News

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

12/22/2009

I want to take this time to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. This is a time for goodness, giving, hope, and helping the less fortunate. This year has been tough for many north Georgians, but I believe our future is bright. I hope that it will be a special time for you and your family. As you are with your family, please remember our men and women who are fighting for our freedom, keeping them and their families in your thoughts and prayers. Gena and I have many things to be thankful for in this season, but mostly we are humbled by the support and friendships that we have gained and strengthened throughout this tumultuous year.

In the approaching New Year, my campaign will kick into high gear. I look forward to continuing getting out to meet you in your restaurants, towns and homes, as well as continuing to grow our team. We have made huge strides over the last seven months in this race. From the northwest corner of Dade county all the way over to Union, down to Hall and Forsyth, and everywhere in between, people remember the work I was proud and honored to do on their behalf while I was on the State Transportation Board. Recently many of the transportation enhancement projects started during my tenure have come to fruition and I have been thrilled to be part of a number of ribbon cuttings and other celebrations. I have campaigned on my 32-0 voting record on the budget - the only one in this race with that record. Our current Congress is out of control with wasteful spending by both parties. I am going to Washington to look for 217 other members to say NO with me and put an end to this mess.

Two top issues in this campaign are jobs and water - two things people of the 9th district need most. Back in July, I announced a North GA-Jobs Initiative. If elected, I will have an experienced economic development professional on staff who will serve as a coordinator with cities and counties to help job creation efforts in each corner of north Georgia. I will travel anywhere, any time to help recruit new industries and support local economic development efforts. Jobs are vitally important to the people of north Georgia.

Water is a critical issue for everyone in north Georgia. For many months the people of Georgia prayed for rain to refill Lake Lanier. During the past year Georgia rainfall was up and Lake Lanier was indeed replenished. Some would say this issue is over, but sadly, it is not. That's why I launched two websites www.SaveHallWater.com and www.SaveForsythWater.com. I have encouraged people go to these two sites and sign the online petition that I will personally deliver to Congress demanding action to protect our water rights. Water is a common bond between all of us. Your family and my family are the same - we need our water to drink, cook and bathe every day. This is an important issue to all of us and I will work to make sure our water stays our water. If you have not yet signed the online petition, please go to the website and do so.If you have, but know a friend or neighbor who has not, please forward this email to them also ask them to sign the petition.

There is certainly some good news in the governors of Georgia, Alabama and Florida meeting earlier this month. Their intent to present a coordinated plan addressing water apportionment and conservation to the state legislatures for approval this spring is a promising development. As we watch and wait to see the plan, please encourage everyone you can to sign the petition. Together we can ensure our water stays in north Georgia.

May you have the richest of blessings in this season of joy and in the coming year.

Mike