Ethics becoming critical issue in state GOP, 109th District race
McDonough — May21, 2012: The Georgia Republican Party this weekend affirmed what candidate Dale Rutledge has been saying — ethics is a critical issue in Georgia and Henry, Rockdale, and Newton Counties 109th District needs a representative that will restore the trust and confidence of voters.
“After weeks of campaigning, I’ve heard from voters across this district that they have had enough of self-centered politicians,” Rutledge said today. “While I’ve already committed to a self-imposed gift limit, I’ve also committed to supporting a ban on legislators accepting gifts from lobbyists of more than $100. And unlike my opponent, I don’t need a poll to tell me that is what the voters want.”
At this past weekend’s Georgia GOP state convention, the party voted to place a non-binding question on the July 31 primary ballot asking voters if they support a gift limit.
“I don’t need to wait until after July 31 to make my decision,” Rutledge added. “If Steve Davis needs to see the results before adopting a position on ethics reform, it’s going to be too late. He has obviously spent too much time in Atlanta at fancy dinners with lobbyists and lost touch with the people of the district. We’re going to put an end to this practice of big gifts for legislators, and it looks like we are going to have to vote Davis out to get it done.”
In addition to the gift limit, Rutledge has also proposed additional ethics reforms.
“I’ll also vote to make it illegal for legislators to pay their own family members’ salaries from their campaign accounts,” he added. “When lobbyists and PACs are funding the campaigns of incumbents such as Davis, it is dead wrong for that money to then be used to pay family members. This is the kind of self-dealing that has got to stop if we are going to regain the trust of the voters.”
Dale Rutledge is campaigning for State Representative of the 109th district. Dale grew up on a family farm in Henry County, graduated from the County’s public schools and attended Georgia Southwestern University. He has created two successful businesses and raised a family here. He is the former owner of Rover, Inc., a customer-friendly recycling and sanitation firm focused on the people of Henry County. Today he runs Expo-Link Cargo, a firm he started in1999 specializing in trade show exhibits for the logistics industry. Dale is along-time member of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce.
Dale and his wife of 26 years, Kathy, have two daughters, Caroline and Morgan. The Rutledge’s belong to McDonough Presbyterian Church where Dale has served as an Elder and Deacon.
