Lanny Thomas, Senatorial candidate for the 53rd District, addressed the crowd at the Chattooga County Republican Party recently. Thomas is not entirely new to politics having previously served as the Mayor and Councilman of Trion. Thomas chose to run on the Republican ticket because he feels that the Democratic Party no longer represents the “same conservative morals and convictions my father and grandfather had. That is why I am now a Republican, I just couldn’t go where the Democratic Party was taking me.”
Thomas explained, like many people in the South, “…my grandfather was born in 1901 and was a big democrat. He raised my father to be a democrat, I was raised a democrat. It is somewhat like being born and raised by a religious family. If you were rasied by Baptist parents, you went to the Baptist Church. If you were raised by Methodist parents, you went to the Methodist Church down the street from the Baptist Church.”
Thomas said his focus will be on the people of the 53rd district. “I have no allegiances or ties with interest groups or lobbyists.” Thomas realizes the needs in Chattooga County differ from the needs of Walker County, Dade County and Catoosa County. Thomas will work hard with local leadership to determine the needs of their community and develop a plan of action on how to obtain them. Thomas said he will “fight for small family businesses, education, and communities.”
Lanny Thomas is a beloved coach and educator. He is a member and deacon at Trion First Baptist Church, currently serving as Chairman of Deacons. Thomas and his wife, Chrysan, have four sons. Isaac Thomas, youngest of the four sons, was recently awarded Freshman of the Year for the Peach Belt Conference as a standout basketball player at Georgia College.
