiful city and a great place to hold this convention.

“But we are not here just to enjoy this great city. We’re here as Republicans to reclaim our role as the leaders of this country. I believe that our Republican principles are stronger than ever, and I believe that our party is also.

“Our conservative values were right yesterday, they are right today, and they will be right tomorrow. We are Republican because we understand that the future of our country depends on Individual freedom, freedom which depends on personal responsibility, freedom which must be protected from all enemies.

“Now, our party suffered a predictable loss 6 months ago—a defeat that was the result of us abandoning our conservative principles.

“It was one defeat and as Republicans we can ill afford to ‘rebrand’ in an effort to appease those who do not appreciate their very freedoms that we seek to protect.

“We as a party and especially those of us who are elected must take responsibility for what happened this past November. We didn’t do what we said we were going to do—unbalanced budgets and an escalating debt are unacceptable to the American people.

“As governor of Georgia, we will rebuild this party. Rebranding is not open for discussion, nor will I as governor of this great state of Georgia, as some have suggested we do, abandon our brothers in this country in what may very well be the greatest challenge to our freedom since World War II.

“During this campaign, I will deliver a message of limited government, which seeks only to provide services that cannot be provided by the free market.

“As your governor, I will never sacrifice our principles for liberal policies from Washington, handed down by people who in their own words have said they have never been proud of this country.

“In the House, I was proud to lead the charge to kill the Obama Resolution that proclaimed him as a man of unimpeachable character.

“We are still one nation under God and no Resolution saying the president has unimpeachable character is going to pass as long as I have anything to say about it.

“In this race our party must be the party that offers the next generation of voters a governor that they believe in.

“As a man who was elected at the age of 26, I understand the power, the energy, and the victory that this generation can deliver for our party.

“This generation demands servant leaders prepared and willing to lead from day one. I am prepared to do just that. The stakes for the next generation and the ones that follow are just too high to elect a governor that is not prepared to govern.

“As a servant leader, I have never done business with the state or any political subdivision of the state. I have never participated in a government retirement plan.

“I promise to be a good steward of your tax dollars, and as your governor, I will not appoint anyone to the board of regents who contributes more than $1000 to my campaign. The board of regents controls 6 billion in public funds and those seats are not for sale.

“We will expand the Transparency in Government Act so you can better see how your tax dollars are being spent.

“And while my campaign welcomes contributions, I would suggest that those who seek a personal rate of return invest elsewhere.

“We as Republicans cannot survive the plague of unethical, illegal campaign contributions.
“And those of you seated in this room have the responsibility to support a candidate who represents our core beliefs as Republicans and whose actions as a candidate do not bring into question the integrity of our brand.

“As Georgia’s governor, I will continue my unwavering support for a trauma network that serves all of Georgia

“Some have falsely suggested that this network is the capitalization of private businesses similar to what we have seen in Washington.

“This network already exists but will survive only with a sustainable funding source.

“As chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee, I had the responsibility of delivering the Voter ID Laws of this state and the recent law to publish the names of the few in our legislature who have not complied with the tax laws. While other political opportunists grandstanded but failed to deliver on these issues, I fulfilled my responsibility and today they are the law.

“I was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Roy Barnes and Tom Murphy, who butchered our legislative and congressional districts.

“The success of that lawsuit was key to Republicans becoming the majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate of this state.

“As you can see, in my time at the capitol I have never abandoned my responsibilities to my party or the people I represent. I believe in action, and I am a man of my word.

“Let me conclude by saying one more time that I have no interest in rebranding our party.

“We will rebuild this party with a dynamic, energetic, and exciting movement that incorporates the next generation of voters and maintains our core beliefs that life is precious, God is good, and we are one nation under God. Thank you, God Bless you.
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US Rep Phil Gingrey (R-GA 11th) Addresses 2009 GOP Convention

Congressman Phil Gingrey spoke 5/16/09 to attendees at the 2009 State Republican Convention in Savannah, Georgia.

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US Rep Nathan Deal (R GA-9th) Addresses GOP Convention

Congressman Nathan Deal (R-9th District) speaks to Georgia Republicans at the 2009 Convention held in Savannah at the International Trade and Convention Center 5/16/09. Deal spoke on Friday, May 15th as a candidate for Governor to attendees, unfortunately we missed that talk. We have talks by other candidates and convention speakers coming soon. Herman Cain's talk was posted on our Republican News Sweep blog: Herman Cain Speaks at GA GOP Convention

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Richard Woods GOP Convention Speech

Richard Woods, candidate for State School Superintendent, spoke to Georgia Republicans at the 2009 Convention held in Savannah. The following is his speech as printed prior to the talk:

I thank you for the opportunity to stand before you today and speak on the subject of education. Over the past 21 years, I have had the privilege of working for this great state and the community of Irwin County as a classroom teacher and administrator. As our next state school superintendent, I will bring years of practicality, real life experience, and educational success to this post. But more importantly, I come before you today because I asked myself the question, "Am I happy with the direction Education has taken in Georgia?" I ask you as well, "Are you happy with the direction education has taken in Georgia?"

· Are you happy that almost 30% of our students drop out of school?
· Are you happy that nearly 40% of our rural students fail to obtain a high school diploma?
· Are you happy that there continues to be very noticeable performance gaps between population groups in grades 1-8 on our state test?
· Are you happy that many students begin their college experience by sitting in remedial education classes?
· Are you happy that Georgia consistently ranks in the bottom 5 on the SAT?
· Are you happy that the legislation known as "No Child Left Behind" continues to leave more and more children behind in school?

The answer for me is a resounding NO! In order to correct an educational system that continues to live on the verge of life-support, I am proposing a practical dose of educational CPR in order to put the heartbeat back into education.

C is old fashion common sense. Our actions, decisions, and goals must reflect practicality. Noted educational leaders, Max Thompson and Heidi Hays Jacobs, have stated that our new curriculum is still too broad and lacks needed depth.

We must do more to build a solid foundation in the critical areas of reading, writing, and math during the primary years. Research has shown that a child must be on grade level in reading by 3rd grade and in math by 5th grade or face joining our unacceptable dropout population.

I do support a curriculum that is rigorous and challenging. However, it must be practical, obtainable, and appropriate for all learners. Our children are not carbon copy machined parts who fit nicely into one box. Not everyone is designed nor has the desire to pursue the same post secondary experience. Our curriculum and educational system should not promote the concept that to do anything less is a failure. The doors of opportunity will open to any child who has true mastery of the basics. I must emphasize true mastery.

P represents partnership. The D.O.E. and our local systems must reduce the bureaucratic, redundant, and unnecessary paperwork that is being piled upon our teachers. We must allow them to do what they do best, close their doors and teacher. They should be allowed to work smarter, not harder.

Financial flexibility from the national and state governments needs to arrive in the form of block grants. This would allow school systems the financial freedom needed to address educational issues. We should not lose jobs or fail to purchase textbooks because funding is locked into uncompromising programs. Our LOCAL SYSTEMs, not Washington D.C. nor Atlanta, are far better qualified to judge what is needed to solve the challenges they face.

R is relationship building. The most important part of any relationship is the willingness to listen. We must hear the concerns and comments of those in the field. As you next superintendent, I pledge to you that I will be an individual who will listen to and represent ALL of Georgia.

Finally, you have a choice. You can choose to continue to boast in the progress of mediocrity or you can join me. Join me in putting common sense back into our decision making. Join me in creating productive partnerships. Join me in building relationships with all of Georgia. By doing so, we will work together to move out of the shadow of others and become the leader of education for our nation!

Visit www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com for more political news!

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Handel to Georgia’s Challenges: "Bring It On!"

With a video and a speech before the crowd of GOP activists at the Georgia Republican Convention today, Secretary of State Karen Handel brought a rousing message of change as well as her personal story of beating the odds in life and politics into the limelight.

Handel’s video tells of her leaving a troubled home situation at 17, getting a job and finishing high school on her own. It then chronicles her history of facing challenges in the Bush/Quayle White House, as Chairman of the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce (where she learned that all but $10 had been embezzled from the bank accounts), as the Fulton County Commission Chairman who shot down a $100 million tax increase and balanced the budget through responsible cuts instead and as the longshot candidate who ended up winning big over a powerful state senate leader to become Georgia’s first Republican Secretary of State. The recurring mantra of the video was that Karen faced each challenge with an attitude of “bring it on!”

As Karen stepped to the podium to give her speech, her campaign’s new website went live on the Internet. It includes the video, the text of Karen’s speech, an issues section where voters can examine her record and her positions and much more. The website too is “Bring it On!” themed and can be found at www.karenhandel.com.

The text of the video is attached. The video was narrated by Karen’s Campaign Chairman, Fred Cooper and produced by Fred Davis.

Text of Handel Convention Film “Stronger”

VO ANNOUNCER FRED COOPER:

It weighs tons. Is loud. Moves not with grace, but with a lumbering gait. It is the ox.

Who could be stronger than an ox?

Maybe someone who never got to enjoy a picture-perfect childhood. Who had to leave home at 17, get a job, finish high school alone. Yet advanced all the way to the White House, as Deputy Chief of Staff to Marilyn Quayle.

This someone then won a seemingly ideal job: CEO of the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. But, discovered that the Chamber checking account held less than ten dollars, the rest had been embezzled. Most said, “It can’t be saved,” but she said, “Bring it on.” Yes, “SHE.” Today that Chamber flourishes and has helped attract much-needed jobs to Georgia.

Elected Chairman of the Fulton County Commission she was presented with a huge tax increase. She threw that budget out and wrote a new one. With rational cuts she balanced it – and saved Georgians a hundred million dollars. Bring it on, Georgia. When conventional wisdom said the corrupt Sheriff of Fulton County couldn’t be touched, Karen Handel said, “Bring it on,” and the Sheriff was removed from office.

As secretary of state Handel accomplished what few other states have: voter ID, proof of citizenship and fair elections. All while reducing her budget 15%.

Does Georgia have challenges that no politician has been able to solve?

You bet. Transportation. Water. Taxes. Education. Bloated budgets.

Who has fresh eyes and the proven ability to solve impossible problems?

Who has a heart for people, but is stronger than an ox?

Who has won tough election after tough election?

The same furry creature who tried and failed before?

Or, those who mean so well, but have proven so little?

It is not a good ole boy who will make Georgia work.

It is a proven, battle-tested, accomplished reformer.

Who just happens to be, a she.

Got problems, Georgia? Bring ‘em on.

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Insider Advantage/Majority Opinion Research Poll: John Oxendine Maintains Double Digit Lead Over Closest Opponent

Republican candidate for Governor, John Oxendine, continues to maintain frontrunner status with the newest independent poll released by Insider Advantage/Majority Opinion Research for WSB TV. The results of this statewide poll, on the eve of the Georgia Republican Party State Convention when all Republican leaders and activists are focused on who will be the Republican nominee for Governor, confirm that John Oxendine maintains his frontrunner status in the campaign.

John Oxendine: 21.3%
Nathan Deal: 10.5%
Karen Handel: 9.3%
Eric Johnson: 3.2%
Austin Scott: 1.8%
Other: 4%
Undecided: 49.9%

Immediate analysis demonstrates that John Oxendine maintains a 2-to-1 lead over his closest opponent and still leads his closest two opponents even when their totals are combined.

Team Oxendine believes additional analysis will demonstrate John's numbers are consistent throughout the state, demonstrating he is a candidate with genuine and deep statewide appeal. We believe a deeper analysis will also reveal the other candidates are regional candidates.

While we have great respect for our opponents, we maintain that John Oxendine has the necessary statewide name ID to mount a winning campaign against the Democrats in the general election. Our party cannot afford to take the general election in 2010 for granted. John Oxendine continues to demonstrate he is the strongest candidate for the Georgia Republican Party in the 2010 general election for Governor.

"It is very humbling to see these numbers and I appreciate the vote of confidence from my fellow Georgians. It strengthens my resolve to campaign twice as hard and take absolutely nothing for granted. I look forward to talking to Georgians about The Contract with Georgia in the days and weeks ahead," said John Oxendine.

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Oxendine Statement on Campaign Contributions‏

I appreciate all those who have expressed their support these past few days as our campaign has addressed an issue related to contributions made to our campaign.

As it appeared to us, these were not checks from an insurance company we regulate. Additionally, it appeared that these checks were from different entities, not controlled by the same person or people. Under those facts, as we understood them, accepting these contributions was perfectly legal.

Based on facts that have recently come to light, previously unknown to us, we have concerns whether our understanding of the facts were complete. Last week, before these facts fully came to light, we filed an advisory opinion request with the Georgia State Ethics Commission.

Out of an abundance of caution, I decided to return the funds pending advice from the State Ethics Commission.

Let me be transparent and direct with the taxpayers of Georgia. I have promised to transform Georgia government. Although my staff and legal counsel, Stefan Passantino of McKenna, Long and Aldridge, advise that we have done nothing illegal, based on the facts as we know them, I am concerned Georgia voters might see this as politics as usual. Therefore, last week, immediately after my initial awareness of this matter, I ordered the process be set in motion to return every single contribution in question and to seek advice as to our rights and obligations to the State Ethics Commission.

I have criticized this as a hit piece and the facts are thus: Mr. Passantino communicated via email with the AJC reporter last Friday that they were to speak today. It is unfortunate that the AJC elected to move forward with this piece before having spoken with Mr. Passantino to get our side of the story.

Had this occurred, the story would not have been an issue because the AJC would have had the opportunity to report that the money had already been returned and that we had previously initiated a request for guidance and clarification from the State Ethics Commission.

The critics have questioned my personal integrity. I respect each of you as voters. I realize that many Georgians support our campaign and some oppose it. However, I am determined that those who do oppose my campaign, do so based on honorable disagreements on the issues and not based on a question of my integrity as it relates to campaign contributions.

I will run a non-traditional campaign and be a different type of Governor. I hope that today I have taken steps to demonstrate my sincerity to Georgia. It is my desire to have a campaign that is a positive, issue-oriented campaign based on traditional Reagan conservative values.

When reporters cover issues such as campaign contributions as opposed to covering the important issues before Georgia of transportation, education, water, health care, jobs, agriculture, and the Fair Tax, nothing is done to improve the lives of working families in Georgia.

I am pleased this matter is behind us and welcome the opportunity to listen to Georgians about those issues important to them and to talk about my Contract with Georgia.

John Oxendine
Oxendine Working for Georgia

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Statement by The Honorable Tom Ridge on His Decision Not To Seek the Senate Seat in Pennsylvania

/PRNewswire / -- Tom Ridge, the first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and former Governor of Pennsylvania, issued the following statement today on his decision not to seek the Republican nomination for Senate in his home state of Pennsylvania.

"After careful consideration and many conversations with friends and family and the leadership of my party, I have decided not to seek the Republican nomination for Senate.

"I am enormously grateful for the confidence my party expressed in me, the encouragement and kindness of my fellow citizens in Pennsylvania and the valuable counsel I received from so many of my party colleagues. The 2010 race has significant implications for my party, and that required thoughtful reflection. All of the above made my decision a difficult and deeply personal conclusion to reach. However, this process also impressed upon me how fortunate I am to have so many friends who volunteered to support my journey if I chose to take it and continue to offer their support after I conveyed to them this morning how I believe I can best serve my commonwealth, my party and my country.

"Public service has long played a significant role in my life. That service does not end here. There are causes to which I remain intensely committed, including my work on behalf of the disability community, our nation's veterans, our national security and the GOP -- the party I enthusiastically joined more than four decades ago.

"To those who believe that the Republican Party is facing challenges, they are right. To those who believe the Democratic Party is without its own difficulties, they are wrong. No one party has a monopoly on all of the answers. The more important view, in my mind, is that we remember, whether Republican or Democrat, we are foremost Americans. And as Americans, we have always overcome challenges when we put partisanship aside and solutions first.

"And so my desire and intention is to help my party craft solutions that both sides of the aisle can embrace. My hope is to raise the level of civility in public debate and raise the bar on outcomes that serve our citizens fully, fairly and equally. My belief is that those in my home state can best be served by the principles of limited government, less taxes, competent governance and shared responsibility. So I stand ready and excited to help my party and my country prevail as we continue to work to preserve and protect our strong, storied and much beloved nation."

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Karen Handel's Weekly Update (Candidate for GA Gov.)

Handel Citizenship Bill Signed Into Law

At a ceremony with the Governor yesterday, Karen thanked Governor Perdue for signing a law she championed to require that Georgians provide proof of United States citizenship when registering to vote.“I am proud of this legislation and believe it is common sense to ensure that voters in our elections are actually citizens of the United States,” Karen said.The legislation requires those registering to vote after January 1, 2010 to submit proof of U.S. citizenship with their application.Georgia will be only the second state in the nation to require applicants to provide proof of citizenship when they register to vote.

Handel Project VoteSafe Program Signed Into Law

Karen announced last week the enactment of Project VoteSafe, a program to ensure that people (usually women) who are being protected in family violence centers do not have their addresses exposed to abusive partners simply because they want to exercise their right to vote. Governor Sonny Perdue signed the legislation into law Friday.Project VoteSafe, initiated by Karen's office and sponsored by Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-Rome), applies to citizens who have received a protective order issued by a court and to residents of family violence shelters. These individuals would be eligible to confidentially register to vote without their voter registration information becoming available as public information.

“Georgians should not have to endanger themselves because they wish to exercise their right to vote,” Karen said. “Keeping our citizens safe and protecting their rights are among the most basic responsibilities of government and I am pleased that both of these goals are accomplished by this legislation.”

Handel’s Voter Fraud Efforts Yielding Results

When first elected, Karen pledged to root out and eliminate voter fraud and punish those responsible for it. As part of honoring that pledge, an investigation by the Secretary of State’s office and other agencies led to the resignation of former Chattooga County Judge Carlton Vines on Friday. Vines was indicted September 5, 2008 on felony charges of illegal possession of absentee ballots, conspiracy to commit election fraud, and false swearing.

“Voter fraud is an assault on our Democracy and undermines the public’s trust in their government,” Karen said. “Carlton Vines’ resignation is a victory for Georgia’s election laws and Chattooga County voters.”

Handel: Continuation of Voting Rights Act “Political and Ridiculous”
Imposition on All Georgians

A challenge currently before the U.S. Supreme Court should lead to a decision on whether or not all changes to the election laws in several Southern states will continue to require the blessing of federal bureaucrats. The law – an antiquated vestige of the reconstruction era is, as Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel puts it, “pure politics in its worst form and a ridiculous solution in search of a problem that left the South decades ago.”

Her statement on the topic follows:

The continuation of the Voting Rights Act has nothing to do with ensuring fairness in elections. It is pure politics in its worst form and a ridiculous solution in search of a problem that left the South decades ago. If the goal of this antiquated act were to truly ensure fair elections, it would immediately be imposed upon the state of Minnesota where missing ballots were found in a car trunk last year. It is unconscionable that Georgia should be treated as a poorer and less capable cousin to Minnesota. It is, in a word, unfair.

While the creators of the VRA were noble in their intentions, the continuation of its control exists for the sole reason of Washington bureaucrats control over the people of Georgia and other states – especially those that tend to vote for Republican candidates. This is not about fairness or competency. Georgia has proven that time and again with its election fairness. Rather it is to gain a political advantage through what Democrats call the “administrative firewall” of elections.

The disparity between Georgia and Ohio illustrates this perfectly.

Because Ohio is not covered by the VRA, its Secretary of State was able to unilaterally move to same-day registration to vote when such a move promised to be politically advantageous for Democrats. Georgia would have had to await pre-clearance, as we currently are doing on our recently-passed law to require proof of citizenship to vote. We are being discriminated against by the federal government and for no just reason. We have prevailed in virtually every challenge to our election laws under the voting rights act. VRA’s continuation has served primarily as an embarrassment and secondarily as a way to delay the implementation of common-sense measures that have put Georgia on the cutting edge of election fairness, security and voting technology. We are the envy of the nation with our electronic voting machines, early voting and no-excuse absentee balloting.

We have the best, cleanest, fairest election system in the country. Record numbers of voters of all racial background cast ballots in the 2008 presidential primaries and in the general election. The percentage of our voting eligible population that is registered to vote stands at a record high, and racial minorities hold elected office at every level of government, in both the Democratic and Republican Parties. If fairness and common-sense prevail, the U.S. Supreme Court will strike down Section 5 of the VRA and remove partisan, big government control from elections in the state of Georgia.
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Shafer Decides to Stick with the Senate

Today I am fully suspending my campaign for Lieutenant Governor with the intention of seeking re-election to the State Senate.

I will always be grateful to those who have so generously supported my candidacy. I am especially proud of the endorsements from my colleagues in the Georgia General Assembly and our strong showing in the various Republican straw polls.

I was relieved to learn that the Lieutenant Governor’s surgery went well and that his doctors are optimistic about his ability to actively campaign for re-election. He has been a friend for many years, and I wish him a speedy return to full health.

I would not have entered the race had it not been an open seat, and there is no point in remaining in it as long as the Lieutenant Governor is well enough to be a candidate for re-election.

Public service is, by definition, about serving others, not the positions or titles that we want for ourselves.

Dr. Bill Sheals and Matt Reeves have agreed to serve as honorary co-chairs of my re-election campaign.

Here's David's website: http://www.votedavid.com/

Video: PTC Mayor Harold Logdson Announcing Candidacy for Georgia Insurance Commissioner

5/3/09 Mayor Harold Logsdon, Peachtree City, announced his candidacy for State Insurance Commissioner at the Fayette County Republican First Saturday Breakfast yesterday. The Breakfast is held each month at IHOP in Fayetteville. City Councilman Don Haddix had previously announced he would be running for Peachtree City Mayor. Shelby Barker is running for the seat being vacated by Haddix. To find out more about state races visit Georgia Front Page. We will be following local races on the Fayette Front Page. Senator Eric Johnson, a candidate for Governor, and State GOP Chair Sue Everhart also spoke at the breakfast. We will be posting videos of both talks on the Georgia Front Page.

Nathan Deal Makes it Official: He's Running for GA Governor

U. S. Representative Nathan Deal (R) announced this morning in Gainesville (Hall County) that he would be running for Georgia Governor.

Deal is a former Democrat and state senator. He is one of the most senior Republicans in Georgia's congressional delegation. Deal was elected to Congress in 1992.

Five other Republicans have already officially entered the race: State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, GA Secretary of State Karen Handel, State Senator Eric Johnson, State Representative Austin Scott and Ray McBerry.

PTC Mayor to Announce for GA State Insurance Commissioner

Rumor has it that Mayor Harold Logsdon, one term Peachtree City Georgia Mayor, is going to announce he'll run for State Insurance Commissioner at tomorrow's Fayette County Republican Breakfast. We'll be there to see if the rumor is true...

Current State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine is running for Governor. Senator Seth Harp (Columbus / Muskogee County area) announced a few weeks ago that he would be seeking the Republican nomination for the seat.

The Fayette County Republican Breakfast is held at the International House of Pancakes in Fayetteville. 9 a.m.

Peachtree City Council member Don Haddix is running for Peachtree City Mayor.