Andrew Clyde, Will Wade win runoff elections
Election 2020, News August 11, 2020
Andrew Clyde
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga — Andrew Clyde, a pro-life, pro-gun, pro Trump conservative making his first run for elected office, outpolled two-term State Representative Matt Gurtler to win the Republican nomination for 9th District U.S. Congress tonight (Aug. 11).
With 95 percent of precincts reporting Clyde received 48,581 votes to Gurtler’s 37,741 in what many insiders consider an upset. The race turned ugly during the last days of the campaign. In social media and campaign flyers, Gurtler has accused Clyde, a 28-year Navy veteran, of being a thief, a Never Trumper, and someone who donated money to Democrats.
Will Wade
Clyde will meet Democrat Devin Pandy in the Nov. 3 general election to determine who will replace Doug Collins, who vacated the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. Pandy easily defeated Brooke Siskin, who could not overcome the bad publicity she received when she was jailed on a contempt of court charge in July. Pandy received 7,661 votes to Siskin’s 3,543.
In the race for Georgia House District 9, Dawson County native and four time Board of Education member Will Wade defeated attorney Steven Leibel. Wade received 4,959 votes to Leibel’s 2,472.
All precincts will be open for primary runoff races Tuesday
News August 9, 2020
Andrew Clyde
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — All precincts will be open Tuesday (Aug. 11) from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. when Dawson County voters cast their ballots in two key General Primary Runoff races — 9th District U.S. Congress and 9th District State House of Representatives.
The west precinct is located at Fire Station 6, 2142 Hubbard Road. Central precinct is in the Board of Elections & Registration Office, 96 Academy Avenue. The east precinct is in EMS station #2, 145 Liberty Drive (On Highway 53, East of 400 N just past tractor supply).
The runoff for the Republican nomination for U.S. Congress turned ugly during the last days of the campaign. In social media and campaign flyers, State Rep. Matt Gurtler has accused his opponent, Andrew Clyde a 28-year Navy combat veteran, of being a thief, a Never Trumper, and someone who donated money to Democrats.
Republican Congressman Jody Hice, a member of the Freedom Caucus — the most conservative group in Washington — called those allegations “outright lies.” Former U.S. Congressman Paul Broun, who said he is friends with both men endorsed Clyde. “What pushed me over the top were the lies and negative campaign of (Clyde’s) opponent,” Broun said.
Rep. Matt Gurtler
Opensecrets.org reports that during the last reporting period which ended June 22, Clyde had raised $775,739 in campaign funds, spent $733,041 and has a balance on hand of $42,698. Gurtler raised $655,017, spent $571,171. His cash on hand is $83,845.
Dawson County Democrats will vote for either Devin Pandy or Brooke Siskin. Pandy is a 21-year Army combat veteran. Siskin was charged with contempt of court and served a 4-day jail sentence in Gwinnett County Jail this summer after she refused a court-order to surrender a .380 handgun.
The Republican runoff for State House District 9 between Will Wade, a banker and longtime member of the Dawson County Board of Education, and Steven Leibel, an attorney who is the personal attorney for Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard, was conducted in a more respectful manner.
The rhetoric did become a little heated when Leibel accused Wade of raising taxes, accepting PAC funds and not supporting the senior tax exemption. Wade called that a “inaccuracy” and added, “I am not for changing the senior exemption in this district period.”
There is no Democrat entered in the State House race.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Will Wade Announces Plan To Cut Taxes on Vets, Increase Access to Jobs
Featured Stories August 4, 2020
Wade’s plan will eliminate retirement taxes and recognize military training credentials for EMTs, paramedics, other medical professions
For Immediate Release
August 4, 2020
Contact Email: [email protected]
Contact Phone: 678.776.5395
(Dawsonville, GA) Will Wade, Republican candidate for State House, announced a plan today to
completely eliminate retirement taxes on veterans and allow military training credentials to be
applied to some essential medical professions.
Currently, 30 states have no taxes on military retirement benefits. Georgia is one of 13 states
with special provisions or other considerations for taxes on retirement pay. Wade’s plan would
completely eliminate these special provisions, giving Georgia veterans a clearer financial future.
“It’s time for Georgia to step up to the plate and get this done. The impact on our state budget
will be minimal. In the long run I believe this would help attract more veterans to our state be an
economic driver for our economy. We are lucky to have so many active duty military members
here already, let’s make sure they want to stay once their service has concluded,” Wade stated.
Wade’s second proposal comes as a response to nationwide shortages of doctors, nurses, and first
responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, members of the military who have
received special training as combat medics, paramedics, and other medical professionals are
required to be retrained in order to work in those same professions in Georgia. Wade’s plan
would make sure that training is applied appropriately once their military service has concluded.
Wade said, “If you can perform as a combat medic under fire, there’s no reason you can’t
perform as a paramedic or EMT in Dawsonville or Dahlonega. Let’s make it as easy as possible
for our military members to transition from their military career to a successful career as a
civilian. This is just common sense.”
Wade is currently running to replace Rep. Kevin Tanner for State House District 9 in a runoff
election against local trial lawyer Steve Leibel. The primary election will be held August 11th.
Will Wade is the leading fundraiser in race for District 9 State House
News May 10, 2020
ATLANTA – Campaign contribution reports filed with the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office reveal former Dawson County School Board member Will Wade is the leading fundraiser in the race for District 9 State Representative.
Entering the final week before advanced voting begins Wade, a banker by profession, clearly demonstrated he understands the art of fundraising. Enthusiastic supporters have poured $71,008 into his campaign. His expenditures total $36,351, leaving him a balance of $34,656.
Attorney Steven Leibel was in second place with total campaign contributions of $50,015. Leibel has spent $32,370.90, giving him a balance of $17,644.
Former Lumpkin County Commissioner Doug Sherrill, reported receiving $44,475, with $23,250 coming in the form of personal loans he made to his campaign. He reported $18,656.65 in expenditures.
Steven Leibel
No one else was even close in the race for dollars. Attorney Zack Tumlin, in his first campaign for political office, collected $14,476 and spent $16,009.
Clint Smith, a longtime Republican activist who served eight years in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1995 until 2003 raised only $10,150 and $8,000 came in the form of a loan he made to his campaign. He has spent, $7,294 for a balance on hand of $2,856.
Tyler Tolin, a former U.S. Marine, Army Airborne Ranger and special ops team member who served in combat zones in Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa and the Mediterranean, reported $740 in donations.
The only Democratic primary candidate is Sharon Ravert, who has raised $4,755 and spent $1,459.96.
The candidates are running for the seat being vacated by Kevin Tanner who, after eight years in the State House, announced he would run for U.S. Congress.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
The race for 9th District State Rep. has attracted six candidates
News March 19, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – One of the most important elections that will take place May 19 is the race for 9th District State Representative. The Ninth District includes all of Lumpkin County, the majority of Dawson County and a portion of Forsyth County. Meet the candidates:
STEVE LEIBEL
Steve Leibel
Steve is a successful attorney, small business owner, entrepreneur and conservative Republican who is extremely plugged into the 9th District. He was a Trump delegate at the 2016 Georgia State Convention and he has served on the boards of Foothills Community Bank, Legacy Link and the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia. He is also the personal attorney for Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. He has been a federal trial lawyer, municipal court judge and a peace officer. He was instrumental in helping to shut down the troubled Chestatee Hospital which is now being replaced by a new North Georgia Health System at the intersection of Ga. 400 and Hwy. 60. He is endorsed by former Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle and former Dawsonville Mayor James Grogan.
DOUG SHERILL
Doug Sherrill
Doug is a pastor, an educator, lecturer, small business owner, surveyor and former member of the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners who said he will bring his conservative values to the Gold Dome. He is pro-life and pro-Second Amendment Republican who will work to lower taxes and ensure economic stability. As an educator, Doug says it is important to keep government bureaucracy out of the classroom and protect local control of schools. As a small business owner, he understands the importance of removing barriers to growth so job opportunities will exist for generations to come. “As a proud Republican, I will represent our shared conservative values and serve as a true voice of the people to deliver the results we deserve,” Sherrill said.
CLINT SMITH
Clint Smith
A former chairman of the Dawson County Republican Party, Clint served in the Georgia House of Representatives for eight years. He was consistently endorsed by Georgia Right to Life and the National Rifle Association. He also received 100 percent scores from the Christian Coalition and the National Federation of Independent Business. Support for job growth, small business, local control of education and agriculture will be among his top priorities if elected. He said he also supports current legislation to create a safer environment for citizens who live in assisted living, personal care, and nursing homes by substantially toughening state oversight. Clint is a veteran after 32 years in the Air National Guard. He attends First Redeemer Church in Cumming and has pledge never to allow the leftists, politically correct agenda to impede upon our conservative north Georgia values.
TYLER TOLIN
Tyler Tolin
Tyler is an American patriot. A former U.S. Marine, Army Airborne Ranger and special ops team member who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa and the Mediterranean. All together he spent 52 months in combat zones during his military career. “It’s fair to say I am a warfighter,” Tolin said. Our Founding Fathers created the Constitution to limit the power of government and give the power to the people. But politicians have used and abused the system. They have done nothing but enrich themselves, set rules for us to live by, but refused to live by them themselves. I pledge to you today that if you will elect me you will have a fighter in the General Assembly. I am not a go-along-to-get-along kind of guy. I will fight for you just as hard as I fought for this great nation. I will defend the Second Amendment, work to cut taxes, support pro-life issues and bring God back to the forefront of American life.”
ZACK TUMLIN
Zack Tumlin
Zack’s campaign message is “Defending the Conservative Way of Life.” An attorney, he is heavily vested public service to the community. He serves as Governmental Affairs Chairman for the Dahlonega Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Medical Center Foundation Board for Northeast Georgia Health Systems and board director for the South Enotah Child Advocacy Center. He cut his teeth on conservative causes, starting in college as Vice President of College Republicans and continuing during an internship in Washington D.C for former Georgia Congressman Nathan Deal. He is a graduate of the Zell Miller Foundation for better public policy. He has published and extensive list of policy positions on his website at tumlinforgeorgia.com. He said one of his top priorities will be to route fines and fees collected in traffic court to local treasuries to supplement law enforcement and first responder pay.
WILL WADE
Will Wade
Will is a community banker who has served on the Dawson County Board of Education for 15 years and currently serves as Chairman. He is a native of Dawson County, a graduate of Dawson County High School and the University of North Georgia who earned his master’s degree while working as a bank teller. Will led Dawson County to become one of the first system-wide charter school systems in Georgia, expanding school choice because he knows parents and students know better than the government what is best for them. Will said he knows what it takes for people to succeed and that has led him to enter the race for state representative. If elected, he said he will dismantle Common Core, expand technical training, keep education local defend religious liberties, the right to life and the Second Amendment.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
6 Candidates campaign for State House Dist. 9
News March 15, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – One of the most important elections that will take place May 19 is the race for 9th District State Representative. The Ninth District includes all of Lumpkin County, the majority of Dawson County and a portion of Forsyth County. Meet the candidates:
STEVE LEIBEL
Steve Leibel
Steve is a successful attorney, small business owner, entrepreneur and conservative Republican who is extremely plugged into the 9th District. He was a Trump delegate at the 2016 Georgia State Convention and he has served on the boards of Foothills Community Bank, Legacy Link and the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia. He is also the personal attorney for Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. He has been a federal trial lawyer, municipal court judge and a peace officer. He was instrumental in helping to shut down the troubled Chestatee Hospital which is now being replaced by a new North Georgia Health System at the intersection of Ga. 400 and Hwy. 60. He is endorsed by former Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle and former Dawsonville Mayor James Grogan.
DOUG SHERILL
Doug Sherrill
Doug is a pastor, an educator, lecturer, small business owner, surveyor and former member of the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners who said he will bring his conservative values to the Gold Dome. He is pro-life and pro-Second Amendment Republican who will work to lower taxes and ensure economic stability. As an educator, Doug says it is important to keep government bureaucracy out of the classroom and protect local control of schools. As a small business owner, he understands the importance of removing barriers to growth so job opportunities will exist for generations to come. “As a proud Republican, I will represent our shared conservative values and serve as a true voice of the people to deliver the results we deserve,” Sherrill said.
CLINT SMITH
Clint Smith
A former chairman of the Dawson County Republican Party, Clint served in the Georgia House of Representatives for eight years. He was consistently endorsed by Georgia Right to Life and the National Rifle Association. He also received 100 percent scores from the Christian Coalition and the National Federation of Independent Business. Support for job growth, small business, local control of education and agriculture will be among his top priorities if elected. He said he also supports current legislation to create a safer environment for citizens who live in assisted living, personal care, and nursing homes by substantially toughening state oversight. Clint is a veteran after 32 years in the Air National Guard. He attends First Redeemer Church in Cumming and has pledge never to allow the leftists, politically correct agenda to impede upon our conservative north Georgia values.
TYLER TOLIN
Tyler Tolin
Tyler is an American patriot. A former U.S. Marine, Army Airborne Ranger and special ops team member who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa and the Mediterranean. All together he spent 52 months in combat zones during his military career. “It’s fair to say I am a warfighter,” Tolin said. Our Founding Fathers created the Constitution to limit the power of government and give the power to the people. But politicians have used and abused the system. They have done nothing but enrich themselves, set rules for us to live by, but refused to live by them themselves. I pledge to you today that if you will elect me you will have a fighter in the General Assembly. I am not a go-along-to-get-along kind of guy. I will fight for you just as hard as I fought for this great nation. I will defend the Second Amendment, work to cut taxes, support pro-life issues and bring God back to the forefront of American life.”
ZACK TUMLIN
Zack Tumlin
Zack’s campaign message is “Defending the Conservative Way of Life.” An attorney, he is heavily vested public service to the community. He serves as Governmental Affairs Chairman for the Dahlonega Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Medical Center Foundation Board for Northeast Georgia Health Systems and board director for the South Enotah Child Advocacy Center. He cut his teeth on conservative causes, starting in college as Vice President of College Republicans and continuing during an internship in Washington D.C for former Georgia Congressman Nathan Deal. He is a graduate of the Zell Miller Foundation for better public policy. He has published and extensive list of policy positions on his website at tumlinforgeorgia.com. He said one of his top priorities will be to route fines and fees collected in traffic court to local treasuries to supplement law enforcement and first responder pay.
WILL WADE
Will Wade
Will is a community banker who has served on the Dawson County Board of Education for 15 years and currently serves as Chairman. He is a native of Dawson County, a graduate of Dawson County High School and the University of North Georgia who earned his master’s degree while working as a bank teller. Will led Dawson County to become one of the first system-wide charter school systems in Georgia, expanding school choice because he knows parents and students know better than the government what is best for them. Will said he knows what it takes for people to succeed and that has led him to enter the race for state representative. If elected, he said he will dismantle Common Core, expand technical training, keep education local defend religious liberties, the right to life and the Second Amendment.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com