Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp will be on hand to honor Lookout Mountain’s First Responders at a 6:30 p.m. Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Fairyland Elementary School gymnasium.
This event will feature a special “thank you” to those individuals who often put their lives on the line so local residents can feel confident in their family’s safety and security. Nancy Burton, secretary of the Walker County Republican Party and chair of the event stated, “There is no way we can adequately express the overwhelming appreciation for what they do every day and night but we want to honor these brave men and present them with a token of our gratitude.”
"In addition to honoring the first responders, Secretary Kemp will speak about the SEC Republican Primary that has moved Georgia, along with other southern states, into an early March 1, 2016 primary.
This will follow closely on the heels of the first national contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina and has increased the relevance of the South in the selection of a Republican nominee. Currently, Georgia along with Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas and Virginia will participate in the SEC Republican Primary with 1010 delegates up for grabs," officials said.
Sec. Kemp has been Georgia’s Secretary of State since January, 2010 and served in the Georgia State Senate from 2003 – 2006. He is a lifelong resident of Athens and graduate of the University of Georgia. Sec. Kemp is the architect of the SEC Republican Primary and spearheaded the effort to encourage other states to join with Georgia. Walker County Republican Party Chairman Matt Williamson said he is excited to provide area residents the opportunity to hear Speaker Kemp and stressed that everyone is welcome.
Firefights, both staff and volunteer, along with police officers will be honored and includes Chief Todd Gann, Assistant Chief Eric Robertson, Lt. Phillip Shankles, Lt. Derick Forester, Officer Aaron Dean, Officer Tommy Hedden, and Fireflighters Jeff Hilkert, Clay Wardlaw, Thompson Pettway, Kevin Leckenby, Andy Bishop, Mike Chalverus, Jeremy McDowell, James Schwartz, Caryton Campbell, Fox Johnson, Andrew Clark, Miles McDonald, Conner Brown, Ben Johnson, Chris Ramsey, Mike Willingham, and Frank Youmans.
Rounding out the evening, there will be patriotic songs by Fairyland Elementary School students and voter registration information for new residents.