In 2006, during McKillip’s first campaign, Quick challenged (and lost) to Doug. Now, six years later, she is back to try to change history.
Quick will challenge Republican Representative Doug McKillip for the newly created HD117. McKillip has been the target of attacks for being actively involved in the local redistricting process. Quick says she wants to run because she wants to unite Athens. While Quick has a Republican following in Athens, it has yet to be seen if she can also unite the other counties in the district, which includes Oconee, Barrow and Jackson.
While many expected the Tea Party to run a candidate against McKillip, local Tea Party activists shocked many by working with Democratic officials to get rid of certain Republicans:
“’We are very much against the Democrats who switched to Republicans,’ (tea party leader Bill) Evelyn said. ‘The worst thing that can happen is to have a man or woman who was raised with Democrat ideology that just to get their agenda through switches to the Republican party and then the Republican party leadership embraces them as members of the Republican party.’
“Evelyn has conferred with State Democrats about mounting challenges to the party-switchers, such as Rep. Doug McKillip of Athens.
“‘I encourage Mike Berlon and Eric Gray [of the Democratic Party of Georgia] to do everything they can to get rid of Doug McKillip in the general election,’ he said.”
Recent disclosures have McKillip with $50,000 cash on hand. Whoever is going to challenge him will have to mount a quick fundraising effort and massive ground campaign.
