The Lanier Republican Assembly released its positions on three topics this week, including a U.S. Senate race in Alabama, the film industry in Georgia and a meeting held by Hall County Commissioners in Augusta.
"We know that it's not a standard to get four press statements sent out in one day, but we felt that these issues needed to be addressed and that they could be covered in this format," LRA President Kimberly Pils said.
One of the releases was a congratulatory nod to Georgia Republican Assembly President Alex Johnson's recent election to the position of Southeastern Regional President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies.
The three position statements are the first released by the newly formed chapter of the Georgia Republican Assembly and the National Federation of Republican Assemblies.
"The Republican Assemblies support small government, lower taxes, free market capitalism, a strong defense, the right to life and Constitutional values," one of the releases stated.
The Lanier chapter chartered on July 31, according to Pils. It encompasses Banks, Barrow, Dawson, Forsyth, Habersham, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and White counties.
"It's been going well. We've gained new membership. We have appointed other county directors and, 'we have hit the pavement running,' as they say," Pils commented Wednesday.
Pils also serves as first vice chair of the Hall County Republican Party. She said the GOP and GRA share many of the same members across the state.
However, Pils said, "I do keep my business separate from the GRA, Lanier Republican Assembly and the GOP."
In the statements the Assembly released Monday, the regional matter relates to the high profile Senate race in Alabama that saw jurist Roy Moore win a GOP runoff in September over incumbent Sen. Luther Strange.
Moore, a 70-year-old former Alabama chief justice, was twice removed from those duties after taking stands for public display of the Ten Commandments and against gay marriage. Moore, in his victory speech, returned to themes of God and government, saying that he had "never prayed to win this campaign" but only that's "God's will be done."
"The Lanier Republican Assembly believes that Roy Moore will not only represent Alabama, if elected, in the general race but the United States of America by upholding his oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States," the LRA position reads.
Moore faces Democrat Doug Jones in a Dec. 12 special election. Jones is a former U.S. attorney known for prosecuting the Klansmen who killed four girls in a 1963 church bombing.
In state issues, LRA offered concerns related to Georgia's booming film industry, in light of recent headlines involving Hollywood. The statement is an apparent reference to allegations against producer and former film studio executive Harvey Weinstein.
"The Lanier Republican Assembly requests that the Georgia's Republican elected officials reevaluate their unwavering commitment and embrace Conservative principles," the position states. "The Lanier Republican Assembly urges these elected officials to support healthy family focused media by balancing budgets that do not include acceptance of funding from sources that degrade American family values."
On the local front, the Assembly was critical of a recent special called meeting the Hall County Commission held in Augusta. Last Wednesday's meeting, according to a public notice from the county, was for discussion of future county growth and strategic planning. It also included an executive session.
"The Lanier Republican Assembly is opposed to the Republican Hall County Commissioners elected officials holding meetings where local business is discussed that prevents the citizens of Hall County from attending or providing input," the LRA position states. "Additionally, the Lanier Republican Assembly is concerned with costs associated for such travel."
Commissioners were in Augusta for an Association of County Commissioners of Georgia Legislative Leadership Conference, according to the public notice.
The LRA statement goes on to call for commissioners to conduct all county business meetings locally.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
