Election integrity, term limits and inflation are some of the hot-button topics touched on by candidates running for the Georgia House District 9.
In this week’s Nugget Q&A, incumbent Will Wade and challenger Tyler Tolin face off in a series of political questions regarding the state of politics and policies in Georgia and Lumpkin County.
This is not the first time the pair have competed for the nomination.
However the field is considerably less crowded than two years ago when a total of seven candidates were vying for the seat at the Gold Dome. Both candidates are competing for the Republican nomination.
Early voting for the primary begins May 2 and voting day is May 24. This is the third in a series of Nugget political Q&As which also includes the race between Commissioner Jeff Moran and challenger Wade Niles as they face off for the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners District 2 seat and the District 2 Board of Education race between incumbent Craig Poore and Jeramy Nye. All complete Q&As can be found online at thedahloneganugget.com.
Q: What led you to run for the District 9 seat?
Tolin:
Today many people have a voice, but most still are not heard, but I do hear them. Many reasons have lead me to run for the State House Seat# 9. I believe in my neighbors, family and community. I can hear what so many folks crave, to be loved, respected, treated with kindness, a bright future for their families, and for the most part to just be heard. I want to be that voice, the voice of the Forgotten.
Wade:
I ran for the District 9 seat in 2020 to make sure Georgia continued to be the best state in the country to live, work, and raise a family. As a father of two, husband, and community banker, I want our schools to deliver a world-class education, our taxes to remain low, our business environment to keep spurring job growth and investment, and our conservative values to be protected. In my first term, I have sponsored and supported legislation to do exactly that and I hope to build on that record if the voters of the 9th District re-elect me.
Q: What makes you the most qualified candidate?
Tolin:
I am running to earn your vote, so I can institute term limits, and bring fresh ideas to the Golden Dome. My personal experience of dealing with different views, ideas, and cultures, will help me get rid of the Status Quo. Unlike typical “Politicians” who sacrifice the People for their goals, my unique back ground has prepared me to sacrifice myself for the goals of the people whom I have never even met.
Wade:
As a community banker, I have extensive experience in what it takes to help communities grow and provide good-paying jobs to hardworking Georgians. I understand the challenges small business owners face and I see the positive impact conservative, small-government policies can have on job creators, employees, and our community. Given the state spends most of your tax dollars on education, my experience as a former school board chair uniquely qualify me to ensure taxpayers are receiving a good return on their investment in our schools and classrooms. And as a dad, nothing is more important to me than making sure our children are taught in a safe, welcoming environment free from partisan political agendas or woke ideologies.
Q: What is the biggest challenge facing Lumpkin County that you feel can be addressed on the state level?
Tolin:
Basically preserving the quality of life in Lumpkin is the biggest challenge, and making sure Big City life doesn’t show up, and take over. Family farming, affordable housing, quality education, and preserving that small town way of life needs to be protected at the state level. Finding ways to help family farms compete against big business, passing laws to cap, and keep rental rates based off median income of the area, and making sure our school aged kids don’t get left behind. Fighting to ensure it’s parents over school boards and giving more options like School Choice.
Wade:
Unfortunately, many citizens in Lumpkin County continue to feel the negative effects of Bidenflation and this federal administration’s disastrous energy policies. That’s why I voted in favor of returning over $1 billion in unused state tax dollars back to you the taxpayer, an additional $1 billion income tax cut, and a temporary suspension of the state’s motor fuel excise tax. The state cannot fix the federal government’s problems, but we are doing everything within our power to return more of your hard-earned money to your pocket.
Q: How would you plan to address that biggest challenge?
Tolin:
“Politicians” choose to cherry pick what information they share, what bills are allowed to come to the floor, and what Pork Barrel spending is included which has drastically eroded our State. If elected I want folks to hold me accountable, just like I will hold the Golden Dome accountable for the People I’m blessed to serve. I would focus on Georgia First Polices to help reestablish the Working middle Class, the folks just leaving the nest, folks living the golden years, and everything in between.
Wade:
See previous answer.
Q: How would you describe the current state of the state government right now?
Tolin:
In my honest view the State of Government in Georgia is not good, but it can be fixed. The direction the State House has seemed to go has been to cater to Big Business, big donors, and lost along the way are the voices the elected officials are supposed to hear. The Golden Dome let our hero hospital workers be fired, and didn’t step in to protect the rights given to us by our Founding Fathers. Yet have passed Bills to expand Obama Care, grow government overreach in our everyday lives, Increased taxes during record inflation, Giving more power to schools to dilute the voices of the parents, and still haven’t fixed the election integrity issues for future elections. Nor have they even told the Tax Paying Republic what actually happened in 2020. We can fix this by getting out to vote for candidates who have paid a price for this country, and understand this is truly a Republic which the power truly lies with the People, not the politicians.
Wade:
As the number one state for business for an unprecedented eighth year in a row, Georgia is moving in the right direction. We have the strongest pro-life bill in the country, the top-rated election integrity law in the nation, and we just concluded the most conservative legislative session in the last twenty years. From banning divisive ideologies in the classroom and funding the largest teacher pay raise in state history, to protecting girl sports, cutting taxes, securing our elections, passing constitutional carry, and much more, I believe Georgia’s best days are ahead.