Three members of the Tea Party Patriots announced Thursday night they will try to oust Republican Doug Collins of Gainesville from his congressional seat.
Roger Fitzpatrick, Bernie Fontaine and Mike Scupin all spoke to the group of about 80 people, each one expressing dissatisfaction with Collins' voting record.
The 75-year-old Fontaine is a retired Brigadier General with the Army National Guard, who challenged Collins two years ago. Fontaine told the audience he campaigned in the Ninth District in a pop-up camper pulled by a pick-up truck.
"A friend of mine kind of laughed at that and I said 'you know what...that's who I am. I'm not bought, I'm not paid for and I never will be,'" said Fontaine. "Why am I running...because I'd like one more time to do something for my country."
Mike Scupin founded the Lanier Tea Party Patriots and said he never planned to offer himself up as a candidate for office, but he said he found himself becoming more and more unhappy with Collins' performance in Washington, citing the Congressman's recent vote in favor of the omnibus spending bill. Scupin said he talked to others about running for Congress, but found no takers.
"Do I want to do this? No. But I love my country. I'm tired - I'm sick and tired - of seeing it go to hell and doing nothing about it but sitting on my fanny and talking to people," said Scupin. "Talking to people...doesn't solve anything. Until you're willing to get up and step out, this country's not going to change."
Fitzpatrick, a retired educator from White County, actually announced his candidacy last week, but he took the opportunity to speak to the Tea Party group about his campaign.
Fitzpatrick said his desire was to bring America's focus back to the principals of the Constitution.
"I'm sad to say that some of those men, some of those women that we elected to a public trust, that we elected to be servants went to Washington and they decided that it would be best to serve their own interests rather than the interests of this nation," said Fitzpatrick. "We've been heading in the wrong direction."
All three men said they would run grass-roots campaigns without accepting any PAC money.
Grayson will challenge Johnny Isakson
Before the congressional campaign announcements, Derrick Grayson announced he will make another run for U.S. Senate, this time challenging Georgia's senior senator Johnny Isakson. Grayson ran in a crowded field of Republicans in the last senatorial race, which was eventually captured by the GOP's David Perdue.
Grayson told the audience he has one simple reason for running for office.
"So that my children and I may live well and die free. That's all I want," said Grayson. "I want the freedom and liberty to live my life well as I intention, as opportunity is made available to me...without interference from the government."
Grayson, a U.S. Navy Veteran and a minister, is from Stone Mountain.
