Rep. Doug Collins

DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Doug Collins’ departure from the U.S. Congress sparked a rush of candidates to toss their hats into the ring – 11 in all — nine Republicans and two Democrats.

Four are current or former office holders – Rep. Kevin Tanner (R-Dawsonville), Rep. John Wilkinson (R-Toccoa), State Rep. Matt Gurtler (R-Tiger) and former Congressman Paul Broun. Three of the candidates are combat veterans, one is a retired police officer and one is a preacher.

Fetch Your News visited each candidate’s website last week to take a preliminary look at their platforms. Here is how they presented their case for election.

REPUBLICANS

State Representative Kevin Tanner (R-Dawsonville)

Tanner has a 30-year history of public service as a fireman, law enforcement officer, county manager and state representative where he has served the last eight years. The Dawson County Republican has been a strong supporter of religious freedom, mental health reform and he has helped to pass important education and public safety reforms. In the House, he supported the Heartbeat Bill that Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law this year. He is also a small business owner and farmer.

State Senator John Wilkinson (R-Toccoa)

Wilkinson has served eight years in the Georgia Senate. He is chairman of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. Prior to serving in the Senate, he was a program manager at the Georgia Department of Education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and master’s degree in Education at the University of Georgia. During his eight years in the Senate, Wilkinson has fought to eliminate useless red tape and regulation of business, defended the sanctity of life and fought for Second Amendment rights.

 State Representative Matt Gurtler (R-Tiger)

 Gurtler describes himself as a pro-life, pro-guns conservative who will stop government interference in the free market and in marriage and fight for parental rights and local control of schools. “Parents should have the freedom to choose the best educational method for their children whether they choose public, private, charter or home schooling,” he said. “The Department of Education, No Child Left Behind, and Common Core have been detrimental to our students.”

Dr. Paul Broun

Broun has been a family physician for 40 years. He is no stranger to the U.S Congress. He won a special election in 2007 and was re-elected in 2008, 2010 and 2012. He joined the U.S. Marines at the age of 18 and was promoted to Commander, Navy Reserves and served in Afghanistan before being honorably discharged in 2014. A conservative Republican, Broun has cautioned that the federal government faces economic collapse if it doesn’t stop the out-of-control spending.

Ethan Underwood

This is Underwood’s first run for political office. He is an attorney from Cumming who has served as chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party and Vice Chairman of the 9^th District Republican Party. As a property rights attorney, Underwood said has fought government throughout his career and will be ready from Day 1 to fight to ensure that Americans Constitutional rights are protected and they have access to quality, privately-funded healthcare options.

Michael Boggus

Boggus is a blue-collar worker who will bring a populist message to the campaign that will focus on “family, ambition and patriotism.” A testimony to the American work ethic, he attended trade school and supports his family on a crane operator’s income. He said he will focus on policies to reduce taxation for the middle class, combat big pharma’s control over the American economy, stimulate economic development through the encouragement of entrepreneurship, defend Second Amendment rights, and preserve the people’s autonomy through the tenth amendment.

Maria Strickland

Strickland is a retired police officer with 26 years’ experience in law enforcement and one of only women in the race. This will be her first attempt to win an election. While some say inexperience is her weakness, the Fannin County Republican said it is an asset. “We must stop sending career, establishment politicians to Washington,” she said. “We’ve been doing that and we’re not making any difference. Nothing is changing.” She describes herself as a pro-Trump conservative Republican who is pro-gun, pro-life and pro-American.

Kellie Weeks

 A Gainesville gun store owner, Weeks’ said her top priority is to protect Second Amendment rights because the right to protect ourselves from a tyrannical government is what protects the rest of our God-given rights. “On day one, I will introduce legislation for term limits. two terms for the Senate, four terms for the House.” she said. Another priority will be to improve the nation’s mental health system. “I want to rebuild our Mental Health Infrastructure to provide more resources for the mentally ill and those in crisis.”

Andrew Clyde

A three-tour Navy combat veteran and owner of Clyde Armory in Athens, he is running on a platform of limiting government and expanding individual freedoms. In 2013, the IRS seized nearly $1 million from his business through an unconstitutional process called civil asset forfeiture. He fought the IRS and won and the experience motivated him to run for Congress. “The experience showed me there is a very thin line between the people running our government and our government running us,” he said.

DEMOCRATS

Devin Pandy is a career Army combat veteran and Wounded Warrior who served in Panama, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. He is a member of the No Democrat Left Behind coalition dedicated to flipping Georgia from a red state to blue. He says he will focus on the economy, tax reform, living wages and voter rights. He believes President Trump’s economic policies are a disaster, the Trump tax cut only benefits the wealthiest one percent and the border wall won’t work. He will fight for a pathway to citizenship for DACA/Dreamers.

Rev. Dan Wilson

Wilson said his campaign will focus on a strong economy, diplomacy and cyber security. He will push for a regional minimum wage, apprenticeships that lead to careers and 21st century jobs with a secure retirement. Wilson says America needs a comprehensive enforcement strategy against global cyber attacks. He calls agriculture the “beating heart” of Georgia’s economy and he believes farmers and families will benefit from “farm to school” programs, streamlined guest worker visas and reopening supply chains that have been broken.

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