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Gooch appointed to technical board
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Lumpkin County resident Stephen W. “Steve” Gooch was appointed last week to serve as the Ninth Congressional District Representative on the State Board of Technical and Adult Education.

  

The Ninth District runs across the state from Rockdale and Hall County in the south and east, up to North Carolina and Tennessee and back down to Alabama on the west.

  

A member of the North Georgia College & State University School of Business & Government Advisory Council, Gooch said he looks forward to acting as a liaison between the local technical college campuses and the state technical education board.

  

“I’m looking forward to getting involved and seeing how I can help north Georgia and their needs at the state level, and hopefully help bring more jobs to the district,” he said.

  

Having served as sole commission of Lumpkin County for four years and as chairman of the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners for four more, Gooch said his resume in local and state government played a role in his appointment.

Gooch was chosen by “Georgia Trend” and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government as the first recipient of Georgia’s Excellence in Public Service Award in 2003. He is also a graduate of Leadership Georgia and Leadership Lumpkin County.

  

“Hopefully my leadership abilities will help in other areas,” he said. “I’m willing to help out where I can.”

  

Gooch also sat on the Association County Commissioners of Georgia executive board for several years.

  

“Steve’s got a wealth of background in north Georgia and has been involved throughout north Georgia for a long time,” said Mike Berg, chairman of the Dawson County Board of Commissioners and a current AGGC executive board member.

  

“He’s well thought of in north Georgia and will do a good job in anything he is asked to do. I’m so pleased north Georgia is getting some good representation at the state level,” Berg added.

  

Gooch earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from North Georgia College & State University. He and his wife Shannon have three children.