Oconee County GOP Hears Appeals From Two Statewide Candidates

Geoff Duncan, a former Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives, told Oconee County Republican Party members last month that they should vote for him for lieutenant governor in the party’s primary in May because he will focus on policy over politics.

Incumbent Georgia Superintendent of Public Instruction Richard Woods told the 20 at the regular meeting of the local Republican Party that they should vote for him in the party primary next year because of the job he has done during the three years he has held that position.

“Too many good ideas have shown up to the Georgia Capitol, some from this very community, that die a painful death in the Georgia Capitol, not because it was a bad idea, not because it didn’t improve education, or be a tax reform idea or improve transportation.” Duncan said. “ It showed up and died because of politics.”

Woods said he ran for state School Superintendent three years ago because “I felt that education had been highjacked...We took common sense out. We took the word child out and replaced it with educational jargon,” he said. Woods said he had changed that orientation.

Duncan and Wood were the featured speakers at the local GOP meeting in November, and that part of the meeting was open to the public.

Local Chair Tammy Gilland refused to allow any recording of the meeting itself, which, according to the agenda, was to focus on the party’s losses in the special elections held earlier in the month.

For more on the story, including a video of the first part of the Republic Party meeting, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Duncan (blue jacket), Woods.