Stark Contrast in 9th District GOP Chairman’s Race – GOP Accountability on the Line

Blue Ridge, GA – On Monday, the Fannin County Republican Party hosted a candidate forum
featuring MA-GA candidate for 9th District Chair Brian Parker and his opponent Stephen Aaron, a former employee of Speaker David Ralston. Fannin County activists got to witness a clear difference between the candidates as Brian Parker championed the need for the GOP to provide accountability to fake Republican candidates, and Aaron opposed it (see video timecode 51:10).

“We’ve got to have accountability,” said Brian Parker. “When you got a job, did you have an interview before you got your job? … Did you ever have a review [of your performance on the job]?
Would you want to work with somebody who is not pulling their weight, or who is working against the company? No!”

After the Catoosa GOP adopted the Accountability Rule and implemented an interview for county commissioners, Republicans across Georgia are beginning to realize that the Republican party must start providing some quality control to the candidates they allow on the Republican ballot, ensuring candidates meet a minimum standard, or risk severe damage to the Republican brand and demoralizing voters.

Stephen Aaron, the other candidate for 9th District Chairman, openly opposed the idea of the Republican Party providing accountability to politicians.

“All the accountability rule is is a power grab…No, I am not in favor of the accountability rule!” said Aaron. “Because, as a political party, it is our job to elect Republicans to office – Republicans that go through the primary. The primary is their interview process.”

Brian Parker noted how the average voter isn’t paying attention and often makes election decisions based on a name that is familiar to them, or the ethnicity of a candidate or some other superficiality.

Stephen Aaron worked as a campaign manager in 2014 for the late Speaker David Ralston, who was criticized for his corrupt use of legislative continuance to postpone legal cases for his law practice, that resulted in many victims not getting their day in court for several years. He was also criticized for stalling many bills through the years that would have advanced the GOP platform. In 2019, then Representative Colton Moore was one of 10 legislators who signed on to a resolution calling for Ralston to resign for his unethical behavior.

“Any GOP officer who has been a cheerleader for legislators with as terrible, unjust, and unprincipled a record as David Ralston’s is the epitome of Establishment!” said GRA President Nathaniel Darnell. “It is no surprise to find out that the people praising corrupt politicians are often on the politicians’ payroll! The paid political industry really has no business holding office in the Republican Party, since they have an inherent monetary conflict of interest when it comes to any accountability measures.”

In 2023 at the 9th District Convention, Stephen Aaron even presented a resolution to celebrate the legacy of Speaker David Ralston, but the hundreds of delegates resoundingly defeated the proposal.

Last week, on the other hand, Brian Parker spoke at the MA-GA candidate forum where he gave a rousing speech in support of the Republican platform and holding politicians accountable to it. Brian has previously served alongside Ron Hooper, former GRA NFRA Director, on the Fulton Defense Fund raising over $35,000 to support the three GOP electors who were targeted by Fani Willis. Their event ranked 11th in the state for total funds raised in 2023.

“Brian has shown a deep commitment to understanding the inner workings of the GOP, and he’s proven he can handle any challenge,” said Ron Hooper. “His greatest strength is his unwavering dedication to the America First movement and the mission to Make America Great Again. He holds politicians accountable and demands adherence to the Republican Platform.”

Brian has served as the chairman of the Bank’s County Republican Party.

“As the GOP stands at a crossroads, it is clear that bold leadership is essential for the party’s future. We need more individuals like Brian Parker—principled, passionate, and driven—to help restore the Republican brand and move us forward,” said Ron Hooper.”