Collins Makes His Case in Congressional Bid
June 23 | Posted by editor | News, Politics, Towns Tags: Mountain Movers and Shakers
Hiawassee, GA - Congressional Candidate Doug Collins was the featured speaker at this week’s breakfast meeting of the Mountain Movers and Shakers, held at Mary’s Southern Grill.
Collins, who grew up in Habersham County, has served as the State Representative for District 27, representing Habersham and a portion of White Counties. He is running for the open seat in the “New 9th” Congressional District, which encompasses all or parts of twenty Counties in northeast Georgia, including Towns, Union, Rabun, White, and Habersham.
Calling himself “a leader, not a talker”, Collins recounted his 6 years in the Georgia Statehouse, including times when he stood up to the then House Speaker, and had all his Chairmanships and floor positions taken away, stating “He (the House Speaker) would have put my seat outside Atlanta if he could”. He spoke about the balanced budget requirements Georgia has, and talked proudly of the “zero based budget requirement”, signed into law this year. Every department in the State Government must be audited and justify their expenditures. “Imagine if we could do that in Washington”. Collins says he plans to try.
Doug Collins is also a Major in the US Air Force Reserve, serving a tour in Iraq in 2008 as a Chaplain. He has been an ordained minister since 1994.
Stating that his life has been filled with “twist and turns, wherever He has led me”, Collins is also an attorney, with an active practice in Gainesville. “I know what it means to make payroll”, Collins said, “The bank wouldn’t let me operate very long on a deficit”.
Collins, along with Candidates Roger Fitzpatrick and Martha Zoller, will be featured in a Candidates Debate, part of the 4th Annual TCGOP Bar-B-Q, being held July 7 at the famous Georgia Mountain Fair Grounds. The Bar-B-Q starts at 11AM, with the Debate scheduled for 1PM. Open to the public, this event features a Bar-B-Q Platter, with all the fixings. Advance tickets are $9, $10 day of event. Hot Dogs, Burgers and other food items will also be available. For more info please call (706) 994-3919.
The Mountain Movers and Shakers, a nonpartisan group of men and women interested in improving the community, meets every Friday at 8AM at Mary’s Southern Grill for conversation, information, and breakfast. Everyone is invited to share this time together, learn more about our community and its issues.
Also attending were Sheriff Chris Clinton, Candidates Steve Gerdes, running for sole Commissioner, and Bill Kuykendall, Candidate for Tax Commissioner of Towns County.
The ongoing “Welcome to Towns County” sign project is entering its final stages. The lattice work sign is being painted now, and the placards of all the participating organizations are being fabricated. A final decision was made to have a white frame with blue signage. More information and a completion date to follow soon.
Next week, June 29, Towns County Sole Commissioner Bill Kendall is the scheduled speaker. He will speak about the T-SPLOST and other issues of importance in Towns County. He will also be speaking about the duties and responsibilities of the County Sole Commissioner.
For more information, please call (706) 994-4658.
