This a guest post from GRA-endorsed candidate for Treasurer Laurie McClain.
As we draw closer to the 2025 Georgia Republicans State Convention, I would like to share a few things about my candidacy that you may not know and correct a few things that you may think you know.
If you haven’t heard, the rules of the Georgia Republican Party require that the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer be a CPA, Accountant, Bookkeeper or Financial Advisor. There is only one candidate in this race that meets this minimum basic requirement. Here are my credentials:
• BBA from Georgia State University in Accounting
• Certified Public Accountant
• Certified Forensic Accountant
• Master of Taxation from Georgia State University
• Member, Taxation Advisory Council, Georgia Society of CPAs
• Currently a College Accounting Instructor
• Currently pursuing a Master of Legal Studies at Texas A & M
• 39 years’ experience in the financial and accounting field
This alone disqualifies my opponent. There’s more to being a Treasurer than being a rubber stamp.
Let’s move on and look at my experience:
– Current Treasurer of the Georgia Republican Party – elected 2023
– Current Treasurer of the 9th District Republican Party – elected 2025
– Current Vice Chair Gwinnett Transit Advisory Board – appointed 2024
– Former First Vice Chairman – Gwinnett GOP – elected 2023
– Former Treasurer – Gwinnett GOP – elected 2021
– Candidate for Gwinnett County Commission – 2012 and 2020
– Former Chairman’s Budget Review Committee (Gwinnett) – appointed 2012, 2013
– Former Chairman Gwinnett County Transit Review Committee – appointed 2019
– Former Member of Engage Gwinnett – appointed 2009
– Former member Citizens Project Selection Committee for Gwinnett SPLOST – 2014, 2017
Clearly, I am respected by many and sought after for my financial abilities. And I obviously have a heart for service since these are all volunteer positions!
Then, there are my accomplishments. I hate to brag, but I must….
- As Treasurer of Gwinnett GOP, the chairman and I brought transparency back to the party. This allowed us to raise tens of thousands of dollars over the four years I was on the executive committee that we used to help our local candidates.
- I created an accounting system for Gwinnett that previously did not exist.
- I took the GaGOP County Treasurer Training Manual and updated and enhanced it. I used this as the basis for many zoom-based training courses for county treasurers to assist them in their financial compliance requirements.
Finally, let’s talk about me, personally.
I’m a Georgia native, a 51-year resident of Gwinnett County, and life-long Republican. I’m married to a wonderful man, a retired Dekalb County firefighter who saved my life in 2018, when I had a near fatal heart attack. I have three grown children and one precious granddaughter. I put myself through college and worked as a legal secretary for a small law firm in Atlanta while I was in school. I guess I was around 20 years old and guess what…..I managed their finances!! Just maybe I have found my calling!
Seriously, though as an accountant for almost 40 years, my integrity and character are as important as my tax and accounting skills. I have been as transparent with the party’s financial standing as my ethical responsibilities will allow. I’ve answered every single question that I’ve ever been asked, even if the answer was, “I can’t tell you that.” I believe in transparency. I have worked hard to give the party just that and I will continue to make it a priority as your next Treasurer.
I have tried to run an honest and positive campaign because I believe we are better together. While discourse is good, discussion is better. Got a problem? Let’s talk about it! Have a question? Ask! Let’s all make sure we are rowing the boat in the same direction. That is the only way we can kick Ossoff’s butt in 2026! Vote for Laurie McClain as Treasurer of the Georgia Republican Party on June 7, 2025 in Dalton!
