April 27 to be a day of prayer for Georgia as fight against COVID-19 continues
Press Release April 25, 2020Atlanta, GA – On Monday, April 27, Governor Brian P. Kemp will join Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, Speaker David Ralston, and faith leaders from across Georgia in holding a Day of Prayer service in the rotunda of the Georgia State Capitol at 10:00 a.m. As the state continues to battle COVID-19, Kemp, Duncan, and Ralston are calling on all Georgians and members of the faith community around the state to participate by posting videos of their prayers on social media throughout the day.
“Our unprecedented battle with COVID-19 has proven the resolve of the people of Georgia to fight hard, come together, and do what is necessary to stop the spread of the virus,” said Governor Kemp. “While we cannot all be together right now, we can join with one another in prayer for our frontline healthcare workers, first responders, law enforcement, business owners, local leaders, and fellow Georgians as we continue the important work of fighting COVID-19 and safely reopening our state. On Monday, I am calling on all Georgians to participate in our Day of Prayer by posting on social media and showing their support for their fellow citizens.”
“COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on countless lives across our state and nation. In the midst of tremendous loss, uncertainty, and anxiety, I look forward to joining together in prayer,” said Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan. “Faith and prayer are a comfort to millions of Georgians, and whatever your background, I hope Monday will be a chance for us to focus on those who are hurting and seek wisdom for the hard road ahead.”
“I’m very proud of the response to this crisis by our state government and local and federal partners as well as healthcare workers and frontline personnel,” said Speaker David Ralston. “In such trying times, it is appropriate that we come together to pray for those battling this disease and its impact as well as those who have tragically lost loved ones. I join with Governor Kemp, Lt. Governor Duncan, and all Georgians in praying for the mercy and comfort of our Lord as we look forward to brighter days ahead.”
To ensure adherence to social distancing guidelines, the Day of Prayer service will not be open to the general public. Georgians are encouraged to participate via livestream at www.facebook.com/GovKemp at 10:00 a.m.
Kemp, Duncan, Ralston announce plans to extend Public Health State of Emergency
Press Release, State & National April 8, 2020Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, and House Speaker David Ralston announced plans to extend Georgia’s public health state of emergency through May 13, 2020, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Under state law, the Governor may renew the public health state of emergency, which was otherwise set to expire on April 13, 2020. Lt. Governor Duncan and Speaker Ralston agree it is necessary for the public health emergency to be renewed and will not be requesting a special legislative session, which was tentatively scheduled for April 15, 2020.
“To ensure the health and well-being of Georgians, I will extend the public health state of emergency through May 13, 2020. This measure will allow us to continue to deploy resources to communities in need, lend support to frontline medical providers, and keep preparing as we brace for potential patient surge in our healthcare facilities. We deeply appreciate the hard work of Georgians who are sheltering in place, using social distancing, and helping us flatten the curve. We are in this fight together,” said Governor Kemp. “I appreciate Lt. Governor Duncan and Speaker Ralston continuing to work with us to ensure resources are available to proactively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I thank them for their support of an extended emergency declaration. In these unprecedented times, we ask Georgians for their continued patience and prayers, especially for first responders, law enforcement, and the healthcare workers caring for the medically fragile. They are going above and beyond to keep us all safe, and we will never be able to repay them for their sacrifices.”
“We must continue our aggressive fight against COVID-19,” said Lt. Governor Duncan. “By extending the public health state of emergency, we can ensure Georgians have access to every available state resource during this crisis. Together, Speaker Ralston and I are working closely with Governor Kemp to do all we can to make sure we are meeting the needs of every Georgian. The General Assembly will continue to remain vigilant and available to assist our citizens in any way possible.”
“The entirety of our state government is working to protect the health and safety of our citizens, and I appreciate the work of our state personnel and first responders during this challenging time,” said Speaker David Ralston. “While we have difficult days ahead, we continue to coordinate with both local and federal partners in responding to needs as they arise. As Georgians, we will persevere and emerge stronger on the other side.”
Holcomb wins third term on county commission, Bryson wins by wide margin but faces a runoff
Election 2018 May 23, 2018CLEVELAND, Ga. – White County Commissioner Lyn Holcomb defeated Mike Boswell and Ricky Farmer in Tuesday’s general primary election. Holcomb, who won a third term, avoided a runoff by winning 52.47 percent of the vote. Holcomb received 499 votes, followed by Boswell with 257 and Farmer 195.
In the race for White County School Board District 2, Charlie Bryson, a Hall County law enforcement officer, won by a wide margin over John Solmon and Carly Adam but now faces a July 24 runoff against Solmon. Bryson fell shy of the 50 percent plus one needed to win the seat outright, collecting 1,558 or 44.86 percent to Solmon’s 988 votes. Adam received 927 votes.
The most hotly contested local race turned out to be for the open District 4 school board seat where freelance journalist Linda Erbele narrowly defeated Jeannette Gearing 1,731 to 1,675.
State Rep. Matt Gurtler (R-Tiger) easily defeated Mickey Cummings to win re-election in House District 8. Gurtler received 5,965 votes to Cummings 3,947.
In the up ballot, statewide elections that drew most of the voters to the polls, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Brian Kemp will face a runoff. In a five-candidate field, Cagle won by a slight margin over Kemp by receiving 39 percent of the votes (227,170 total votes) to Kemp’s 26 percent or 150,051 total votes.
The winner of that race will face Democrat Stacey Abrams in the November General election. Abrams easily defeated her rival Stacey Evans, winning 76 percent of the vote statewide.
There will also be a runoff in the Lieutenant Governor’s race where David Shafer fell just shy of a clear win. Shafer pulled in a majority of the votes, 256,230, but it was not enough to avoid a runoff with Geoff Duncan in July. Duncan received 27 percent of the votes (140,741).
The winner of that runoff will face Democrat Sarah Riggs Amico in November. Amico pulled in 56 percent of the votes (245,325) defeating opponent Triana James who received 44 percent.
Campaigns have not ended for Brad Raffensperger or David Belle Isle as they will also face off in a November runoff for Secretary of State. Raffensperger received 35 percent of the votes (178,502), moving him into top position. Belle Isle received 29 percent or 145,915 total votes.
Democrat John Barrow will face the winner of that runoff in November. Barrow was able to make a clean win with 52 percent over challengers Dee Dawkins-Haigler and Rakeim Hadley.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that attracts more than 300,000 page views and 3.5 million impressions per month in Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYNTV attracts approximately 15,000 viewers per week and reaches between 15,000 to 60,000 per week on our Facebook page. For the most effective, least expensive local advertising, call 706-276-6397 or email us at [email protected]
Governor’s race is still too close to call
News, Politics November 7, 2018ATLANTA – With 98 percent of the state’s precincts reporting, the top Election Day prize was still up for grabs at 7 a.m. today.
Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp leads former House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams with 50.42 percent of the vote to Abrams 48.64. Kemp must win 50.1 percent to avoid a runoff.
Kemp told supporters “I am confident victory is near.”
Abrams has not yet conceded. She says she “will wait until every vote Is counted.”
Forsyth County’s Geoff Duncan has claimed victory in the race for Lt. Governor over Democrat Sarah Riggs Amico. Duncan has received 51.83 percent in the two-person race.
Only the final margin is in question in the race for Ninth District U.S. Congress where Republican incumbent Doug Collins has won 79.6 percent of the vote to Josh McCall’s 20.4.
Republican Brad Raffensperger and John Barrow are headed for a runoff. Raffensperger has received 49.28 percent of the vote to Barrow’s 48.49. Smythe Duval has received 2.22 percent.
Elsewhere, Republicans held comfortable margins. Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black leads his Democrat challenger Fred Swann with 53.27 percent to Swann’s 46.73.
Incumbent Republican State School Superintendent Richard Woods has won 53.21 percent of the vote to Otha Thornton’s 46.79.
Another incumbent Republican, Labor Commissioner Mark Butler leads Richard Keatley 52.68 percent to 47.32.
Republican Jim Beck leads a three-way race against Democrat Janice Laws and Libertarian Donnie Fowler. Beck has won 50.56 percent to Laws’ 46.79. Fowler has received 2.6.
Fetch Your News will update these results when they become official.
White County votes go to Kemp, Raffensperger, Shafer; John Solmon elected to School Board
News July 24, 2018CLEVELAND, Ga. – John Solomon has defeated incumbent Charlie Bryson to claim the District 2 seat on the White County Board of Education. Solomon received 2,019 votes to Bryson’s 1,649 in Tuesday’s primary runoff.
Solmon finished a distant second to Bryson in the May 22 primary with 989 votes to Bryson’s 1,560. But he turned the tables Tuesday and more than doubled that totalto claim a convincing victory.
White County proved to be Brian Kemp country as the Secretary of State easily defeated Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle in the Republican primary race for governor. Kemp received 2,520 votes to Cagle’s 1,322.
White Countians also gave David Shafer the nod for Lt. Governor. He defeated Geoff Duncan with 1,900 votes to Duncan’s 1,736.
Brad Raffensperger defeated David Belle Isle 2,408 to 1,105 in the Secretary of State race and Democrat Sid Chapman beat Otha Thornton Jr. 66 to 41.
All results are unofficial until certified by the Elections Supervisor.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Georgians begin early voting for key state offices Monday
Election 2018 June 27, 2018CLEVELAND, Ga. – Advanced voting for the July 24 General Primary runoff starts Monday, July 2 and will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. until July 20 with the exception of July 4 when all county offices are closed. All votes can be cast at the County Elections Office, 1241 Helen Highway. There will be no Saturday voting.
Most elections offices around the state are bracing for a larger-than-usual runoff turnout because important state offices remain undecided. Republicans are still seeking their party’s nomination for governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state.
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Brian Kemp are seeking the Republican nomination to replace two-term Governor Nathan Deal. The winner will face Democrat Stacey Abrams in the November general election.
Cagle won 39 percent of the vote in the primary to Kemp’s 25.6 percent. But the margin was not as large as it may have appeared because there were five candidates who split the vote. The candidate who wins the runoff will be the one who has more success attracting voters who cast a ballot for Clay Tippins or Hunter Hill.
In the race for Lt. Governor, David Shafer and Geoff Duncan are competing for the Republican nomination. The winner will face Democrat Sarah Riggs Amico in November.
Another key race that should help attract voters is the secretary of state race between Republicans Brad Raffensperger and David Belle Isle. John Barrow has already secured the Democratic nomination.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Georgia Can’t Trust A Liar Like Geoff Duncan – Details on Geoff Duncan’s Lies
Featured, Politics July 16, 2018Geoff Duncan is lying about David Shafer. Every day, he is pushing a new lie to try and deceive Georgia Republicans. Don’t be fooled — Duncan will say and do anything to get elected. See below why we can’t trust a liar like Geoff Duncan.
Lie #1
Duncan maliciously lies, saying Shafer is being sued for conspiracy.
THE TRUTH:
The newspaper headline in the Duncan advertisement (“Candidate accused of conspiracy in CEO’s ouster”) refers to a lawsuit filed against another candidate, former gubernatorial candidate Clay Tippins.
Shafer is not named as a defendant or accused of wrongdoing in the Tippins lawsuit. In fact, David Shafer has never been named as defendant in any lawsuit.
Lie #2
Duncan lies by accusing David Shafer of not paying taxes.
THE TRUTH:
Shafer’s tax dispute was resolved in his favor and the tax lien issued against him was marked “issued in error and withdrawn.”
Lie #3
Duncan lies, claiming Shafer used political power to end an ethics investigation.
THE TRUTH:
David Shafer was completely exonerated by a two month, bipartisan ethics investigation.
Shafer cooperated fully. He sat for two interviews and produced 10 years of email and telephone records.
The independent counsel hired by the Ethics Committee to investigate the complaint determined that the allegations had been “fabricated” and were “politically motivated.”
Lie #4
Duncan falsely accuses Shafer of getting rich as a State Senator.
THE TRUTH:
David Shafer has worked his entire life. He opened his first bank account at age 8 with money saved from mowing lawns. He worked as a church janitor at age 13 and a restaurant busboy at age 16. He worked his way through college as a department store sales clerk. After college, he earned his real estate license and invested in real estate and he has invested in and started numerous businesses. Shafer is proud of his business success.
Georgia Can’t Trust A Liar Like Geoff Duncan.
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