Wednesday, June 12, 2002
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Wednesday, June 12, 2002 |
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Fayette, Coweta represented at GOP district convention
By JANET McGREGOR
Representatives from 15 counties in the newly formed 8th Congressional District gathered Saturday to elect new Republican officers and review rules. In the recent redistricting, U.S. Rep. Mac Collins' 3rd District was swallowed into the new district. Former 3rd District delegates and alternates from Bibb, Butts, Carol, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette, Harris, Henry, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Muscogee, Newton, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, Troop and Upson counties traveled to Columbus for the four-plus-hour meeting. Collins spoke to the group, welcoming those who were formerly served by other congressmen. Saying the redistricting map looked like someone had "poured paint out and it ran here and there," he promised to represent entire counties despite the fact that most in the large, winding district were split into multiple congressional districts. In addition to Collins, State Sen. Mitch Seabaugh of Coweta County, State Rep. Kathy Cox of Fayette County, State Rep. Lynn Smith of Coweta, Fayette County State Court Solicitor Steve Harris and Fayette County Commission Chairman Greg Dunn served as delegates for their respective counties. In an upset victory, Fayette County's Jean Studdard was elected as the 8th District Chair. She defeated Rob Doll of Muscogee County, who had served as Chair for the former 3rd District. Studdard worked on U.S. Sen. Paul Coverdell's staff and is currently working for Collins. She has been an active Republican since working for Richard Nixon's gubernatorial California run in 1962 and has volunteered on numerous campaigns since including Ronal Reagan, Newt Gingrich, Bob Dole, George Bush and locally, Paul Heard and Lynn Westmoreland. She has served in numerous capacities in the local Fayette County Republican Party and is a well-known face to Republican's throughout Collins' district. Billy Horne of Coweta County was elected First Vice Chair and Lane Watts, Fayette County Republican Party Chair, became the new 4th Vice Chair. Watts was also selected to serve on the State Committee along with Bill Bonner and Isaac Tuner, both from Fayette County, and Horne. Barbara Scruggs of Coweta County will serve as secretary for the large district. All are volunteer positions. Minor changes were made to the District Rules. The Rules Committee recommended deleting two sections regarding automatic removal from office if a set number of meetings were missed. After much discussion delegates voted to keep the automatic removal sections, making one change to allow for absent State Committeemen to send a proxy.
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