Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson told the crowd at the Fannin County Republican Party Valentine’s Dinner, “A mission is an assignment.” He then said the same is true of a public servant’s responsibility to the people who elected him.
Thompson told of the transformation at state Department of Labor (DOL) within the last year and outlined plans for the future. Among those are his request to the state legislature to fund the DOL with 20% of its collections, promising he will never ask for anything else for them. “Integrity works every time,” he said.
Frank Wood said goodbye, referring to his resignation from the local party chairmanship, and revealed his next step.
Wood said being chairman of the Fannin County Republican Party allowed him to “become more involved in my community than I’ve ever been,” which is what he truly enjoyed most in the role.
Wood was required by law to step down when he became Acting District Attorney for the Appalachian Judicial Circuit when B. Alison Sosebee was appointed as a Superior Court Judge.
A veteran of the district attorney’s office, Wood announced he is a candidate for District Attorney, promising to operate the office with “honor and integrity.”
Fannin County Sheriff Dane Kirby, who has announced his re-election bid, praised the men and women of the sheriff’s office for their hard work and dedication, “Because I don’t think that gets done enough,” he said.
Now in his 15th year as the county’s top law enforcement officer, Kirby said, “I am just as determined today as the day I started.
Fannin County Post 2 Commissioner Glenn Patterson urged the group to continue conservative thinking and strive to work together. “Together, that’s how we get it done,” he said.
Terry Bramlett, representing the school board, went over the successes of the school system, including one of the highest graduation rates in Georgia and the lowest education property tax millage, 7.2 mils, among all of Georgia’s 159 counties. “We’ve laid a great foundation for continued success,” he said.
Coroner Becky Callihan encouraged everyone to learn all the responsibilities placed on her office.
Probate Judge Scott Kiker lauded the local judiciary system as “impeccable.”
Chief Magistrate Judge Brian Jones told the gathering, “I love what I do. The people have been a blessing to me.”
Seventh District State Representative Johnny Chastain praised the work of Thompson as the labor department returns millions of dollars to the state each year. He also applauded the department’s attention to making sure it serves the people of Georgia.
Chastain told of the Convention of States he attended in Virginia. Representatives gathered there, and although the event was not official, developed laws requiring both a balanced budget and term limits at the federal level.
He said 54% of this year’s $34 billion state budget will go to education, and taxpayers will see a reduction to a 5.39%base rate for state income taxes.
Chastain warned of the dangers of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and talked of Georgia’s fight to stop such a move by the federal government from coming into the state. “CBDC is the scariest thing I’ve seen,” he said, explaining the Federal Reserve would control everything.