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District 8 House race turns sour in final stretch

Election 2018, News May 11, 2018 , by

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – As the May 22 General Primary election draws near, state House District 8 challenger Mickey Cummings has launched what his opponent, Representative Matt Gurtler, described as a “smear campaign” by resorting to a barrage of published political attacks geared toward the incumbent’s voting record.

At a public speaking engagement April 27 in Hiawassee, Cummings said he had no intention of running a negative campaign.

Matt Gurtler

Rep. Matt Gurtler

In a paid advertisement, Cummings claims that Gurtler has “voted against our kids,” while asking, “Don’t our children deserve better?”

Cummings included Gurtler’s voting history, listing “no” to school safety funding, “no” to better training for school resource officers, and “no” to hundreds of thousands of dollars for our local schools.

Gurtler explained that the issues Cummings has chosen to highlight were lumped together within the “all-or-nothing” $26 billion state budget, which Gurtler has repeatedly described as “omnibus, riddled with subsidies, and wasteful spending.”

Gurtler believes the budget should be divided and departmentalized, with separate votes cast for each sector.

Gurtler says Cummings is cherry-picking segments embedded within the bloated budget, hoping to solicit an emotional response from voters.

“What you are seeing are typical establishment tactics, a blanket attack,” Gurtler told FetchYourNews (FYN). “This election is between me and the establishment. It shows just how deep the swamp goes. They don’t want a dissenting voice in the House. They want an ask-no-questions, yes-man.”

State House leaders, including House Speaker David Ralston, have poured a total of $13,700 into Cummings’ campaign thus far, with Cummings recently announcing a political rally scheduled for May 16, at the Union County Farmers Market, with sitting Governor Nathan Deal and House Speaker David Ralston in attendance.

While negative campaigning is often considered “politics as usual,” it is unprecedented for an acting governor to endorse the opponent of an incumbent within his or her own party.

Mickey Cummings

Mickey Cummings

Time will tell whether Governor Deal’s decision to campaign for Cummings hinders or favors Gurtler’s re-election odds.

Cummings did not return FYN’s request for comment on campaign contributions, nor the upcoming rally.

A debate between the state House candidates will be aired live on FYNTV.com Tuesday, May 14, at 9 a.m.

FYN Chief Executive Officer Brian Pritchard will moderate the state House District 8 debate.

Count on continuing coverage as Election Day approaches.

BKP Interviews Georgia House Speaker David Ralston

State & National February 13, 2018 , by

On FYN TV, BKP interviews Georgia’s Speaker of the House for District-7 Representative David Ralston, as they discuss Georgia’s aggressive plan for a large infrastructure investment that was presented and highlighted at a meeting for Republican leaders including Ralston, over the weekend at The White House. Speaker David Ralston comments on what that means for Georgia.

Pictured below: Speaker of the House for Georgia District 7 David Ralston at this past weekends Infrastructure Meeting at the White House with Republican leaders and President Donald Trump.

Georgia Speaker of The House David Ralston Talks About Rural Georgia Issues, Health Care…

Featured, Politics April 17, 2017 , by

Our interview Friday with Speaker of The House David Ralston focused on rural Georgia. Ralston went into detail about the new Rural Georgia Economic Council. This council will be co-chaired by (R) Terry England from Auburn, (R) Jay Powell from Camilla and Vice Chair (R) Sam Watson from Moultry. The council will be holding meetings across Georgia to hear from elected officials, local businesses and citizens about how they feel rural Georgia economy can best be improved. Ralston said jokingly that he better not find out that one meeting took place in Atlanta.

Health care is a major concern in rural Georgia. Several hospitals have closed in rural Georgia areas including one in Ralston’s district in North Georgia. We spoke to Ralston abut one possible solution to meet rural Georgia health care needs. Ralston used the example of the first stand alone emergency room, opened by Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Gilmer county. In this interview we asked Ralston if Gilmer county still had the possibility of having a full hospital.

Ralston told us that sometime within the next month Governor Nathan Deal would be visiting Gilmer county’s Fire Station 1 to sign the fire fighter’s workmen’s compensation bill.  We asked Ralston the difference in this years campus carry bill opposed to last year’s bill which Governor Deal vetoed. Not being able to speak for the Governor, Ralston said he felt they made the changes necessary to get Deal to sign the bill. We also discussed the pay raises agreed upon in the 2017 legislative session for teachers, state law enforcement, and D.F.C.S workers.  

Our final question in our interview friday: Speaker Ralston do you see the governor’s mansion in your future?

Insider Advantage/James Magazine Present “Influential Georgians” Awards

News January 23, 2017 , by

Insider Advantage/James Magazine Present “Influential Georgians” Awards

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IAG CEO Phil Kent and Speaker of the House David Ralston present the ‘Top Legislators’ award to Rep. Barry Fleming, Rep. Stacey Evans, & Sen. Steve Gooch

 

Atlanta’s Commerce Club was the venue yesterday evening for the Insider Advantage/James Magazine “2016 Influential Georgians” reception sponsored by the Atlanta law firm Hall Booth and Smith. Approximately 70 attendees– ranging from various state and local elected officials to prominent business, judicial and political leaders– were welcomed by Insider Advantage/James CEO and Publisher Phil Kent and Hall Booth Smith Managing Partner John Hall.

Phil Kent presents the ‘2016 Influential Georgians Award’ to Georgia Power CEO Paul Bowers

Kent presented the “2016 Influential Georgians Award” to Georgia Power Company CEO Paul Bowers.

Bowers became chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power in 2010, having previously served as chief financial officer of the Southern Company. His business, civic and charitable service is wide-ranging an impressive— which is why James chose him for the award. His board memberships include serving on the University System Board of Regents, the Georgia Research Alliance, the Georgia Historical Society, the Atlanta Committee for Progress and the policy advisory board for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He was also the 2015 chairman of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

A special guest was Georgia House of Representatives Speaker David Ralston, who presented three InsiderAdvantage/James “2016 Lawmakers of the Year” awards. The recipients were state Sen. Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, who was elected majority whip of the Senate GOP Caucus in 2014 and has been a key policy-maker in the critical area of transportation; state Rep. Stacey Evans, D-Smyrna, a lawyer known as a voice for, among other issues, restoring and preserving the HOPE Scholarship; and state Rep. Barry Fleming, R-Harlem, an attorney who has sponsored numerous criminal justice bills.

Ralston commended Kent along with InsiderAdvantage/James Magazine “for presenting fair and balanced information necessary to all Georgians— and I don’t usually praise the media.”

Attendees included prominent business people, members of the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, various judges and lawyers, the state’s attorney general, Republican and Democrat activists, high-powered lobbyists of government affairs firms, a bipartisan group of state legislators and former Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell.

7th District State Representative Candidates on FYN’s Candidate Day

Election, Politics May 23, 2016 , by

Sam Snider and David Ralston speak on FYN’s Candidate Day for the citizens on the eve of the election day.

Letter to the Editor

Letters to Editor May 16, 2016 , by

The image of David Ralston his political detractors are trying to paint is absurd and far from reality.  It is a desperate attempt to smear the character of a fine public servant in the hopes of gaining a few votes for a losing campaign. David Ralston was the outsider elected Speaker whose leadership repaired the image of a legislative chamber badly tarnished by scandal into a functioning house committed to responsible legislation in service to Georgians.

David Ralston is truly a life-long Republican who spent most of his early political career in the minority. He was first elected to the state Senate in 1992 defeating an incumbent Republican who had switched parties. That was the same year, Sonny Perdue (D) was re-elected to the state Senate and Nathan Deal (D) was exiting that same chamber to win a seat in the U.S. Congress.  David was a pioneer for conservative principles and building the Republican Party in Georgia before our last two Governors had even joined the GOP.

When he was first elected to the state House, David was not a member of the “in crowd.” His predecessor stripped his political opponents of preferred committee assignments and challenged leaders of his own party to public fights. As a result, issues that needed immediate attention fell to the wayside as political theatrics took center stage.

David challenged the status quo and the Speaker at that time and lost. He paid a political price for his courage in challenging the powers that be. After all, that’s the way things had been done in Georgia for years. Political retribution had long been a common practice.

In 2010, David Ralston was nominated and elected Speaker by his colleagues on a promise to change the attitude of leadership and build a cooperative culture that would focus on respectful debate and putting the needs of Georgians over special interests. It was a promise he kept.

David Ralston could have chosen to follow the path of his predecessors. He could have sought retribution against those who had previously punished him. But, he didn’t. Instead he brought his fellow house members together and built upon a Republican majority.  Within months of David taking the helm of leadership several house members switched parties building the largest GOP majority in state history.  Many credited the improved climate implemented by Speaker Ralston as an impetus for the switch.

No individual has made a more positive impact on the political discourse in Georgia than David Ralston. His detractors would have us believe it is a result of his lack of commitment to conservative principles. They are wrong. It’s a result of his commitment to those very conservative principles.

For three decades, the people of the 7th District have trusted the leadership of David Ralston.  That sphere of trust in his leadership has expanded throughout all of Georgia. David Ralston has led numerous legislative achievements.  But no achievement has been more significant than the culture of cooperation now found in the House of Representatives.  For that, we are a better and stronger Georgia.

Hank Burnham

512 Randy Point Road

Athens, GA 30606

706-461-3141

[email protected]

When we need action – David Ralston is there for us

Election, Featured, Featured Stories, Politics May 16, 2016 , by

1ralstonletter

Speaker David Ralston 4/1/16

Politics April 1, 2016 , by

BKP Speaks with House Speaker David Ralston for a Legislative Session Wrap-up.

Special Master Steps Down from Ralston’s Case 7/31/2015

State & National August 1, 2015 , by

Good Morning from the Office! North Ga’s only LIVE ONLINE NEWSCAST! Watch LIVE M-F 7am @ FetchYourNews.com

BKP Talks Speaker of the house, David Ralston, and how the Special Master has stepped down from the case.

https://youtu.be/V-9fMmsH9NE

State Bar Denies Ralston

State & National July 16, 2015 , by

Today, FYN learned of a State Bar recommendation to proceed to trial against David Edmund Ralston,Georgia State Speaker of the House.

The Georgia State Bar has previously filed a Formal Complaint and requested a Special Master to hear the complaint. A Special Master, in law, being an authority appointed to make sure judicial orders are followed. In this case, Attorney Mark Dehler, of Hiawassee, was appointed the responsibility by the Georgia State Supreme Court.

Under this complaint Ralston faces charges of 10 counts of violation of State Bar Rules of Conduct. For more information on these allegations and filings read our past stories on this topic including David Ralston Faces Disbarment and Mr. Ralston has Acknowledged Unintentional Mistakes.

Former Governor of Georgia, Roy Barnes has filed a Petition of Voluntary Discipline on behalf of Mr. Ralston stating references to alleged violations and offering voluntary disciplines to accompany those violations.

The Petition for Voluntary Discipline notes that though the document does include admissions of guilt, they are for the process of arbitration and not admissible in court.

Barnes answers the ten counts of violation with his own view of the violation and offers his idea of the most severe appropriate rule of discipline for each violation. These alleged violations involve a case of one, Mr. Chernak.

In the Petition Barnes states “There is no clear and convincing evidence of a violation” in response to eight of the charged counts.

Admission is given regarding rule 1.8(e) when, as stated, Ralston provided “interest free advances to the Chernaks in 2010 and 2011,” and 1.15(II)(b) when he comingled his personal funds with those of clients.

Barnes goes on to suggest a rule of discipline, or punishment, for these violations. With regard to Rule 1.8(e), though disbarment would be the most severe possible punishment, Barnes states the most sever appropriate punishment would be Admonition under Standard 4.34 as listed in the document on pages 40 and 41.

With regard to Rule 1.15(II)(b), Barnes states that none of the Sanction Standards could apply to Ralston’s situation, but on a more general basis, Standard 4.1 Failure to Preserve the Client’s Property could apply. Barnes again suggests Admonition as the most sever appropriate discipline under Standard 4.14 as listed in the document on pages 41 and 42.

Both of these Disciplines would amount to little more than a public “slap on the wrist” for Ralston.

The Georgia State Bar wasted no time in their response, saying that the speakers petition was “inaccurate, incomplete, or immaterial.”

Standing in firm opposition to Ralston’s Petition for Voluntary Discipline, the State Bar’s Response stated, “the petition fails to contain sufficient information concerning the admissions of fact and the admissions of conduct, and should be rejected.”

The State Bar calls for an evidentiary hearing “where the proof of each party can be tested”, calling it “essential.”

Now these two documents will go before the Special Master, Mark Dehler, and he will either accept the State Bar’s Recommendation and this issue will go to trial, or he will accept Ralston’s Petition and send a recommendation to the State Supreme Court for a final decision.

Don’t miss a much deeper inspection of these documents on Good Morning From The Office tomorrow, July 16 at 7:00 AM.

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