Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston spoke to the importance of his fellow republican’s votes in the upcoming elections during the Fannin County Republican Party’s annual Valentine’s Banquet Saturday, February 29.
“For over 140 years, the Democratic Party controlled this state,” Ralston said. “In none of those years, was Georgia named the number one state in nation in which to do business. Not one time was public education fully funded. Not one time did the other party put in place a solid plan to modernize Georgia’s infrastructure, including it’s transportation, transit and port assists. Not one time did they roll up their sleeves and get to doing the dirty work of revitalizing and building up rural Georgia. And not one time was a strong pro-life bill like last year’s heartbeat bill passed by the general assembly.”
He explained that he believes it is in the state’s best interest to re-elect President Donald Trump, re-elect Senator David Perdue and keep the Georgia House in republican control.
“We are on a mission in which failure is not an option,” he said.
Democrat spending will have a large impact on upcoming elections, according to Ralston.
“We face challenges this year,” he said. “Our margin in the State House leaves very little room for error. Out-of-state money will come pouring into this state. They already are. … They’re coming in here in support of the radical democratic socialist agenda. This is a party, them, that is unified and it is energized, and it will have more money than we can imagine.”
Ralston expressed his appreciation for Fannin County’s republican voters and representatives, stating, “Thank you for your support, your friendship and all the hard work that you invest on behalf of our party. I know I don’t say it often enough, but we are mighty thankful, every day, those of us who serve, of what you do and the labors that you put into this party. Those who have labored in the vineyard and gone on before you, we stand on the shoulders of all of you, and we will never forget that.”
He stated that he plans to be the first person in line to qualify for the election and pledged to continue fighting for a “constitution system of separate, but equal branches of state government.”
Banquet attendees also heard from other speakers including Honorary Co-Chair for Trump 2020 Rey Martinez, Perdue for Senate Campaign Manager Ben Fry, 9th Congressional District representative and U.S. Senate candidate Doug Collins’ wife, Lisa Collins, Georgia Public Service Commissioner Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, Fannin County Clerk of Court Dana Chastain and Georgia State Senator Steve Gooch.
Gooch, who is running for re-election, echoed Ralston’s call to action, stating, “We cannot rest on our laurels. Every republican in this district has to get everybody you know out to vote. Whether that’s your family, co-workers, people at church, it doesn’t matter.”
Multiple candidates to fill Doug Collins’ seat in the 9th Congressional District also spoke including Georgia House Representative Kevin Tanner, Maria Strickland, Ethan Underwood and Georgia State Senator John Wilkinson.