Photo Credit: Lee Becker

From left, state Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens), Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville) and Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens).

Brian Kemp, the governor-elect of Georgia, was not invited to and did not attend the pre-legislative session held late last year by the Oconee County Board of Commissioners for the county’s delegation to the Georgia General Assembly.

But Kemp’s presence at the gathering was strong nonetheless.

In closing the session, Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert said “the most interesting thing about this session” is going to be seeing how the personalities of Kemp, newly elected Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan,and House Speaker David Ralston “mesh” and how their goals “match.”

Houston Gaines, from House District 117, said he and Marcus Wiedower in House District 119 defeated the two incumbent Democrats in November in part because of their relationships with Kemp and other state officials.

The 40-minute Oconee County pre-legislative session was more partisan than pre-legislative sessions held by Oconee County commissioners in recent years.

Oconee County Commissioner William “Bubber” Wilkes and Commissioner Mark Saxon thanked Wiedower and Gaines for running against and defeating the two incumbent Democrats.

All of the Oconee County’s commissioners are Republicans.

For more, visit Oconee County Observations.