10th Congressional Race Gets More Crowded With Entry of Oglethorpe Attorney

Gary Gerrard, an attorney and small business owner from Lexington, Ga., has announced plans to run for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014, AccessNorthGa.com reports. 

Until last month, Gerrard was the CEO of Action, Inc., a nonprofit focusing on needs of low-income citizens in ten  Northeast Georgia counties. They have a myriad of programs, including emergency home repair, housing preservation, nutrition programs, home access and weatherization programs for elderly and low-income families, economic development, employment assistance and child development services.

Republican Paul Broun, who currently holds the seat, plans to run for Senate, as Sen. Saxby Chambliss announced in January he would not seek a third term. 

AccessNorthGa.com quotes Gerrard as saying, “For far too long I have sat on the sidelines and watched politicians fail to represent the people who elected them. With a sluggish GDP, faltering job growth, and a Congress that refuses to come to grips with its addiction to overspending, it has become ever apparent Congress is broken."

Others who have announced plans to seek the 10th Congressional District post include Republicans Jody Hice, a minister and conservative talk show host, and State Rep. Donna Sheldon of Dacula.

Georgia Rep. Bruce Williamson, who was considering running, does not plan to seek the seat. 

The 10th Congressional District includes the southern part of Clarke County, Barrow County, Oconee and Walton, and part of Gwinnett, among other counties in Georgia. 

Subscribe to the Athens Patch Newsletter, like us on Facebook,  follow Athens Patch on Twitter