“In spirit I am still representing Gilmer, Fannin, and Pickens, the whole 515 corridor and the other counties.”

U.S. Congressman Tom Graves (R-GA-09) continued his town hall tour through the district at the Fannin Middle School last Thursday. But, with the new district lines drawn and approaching finalization as the maps went to the state senate last week, the meeting seemed like a farewell performance. Come January 2013, Graves will no longer be serving the 9th district. If the new maps retain their shape, Graves will be moved to the newly created 14th, where he will have to run in the July 2012 primaries to maintain his congressional seat. In the north western part of the state, the new 9th district will have to vote-in a new representative. But, little was said about the change Thursday night. At one point, though, in passing Graves said that he’d always represent the principles of the 9th district and thanked the voters for their support.

As Graves faced over a hundred constituents, his principles remained intact. When Gilmer County resident and Tea Party Communications Director Jack Smith asked Graves if he would support legislation to do away with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), The Department of Education, The Department of Energy and all other agencies that financially drain our nation, Graves said he would support such legislation. On the Department of Education, Graves said that the federal government should have no role in education, saying that the responsibility belongs to local governments. And when asked if he supported the United Nations, the congressman said

“it is not something he agrees with at all.”

Later in the evening, he was asked more rigorous questions that tested his principles. Citizen and Head Gardner for a local food bank Reggie Lenoir asked,

“Would you support a tax increase on the absolute, most wealthy people in the country? And take that tax money not to pay the debt, but take it from the highest echelon and move it to the middle class?”

Sanding firm, Graves responded,

“This gets us into a vicious tax cycle that punishes success. I think America should reward success; I think we should want to see everybody do well.”

He said that the government over taxes Americans and is over regulated.

“It has stifled economic development and growth,”

the congressman said.

In an interview with FYN following the town hall, the congressman gave some farewell sentiments and future perceptions.

“In spirit,” he said, “I am still representing Gilmer, Fannin, and Pickens, the whole 515 corridor and the other counties.”

He explained that the new boundaries do not

“separate our equal desire, that is, to work hard for our nation.”

With these new boundaries, Graves transitions into the newly formed 14th district, where he will have to run again to maintain his seat. Last week, FYN learned that Steve Tarvin will likely run against Graves for the 14th district congressional seat. When asked about this prospect, Graves said that he welcomed the opportunity for a spirited debate and that,

“We’re all unified as to what the right direction is for the nation.”