The monthly Pickens County Republican Party hosted John Padgett, the new Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, and Linda Herren, Georgia Committeewoman on the Republican National Committee (RNC) last night. They spoke about what changes are being made within the party and how they plan to carry Republicans into the future. Please see the photo album for pictures from last night’s event.

Two outstanding Republicans will be in Jasper on October 8, 2013, to answer that question, John Padgett, the new Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party and Linda Herren, Georgia Committeewoman on the Republican National Committee (RNC) will give their perspectives on the future of the Republican Party to show why the answer is “yes!”

The meeting will be at 7:00 pm at Chattahoochee Technical College on October 8, 2013.

John was elected Chairman at the Republican State Convention in May of this year. He has served the Party as four-time Chairman of the Athens-Clarke County Republican Party, Chairman of the 11th and 12th Congressional Districts, Secretary of the Georgia Republican Party, and as a member of the Party Executive committee. John is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

John is active in his community. He chaired the Athens Downtown Development Authority, and served as President of the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce, the Touchdown Club of Athens, and the Athens Downtown Council. He is a member of the UGA President’s Club, and a board member of the Athens Historical Society, the Athens Chamber of Commerce, the Hope Haven School and the Athens Art Council.

John is a family man. He has been married to his wife, Mary, for 32 years. They have three daughters and four grandchildren. They are members of Highland Park Church.

Mrs. Herren has a wealth of experience in Republican activities. First elected in 2004, she is in her third and final term (by RNC rules) as Georgia National Committeewoman. At the national level: she was a Georgia Delegate to the National Convention in 2004 and 2008; served on the National Platform Committee in 2004; served on RNC Permanent Rules Committee 2005 – 2008; was on the National Convention Rules Committee in 2008; and in 2009 she was elected to the RNC Budget Committee from the Southern Region.

She has been active in a host of local and state party activities. Early on she was Young Republican of the Year. From 1987 to the present, she has been a delegate to all county, district and state conventions. She has served as 42nd Senate District Chairman, DeKalb County GOP Chairman, 4th Congressional District Chairman, and four terms as First Vice-Chair of the Georgia GOP. In 2008 she was the recipient of the Georgia GOP Pioneer Award for Long Term Service.

Linda is married and she and her husband, Preston, have a son and two grandchildren. Linda is a R.N. and earned a B.S. from Georgia State University. Subsequently, she became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Ohio State University (CRNA) and held that certification from 1975 – 2010 She was the Governor’s Appointee on the Georgia Board of Nursing from 2003 – 2009, and served as President of this Board 2005 – 2009.