Race for U.S. Congress highlights Tuesday’s runoff election
News August 9, 2020
Andrew Clyde
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – When the polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday (Aug. 11) for the General Primary Runoff election, White County voters will vote for a U.S. Congressman from Georgia’s 9th District, state representatives from the 9th district and 10th districts and a probate court judge.
The high profile race for U.S. Congress has drawn most of the media attention and it has turned ugly in recent days. In social media and campaign flyers, State Rep. Matt Gurtler has accused his opponent, Andrew Clyde a 28-year Navy combat veteran, of being a thief, a Never Trumper, and someone who donated money to Democrats.
That kind of heated rhetoric, especially late in a campaign, tends to turn voters off. Republican Congressman Jody Hice, a member of the Freedom Caucus — the most conservative group in Washington — called Gurtler’s allegations “outright lies.” Former U.S. Congressman Paul Broun, who said he is friends with both men endorsed Clyde. “What pushed me over the top were the lies and negative campaign of (Clyde’s) opponent,” Broun said.
Opensecrets.org reports that during the last reporting period which ended June 22, Clyde had raised $775,739 in campaign funds, spent $733,041 and has a balance on hand of $42,698. Gurtler raised $655,017 and spent $571,171. His cash on hand is $83,845.
Matt Gurtler
Although White County is a Republican stronghold, Democrats will pin their hopes on either Devin Pandy or Brooke Siskin. Pandy is a 21-year Army combat veteran. Siskin will have to overcome the negative publicity that followed her arrest on contempt of court charges for which she spent four days in jail last month. The Republican and Democrat nominees will square off on Nov. 3.
The Republican runoff for State House District 9 between Will Wade, a banker and longtime member of the Dawson County Board of Education, and Steven Leibel, the personal attorney for Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard, was conducted in a more respectful manner.
The rhetoric did become a little heated when Leibel accused Wade of raising taxes, accepting PAC funds and not supporting the senior tax exemption. Wade called that a “inaccuracy” and added, “I am not for changing the senior exemption in this district period.”
There is no Democrat entered in that race.
In the Republican runoff for State House District 10, Victor Anderson will face Robert Crumley and in the race for Judge of Probate Court, Carol Jackson will face Don Ferguson.
The 10th State House district includes a portion of White County. Blue Creek, Mossy Creek, Mount Yonah, Nacoochee, Shoal Creek 205, 201 and White Creek precincts.
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
Forsyth County attorney will run for U.S. Congress
News February 20, 2020
CUMMING, GA – Ethan Underwood, a successful property rights attorney who previously served as Chairman of Forsyth County Republican Party and 2nd Vice Chair of the 9th Congressional District Republican Party, has announced his campaign for U.S. Congress. Current GA09 Representative Doug Collins recently announced his decision to run for U.S. Senate.
“I am running for U.S. Congress in Georgia’s 9th District because we need a battle-ready Republican leader who can make decisions and take action day-one on the issues that are in the best interest of our district and our state,” said Underwood. “While Washington, DC is embroiled in a hostile, philosophical fight, Northeast Georgia communities care about problems and solutions in real life. I will work relentlessly to clear the path for our citizens to make a living and pursue happiness.”
Biography of Ethan Underwood
Ethan has family roots in Northeast Georgia that date back to the 1830s. Growing up in Ringgold, and later just over the border in TN, Ethan settled in north Forsyth County in 2003 where he has pursued his legal career and continues to rear his family of four with his wife, Tiffany, of 22 years. The Underwood family attends Mountain Lake Church.
Ethan’s parents met in high school and took turns supporting each other as they each pursued higher education and became the first in their families to finish college. His father served in the U.S. Air Force and then spent his career as a pharmaceutical representative. His mother ultimately earned her Masters Degree and became a biology teacher. His parents set a true example for Ethan and his brother, instilling a strong work ethic and the importance of conservative, family values.
During high school, Ethan had a teacher who encouraged his interest in government and connected him with a political campaign as a volunteer at age 15. Since then, Ethan has worked to elect conservative candidates at all levels of government.
In college at UT-Chattanooga, Ethan met and married his wife, Tiffany. With the addition of their son to the Underwood family, Ethan and Tiffany moved to Knoxville. Living in a modular home in a floodplain, Tiffany took a job as middle school teacher while Ethan completed the JD-MBA program at UT-Knoxville with a J.D. concentration in business transactions and an M.B.A. concentration in finance.
Their daughter Elise was born during this time and she was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. As Ethan completed law school and sought a full-time job in Georgia, he and his family were also navigating the healthcare system with Elise facing open-heart surgery. Followed their move to Georgia, Elise underwent chemotherapy treatments for AML-leukemia at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. With a strong faith and family support system, Ethan and Tiffany took charge of their new journey and thankfully, Elise has been cancer-free for 15 years. For this reason, Ethan is passionate about making certain Georgians have access to quality, privately-funded healthcare options – and fighting against a single-payer healthcare system.
Ethan and his family settled in Forsyth County and welcomed two more daughters, Amelia and Charlotte. As supporters of educational choice, Ethan and Tiffany know that a one-size-fits-all educational system does not work for all children, and have worked with public, private, and homeschooling options for their children’s needs. Their girls are still in school, and recently, their son, Gabriel, completed a term in the U.S. Army.
Ethan has spent the last 17 years as a lawyer with a focus on representing private property owners against government in land use, condemnation, and tax appeal cases. As a partner at Miles, Hansford & Tallant, LLC in Forsyth County, his success has come from being an advocate for private property owners as they navigate the political process and government systems. Ethan is active in the community, having served on numerous boards for local civic and charitable organizations, including the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, the Bald Ridge Lodge, Inc., and Rewarding Minds, Inc. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Alpharetta.
A proven conservative, Ethan served as Chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party from 2009-2013, and 2nd Vice Chair of the 9th Congressional District Republican Party until April 2015. He is currently a member of the GOP State Committee.
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