Hayden Collins

In America we celebrate our democratic process of the election of leaders to represent us.  When I contemplated entering this race, I thought long and hard about what it means to “represent” a district in the Georgia state legislature. Representing a group of citizens is a great responsibility.

From the initial conviction shared with your family, friends and neighbors, a candidate must then represent his values to the community and why these citizens should spend their precious vote to endorse him as their elected representative. This process has involved going door-to-door and talking with residents across the district about my stand on stronger schools, support for small business, smaller government, and for the Constitution itself. I have attended lots of public gatherings, taken campaign materials to homes throughout the county, and I sponsored this web site to provide 24 hour / 7 day a week access for any voter to my positions on a wide array of issues facing the citizens of District 15.   Because as citizens, it is our responsibility to learn about the issues, vote responsibly, and participate in the ever-evolving process of government in our changing world.

Once a representative is elected, a new challenge begins: the representative must fairly and candidly serve their district in the legislative process. Some representatives act as if being elected is the end of something rather than the beginning. Once elected, you represent the people who have cast a vote for you because they believe that you have the strength, discipline and stamina to do what you said during your election campaign. As the old saying goes – the proof of the pudding is in the tasting.  I am beholden to no one but the citizens of District 15, and I will bring fresh resolve and enthusiasm to the job of representing District 15.

As citizens, it is our privilege as well as our responsibility to support our leaders for issues we believe in, and to civilly express our disagreement when that is necessary.  So what about those citizens of District 15 who support different opinions and interests? It is the job of a representative to first listen to your community and to consider every point of view. You cannot change your values and convictions, but you owe every citizen a hearing and a straightforward response about the matter at hand. If I disagree with you, I will tell you so and why. And if in the end you find your representative is not delivering value, that individual would not deserve to win re-election.

It is in such situations that we have the opportunity to fully experience one of the strengths of our American system of government:

the freedom to disagree and to express our disagreement.  What we do with our freedom defines who we are.

When we disagree – be it as a group of neighbors, or as a county, a state, or an entire nation – it is the moment not only to identify what needs to be changed, but also to forge the commitment to seek a better solution.

I do not approach this election and these responsibilities lightly.  More than your vote, I am seeking your confidence in my abilities and my commitment to represent the citizens of District 15 and the Bartow County community.  I welcome the questions and concerns of every one who lives and works here, and expect this interaction to continue after July 20.

During the course of this campaign, I have spoken with many residents of the district – in formal settings such as last month’s forum at the Republican Party headquarters in Cartersville, and also at community events and celebrations, in one-on-one discussions after church or at the supermarket, and by e-mail.  Such conversations often focus on the events at hand, or on a resident’s particular question about the government or the candidates’ views.

Through this web site and this blog, examples have been given of community leadership and how they demonstrate key issues for us as citizens and as members of the Bartow County community.   Today I have added a link from the campaign web site to a concise description of my stand on these core issues.  Please click  Hayden Collins Expanded Issues to go to the expanded Issues page.

On Tuesday you will choose who will represent Bartow County in the years ahead.  I encourage you to consider the issues that concern our community, and the leadership we need to address them.