Steve Gooch elected 9th Dist. DOT bd. member

ATLANTA - Former Lumpkin County Commission Chairman Steve Gooch was elected Wednesday to fill the 9th District vacancy on the state Department of Transportation board.

Former St. Rep. Stacey Reece of Gainesville came in second. The third-place finisher was Chatsworth Mayor Tyson Haynes. It was Reece's second attempt at getting seated on the board since leaving the state Legislature.

The election was held in Atlanta by members of the state Legislature from the 9th Congressional District.

St. Rep. Doug Collins of Gainesville, who nominated Reece, said after the election "I really would have liked to have seen Stacy win the seat and I'm disappointed that he did not but I think from a 'district' perspective Steve Gooch is a good man and will do a wonderful job for the district."

Collins added "I'm in the Lumpkin County delegation as well and so I've work with Steve before and believe that Steve will do a great job."

Collins said that "to a point" it is important to northeast Georgia for the 9th District board member to come from this corner of the state but he said he emphasized in nominating Reece that "we need someone who not only understands (both sides of the district) but we also need someone who can represent the district at the state level and that is what I believe we needed the most and I do believe Steve will be able to do that."

Collins said he wanted the members of the caucus to think about that, "although (the decision) does sometimes seem to get thrown into the 'east-west, over-the-mountain, which side of the mountain are you on' kind of scenario."

Gooch will replace Steve Farrow of Dalton, who resigned several months ago.

(This is a developing story. Please check by for further updates.)