Graves Statement on the April 27th Special Election / to Resign House Seat Tuesday

Graves Statement on the April 27th Special Election

State Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ranger), the leading Republican candidate for Congress in Georgia’s 9th District, released the following statement after today’s announcement from Governor Perdue regarding the date of the special election:

"Gov. Perdue has now set the election for April 27. I’m exhilarated and ready to work relentlessly during the 37 day campaign. It's time to restore an attitude of service to Washington coupled with truth, morality and leadership. We need to bring commonsense, North Georgia values back to the capitol which have recently been overshadowed by a progressive agenda.”

Make no mistake—the Democrats in Washington won’t stop now. They are emboldened and will now turn their attention to passing an amnesty based immigration reform, cap and trade and card check legislation. Now is not the time for conservatives to rest--we must be resolved and push back with all our might in order to preserve freedom for Americans. Julie and I are ready to serve.”

“My campaign is also ready—we’ve already begun our grassroots activities, going door to door with our message. This is a crucial time in the history of our nation and the people of the 9th District deserve a proven, bold, conservative voice.”

“The Graves campaign and the GA-9 Freedom Fighters are prepared –and ready to restore our nation’s conservative values.”

Graves to Resign House Seat Tuesday
State Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ranger), the leading Republican candidate for Congress in Georgia’s 9th District, released the following statement announcing his resignation from the Georgia House of Representatives Tuesday, March 23, 2010, in order to qualify for the upcoming special election in Georgia’s 9th District:

"Earlier today Governor Perdue set the date for the special election to fill the 9th District Congressional seat on April 27. I will resign my House seat effective close of business Tuesday, March 23, 2010, in order to fill the unexpired term in the 9th District. This will enable the Governor to schedule both the election to fill my House seat and the 9th District congressional seat on the same day and save taxpayer money.

“While qualifying for the congressional seat alone would have vacated my house seat, the timing would have been outside the window of opportunity to allow both elections to occur on the same date. Therefore, as a steward of the taxpayer, the prudent decision is to step down early and allow the Governor to set the special elections on the same day.

“Julie and I have been humbled and honored to have been given the opportunity to serve Gordon, Pickens and Bartow counties in the legislature. And, for that, we are forever grateful.

“I am pleased with the Governor’s selection of the earliest possible election date. My family and I look forward to the campaign and the opportunity to serve the people of Georgia’s 9th Congressional District.”

Qualifying for the congressional seat will take place March 29-31. Per state law, Graves would have automatically vacated his House seat upon qualifying. Resigning early allows the special elections for the Graves’ House seat and the 9th District Congressional seat to take place on the same day.

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Graves, who is in his fourth term representing House District 12, was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2002. He has chaired numerous subcommittees, served in several leadership positions and been recognized statewide as a conservative leader. He received a 2009 “National Legislator of the Year” from the American Legislative Exchange Council, a 2009 “Guardian of Small Business” Award from the National Federation of Independent Business, the 2009 “Legislator of the Year” Award from the Georgia Retail Association, the 2009 “Legislator of the Year” from the 9th Congressional District of Georgia and was nationally recognized as the “Legislative Entrepreneur of the Year Award” by the Freedom Works Foundation for his tireless effort to stem the tide of expansive government and reduce the tax burden on Georgians. Georgia Trend named Graves to its 2009 “40 under 40, Georgia’s Best and the Brightest.” Graves has been endorsed by Club for Growth PAC, the nation’s premier free-market, free enterprise group of conservatives, FreedomWorks PAC, RedState’s Erick Erickson and was the first candidate to be certified 100 percent pro-life by the Georgia Right to Life PAC.

Graves grew up in White, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia, where he earned a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance. Graves is a small businessman, past member of the Gordon County Board of Elections and an active member of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Julie, a native of Marietta, and the couple has three children, JoAnn, John and Janey. They attend the Belmont Baptist Church in Calhoun.

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