By Michael Dockery
Over the last year, I’ve had hundreds of conversations across our district. On porches. In driveways. At ballfields. At church. At small businesses.
And I’ve noticed something.
People aren’t angry as much as they’re tired.
Tired of feeling like politics is noise. Tired of headlines that don’t change their daily lives. Tired of watching decisions get made somewhere else while they deal with rising costs here at home.
Most families I talk to aren’t asking for dramatic change. They’re asking for steady direction. They want to know that someone is thinking long-term about our communities — not just the next election cycle.
They want roads that stay paved. Schools that prepare kids for real opportunity. Policies that help small businesses grow instead of struggle. Support for law enforcement that goes beyond slogans. A state government that remembers rural Georgia is not an afterthought.
That’s not flashy. But it’s fundamental.
Too often, leadership becomes reactive — responding to headlines instead of setting direction. Real leadership means looking ahead. It means asking: Where will our district be in five years? In ten?
Will our young people see a future here? Will families feel financially stable? Will small towns continue to thrive instead of shrink?
Those questions don’t get solved by press releases. They get solved by consistent, grounded decision-making.
As a teacher, I see firsthand what happens when direction is missing. When expectations are unclear, when priorities shift constantly, progress stalls. The same is true in government.
Our district doesn’t need theatrics. It needs focus.
It needs someone who understands that conservative values aren’t just talking points — they’re practical principles: fiscal responsibility, local control, strong families, and personal accountability.
That means protecting taxpayers. That means strengthening workforce pathways. That means ensuring rural infrastructure is treated as essential, not optional. That means keeping our communities safe and supporting those who serve.
Most of all, it means remembering that public office is not about position — it’s about responsibility.
I believe our district deserves steady leadership with a clear sense of direction. Leadership that listens, yes — but also leadership that acts with purpose.
We can move forward without losing who we are. And on May 19, voters will decide what kind of direction they want for our district.
I believe we’re ready for focused, forward-looking leadership rooted right here at home.
