Last Saturday evening myself, my mother, Second Vice Chair Tammy Cotton and party members Gary and Linda Carroll and John, Maria and Gillian Caudill attended the Candidate Countdown at Cateechee in Hartwell.  The event was a joint effort of the Republican Parties of Banks, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Jackson, Oconee, Oglethorpe and Stephens counties.  Around 250 people attended including most statewide candidates and staff. A great meal of Hawaiian chicken, rice, green beans, rolls and salad was served.

Hart County GOP Chair Janet Massey and her committee are to be commended on a job well done!

A straw poll was taken for fun and should not be construed as anything but a sampling of those present.

Below are the results from the Hart County Republican Party's website, www.hartcountygop.org.

(Contested races only) 

Number of votes followed by percentage

Governor 
Ray Boyd 0 
Jeff Chapman 12- 6.8% 
Nathan Deal 47- 26.6% 
Karen Handel 23- 13% 
Eric Johnson 37- 20.9% 
Ray McBerry 22- 12.4% 
John Oxendine 9- 5% 
Otis Putnam 0 
Austin Scott 26- 14.7% 
Other 1 -0.6% 

Lt. Governor 
Aleq Boyle 22-16% 
Casey Cagle 95-69% 
Other 21-15% 

U.S. Rep. District 10 
Paul C. Broun, M.D. 133-89% 
Cason Sisk 10-7% 
Other 6-4% 

Commissioner of Agriculture 
Gary Black 101-58% 
Darwin Carter 72-41% 
Other 1-1% 

Secretary of State 
Brian Kemp 61-35% 
Doug MacGinnitie 110-64% 
Other 2-1% 

Attorney General 
Sam Olens 79-46% 
Max Wood 92-53% 
Other 2-1% 

Insurance Commissioner 
Seth Harp 4-2% 
Ralph Hudgens 26-16% 
Tom Knox 3-2% 
Harold Logsdon 1-1% 
John Michael Mamalakis 1-1% 
Stephen Northington 5-3% 
Gerry Purcell 116-72% 
Maria Sheffield 6-4% 
Other 0 

State School Superintendent 
John Barge 16-10% 
Kathy Cox 32-19% 
Roger Hines 97-58% 
Richard Woods 19-11% 
Other 2-1% 

Georgia Representative District 113 
Hank Huckaby 11-16% 
Tommy Malcom 6-9% 
Kirk Shook 44-63% 
Other 9-13% 

Georgia Senate District 47 
Doug Bower 8-9% 
Shane Coley 37-40% 
Kelley Gary 19-21% 
Patricia “Pat” Graham 15-16% 
Other 13-14% 

Georgia Senate District 49 
Cecil T. “Butch” Miller 26-51% 
James Elliot Norman 13-25% 
Other 12-24% 

Georgia Healthcare Freedom Act - No law or rule or regulation shall compel any person, employer or health care provider to participate in any health care system. 
Yes 140-93% 
10-7%

Georgia Cabinet Form of Government Amendment - The heads of the state's Agricultural, Insurance, Labor and Education departments would be appointed by the Governor and subject to Senate confirmation. 
Yes 20-11% 
No 155-89% 

Life Constitutional Amendment - Do you support an amendment to the Georgia State Constitution so as to provide that the paramount right to life is vested in each human being from their earliest biological beginning until natural death? 
Yes 116-68% 
No 54-32%