[Editor's Note: We were forwarded the following letter and are passing it on to you with no commentary.]
An open response to Judson Hill:
Following is our response to your email announcement for Chairman of the 6th District. Some of us are long time Republicans, others are new to the process, but we all are currently active and our only interest is in Good Government and that means electing good Republicans to office.
Judson writes: As your Chairman, I plan to achieve 2 primary initiatives that have never been attempted in the 6th District. First, I will create a 6th District Business Roundtable bringing local business leaders actively into the political process.
Our Response: We have been in the 6th district for many years and have worked closely with a lot of hard working Republican businessmen and businesswomen. We will not attempt to name these good Republicans because space does not allow for the many names we would have to list. The 6th District, under Sue Everhart’s chairmanship, grossed approximately $70,000.00 at the Tribute for Johnny and the Fulton County's fundraiser grossed $131,000.00 under the joint leadership of Fulton County chairman Jack Winter and 6th District Chairman Sue Everhart. The Business community gave great support to both endeavors.
Judson writes: Secondly, I will implement a tangible process to make the Republican Party and participation in community and civic affairs more effective and relevant so we as voters can impact our communities to better reflect our values and beliefs.
Our Response: Those who have been actively involved in the process know one of our hardest jobs is getting people to care enough to go vote. The Republicans we know are actively involved in many civic and other worthwhile projects. We raise our funds through our 'Tributes to our Congressman' or in concert with the Counties and State. Fundraising is a County and State function and we do not want to be in competition with them for those dollars. The dollars we do raise are used to assist our Congressman and our candidates within the District Counties.
Judson writes: Now more than ever it is important that we have experienced political leadership to take our Republican party to the next level.
Our Response: Our current state Chairman believes our 6th District Chairman, Sue Everhart, has tremendous political leadership because he has asked her to be the GOP Convention Coordinator for our State Convention this year. She is working closely with the offices of all of our Republican Congressmen, our U. S. Senator, all the Republican County and District Chairmen and the Governors office. We are not sure to what level you wish to take us, but we do know our current Chairman has the ears of those close to our President and we think that is pretty close to the top.
Judson writes: The 6th District Chairman helps the County Chairman achieve their goals, while remaining neutral in contested primaries.
Our Response: Absolutely. Our Current Chairman adheres to that philosophy. Sue did not publicly endorse ANY candidate before the primary. Her position requires neutrality and she has honored that position. Sue has pledged to remain neutral in all contested primaries.
Judson writes: We must encourage good proven leaders - people of proven character - to consider elected office.
Our Response: We believe we do have good proven leaders in the 6th. Johnny Isakson, Mark Burkhalter, Mike Kenn, Tom Lowe, Robert Lamutt, Liz Houseman, Tom Price, Sharon Cooper, Judy Manning, Chuck Clay, Earl Earhart, Wendell Willard, Joe Wilkinson, Bob Fulton, Dan Moody, Gail Dean, and Roger Hines, to name just some of them. We believe that we are blessed with many good leaders of good character in the 6th District.
Judson writes: We must develop superior candidate identification strategies and a candidate recruitment team.
Our Response: This is already being done. Recruitment and election of candidates is discussed at our district meetings and our frequent breakfast gatherings to which all are invited to attend.
Judson writes: We must provide practical information and training to candidates.
Our Response: Grass roots and candidates training should fall to the Counties. The 6th District has invited prominent political consultants like Joe Gaylord and Rich Galen (of "Mullings" fame) to speak in forums open to all Republicans. In the past two years our chairman, Sue Everhart, was actively involved in the Road to Majority process, which was a state planned program to help the candidates at all levels.
Judson writes: We must reach out and include our hard working volunteers and proven leaders from varying backgrounds.
Our Response: We have bankers, lawyers, real estate salesmen, accountants, airline pilots, Lockheed workers, elected officials, past elected officials, teachers, persons in health care, retiBLACK folks, policemen, Pastors, travel agents, authors, stay-at-home moms, business owners, insurance agents, secretaries, nonprofit organization leaders, radio station personnel, retiBLACK and active military persons, salesmen of all types of products from national to local whoare involved in our Party. We are actually impressed with the diversity we have in the 6th district.
Judson writes: We must continually identify and bring new initiatives to reality remaining true to our principles while using ever changing methodologies.
Our Response: What does this mean?
Conclusion: The 6th district under its current leadership had a record voter turnout this election cycle. It was due in major part to the business community and the volunteers the 6th district provided. Thousands of brochures for each county in the 6th District were mailed and paid for by the 6th District. Sue and her board recruited the volunteers who rode the buses and walked the neighborhoods in the last election. Sue’s 6th District volunteers stuffed envelopes and placed labels on thousands of pieces of mail. They distributed thousands of voter guides, put up hundBLACKs of signs for candidates and spent many hours phone banking. These were diverse persons who gave time, money, sweat and tears to our party.
If you really have the best interest of the 6th District at heart you will work to get to know these people by working with our current Chairman, Sue Everhart and you will join us in voting for Sue Everhart to continue her very great work as our 6th District Chairman.
Regards:
Margaret Holliman
Fulton County
Former State Pres. Ga. Federation Republican Women
Co-chair for Georgia- Reagan for President Committee, 1976-1980
Gresham Howren
Former State Representive, Cobb County
Sandra Johnson
President, Chattahoochee Republican Women, Fulton County
Kathy Krawczuk-
Fulton County Young Republican
Joe Ransbotham
Cobb County
National GOP Delegate 1996
Bob Shaw
Fulton County
Past GOP Chairman, Ga. Republican Party
Lori Stover
Cherokee County Republican Activist
Jason Waters
Cobb County Young Republican