Candidate for 9th House District

Name: Will Wade

Age: 42

How long have you lived in the district: 42 years

Occupation: Community Banker

Education: 2005 Graduate Degree Banking from UGA/GBA / 2001 BA UNG: Double Major Finance & Accounting /1996 Graduate Dawson County High.

Political Experience: Dawson County School Board Member: May 2004 to March 2020, Former President of GSBA, Member of GMRC, GMRC Workforce Development Board, GSFC Commissioner, Delegate to NSBA, Public Affairs Committee Member of the GBA, Member of the Dawson County and Georgia Republican Party.

Career experience: I’ve spent my entire 22-year career as a local banker helping families and small business owners in our community get access to capital to create jobs, expand businesses, and make investments in rural Georgia.

Community Involvement: Member of Mill Creek Baptist Church, Sunday School Teacher, Assistant Choir Director and Assistant Youth Director. Rotarian in both Dawson and Lumpkin Counties. Volunteer for many local charities

Why are you running for the 9th House District seat? I am running to serve the district I’ve spent my entire life. We need folks in office who have worked with small businesses to create jobs, who have worked in elected office to make tough decisions, protect taxpayers and who have a record of getting things done. We need leaders that will not only ask the tough questions but leaders who have a record of effectiveness and success during both good and bad economic times.

What makes you the best candidate for this position? 

I believe actions speak louder than words and when we vote for someone to represent us, we should inspect their full record. I hope the voters will look at my record of helping folks create jobs and expand their businesses right here in our community. Look at how we made the Dawson County School System one of the best in state during my time as a School Board Member. Our board made tough decisions, put students, teachers and parents first, while also maintaining one of the lowest millage rates in our region, which shows we understand and respect the taxpayers.

What is your promise to Dawson County constituents? You have my word that I’ll never forget who I represent and that I’ll make sure you have a strong voice in Atlanta. I will have your back. I will use my experience and work hard to get our economy roaring again as soon as possible.

What are the top three issues you believe the state is currently facing, and what are your views on addressing each? Economy: We must ensure Georgia is number one for small businesses. That doesn’t mean giving tax breaks to big corporations moving to Atlanta. Similar to 2008, we are facing an unprecedented level of economic uncertainty now due to COVID-19. Once we get beyond this current pandemic, I’ll work to make it easier than ever to start, restart or expand business in rural Georgia, just like I have done in banking for more than two decades. 

Education: Our schools are improving every year, but we still have more to do. We’ve got to make sure our kids are ready for jobs in the 21st century. That’s what will bring jobs to this community in the long run. I will work to finish the process of updating our QBE funding formula to make it a 21st Century formula that will provide flexible funding all across Georgia.