Wednesday, May 21, 2003
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Wednesday, May 21, 2003 |
Collins, Westmoreland announce campaign plansBy JOHN
THOMPSON
When the 2004 election is over, the Southside of Atlanta could have a new level of influence in Washington. The political landscape shifted last week when Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Sharpsburg) announced he would seek Rep. Mac Collins 8th Congressional District seat in next year's election. Collins is challenging Johnny Isaakson for retiring Sen. Zell Miller's seat. If both Collins and Westmoreland win, Fayette would have two powerful allies in D.C. "I'm excited about it. It's a big district to cover," Westmoreland said. The Eighth District covers 18 counties, and Westmoreland said he's going "to have to buy a gas credit card" to cover all the landscape and meet the citizens. So far, he's met a lot of people in the district and knows what one of the main issues in the campaign will be. "We've got to get behind the President and get this economy going," he said. Other issues in the election will probably be homeland security and healthcare. "There is a real healthcare problem that we have to do something about," he said. Between now and the election, Westmoreland will continue to serve as the leader of the House Republican Caucus and in the General Assembly. State Sen. Mike Crotts, the senior Republican member of that body whose District 18 covers a small portion of Fayette, has also announced that he will seek Collins' seat in the U.S. House.
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