A Hall County Commissioner has announced his candidacy for Georgia's 9th District U.S. Congressional seat.
Poole made the announcement Thursday morning on WDUN's "The Martha Zoller Show" with Tom Smiley. He will run in the 2026 Republican primary against incumbent Congressman Andrew Clyde and Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon. Democrat Nick Alex is also seeking the seat.
Poole said he believes he is the best representative for the district.
"I am the 9th District," Poole said. "I was born and raised here, I've lived here my whole life in (Hall) County, in this district. I can promise you I will be a voice of the people."
Poole is a Baptist preacher and works for an electrical contracting company. He was elected to the District 3 seat on the Hall County Board of Commissioners in 2022.
Poole said he felt called to run for the seat.
"I've prayed about this. I really feel like, at this time in my life, there is nothing more in my life that I'm supposed to be doing than this," Poole said. "I have seen in our local government, even as a Hall County commissioner, that the bureaucracies of government are so overreaching, and I've seen the lack of communication that we have from this office on the federal level."
Poole said, if elected, his primary focus would be on infrastructure improvements for the Northeast Georgia area.
"One of the things is, when I get on I-985 I want to ask the question, why is it not three-lane already?" Poole said. "My idea is to extend 985 all the way up the Ga. 365 corridor and tie it back into I-85 through Toccoa. These are transformational jobs that's not just spending money, it's an investment by the federal government...Do I think (9th District Congressman Andrew Clyde) can do it? I don't know, but here's another thing, do I think he's tried to do it? No."
Poole said his campaign has just begun and that he currently does not have a website, but did offer his personal phone number of 678-617-1734.
Poole's full interview on "The Martha Zoller Show" can be heard by clicking play on the audio above.
