Meet Rob Woodall, the newest GOP candidate for the 7th
Until last week, 40-year-old Rob Woodall was chief of staff for U.S. Rep. John Linder. He’s been with the congressman for 16 years.
Woodall called this morning to introduce himself as the newest candidate in the Republican contest to replace his now former boss.
He announced Wednesday, in a conversation with Neal Boortz on WSB (750AM). Boortz and Linder have paired on a couple books on the Fair Tax – a proposed sales-tax substitute for the income tax.
What you probably didn’t know is that Woodall was involved in the writing of both. Said the former staffer:
“I think of myself more as a ghost on the first book. They put my name on the second time around.
“When they got ready to do that second book, they said, ‘Rob do you have the time to help us out with it?’ So I took some unpaid leave from work and really threw myself into it. I really appreciate them giving me that opportunity. The Fair Tax is one of my passions.”
Woodall said Linder was “just thrilled” by his decision to enter the race, made after the abrupt withdrawal of state Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville). “I appreciate his support on that,” the former chief of staff said.
The second thing you need to know about Woodall is that he does not live in the 7th District. “I do not. As of Friday I will. They’re cleaning out and finishing the floors on a place out in Lawrenceville. So I will soon be a Lawrenceville resident,” Woodall said.
Woodall is a Georgia native – born in Athens, raised in Avondale and DeKalb County. A graduate of Furman University and the University of Georgia law school.
Very likely, Woodall’s longtime residency abroad will become an issue in the race. Consituency service is how he’ll answer any questions:
“For every day that I’ve been working for John, I’ve been serving the folks in Gwinnett.
“I’ve been in Washington D.C. But I’m not of Washington D.C. It is funny to me that I’m not the hometown guy, that I’m the underdog from out of town.
“I’m thinking, golly, I know your kids, I know your families, I know your deepest darkest secrets, because we’ve been working on them and trying to solve them together for over a decade.”
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64 comments Add your comment
Richard
March 26th, 2010
1:57 pm
No.
gop conservative
March 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
You people that rail against quote insiders don’t realize a very key point: by offering up a legislatively green, outsider you are basically making a laughingstock of your district in dc. He or she will be a back bench seat warmer and will likely take years to garner respect from the leadership.
If anything, you should WANT an insider, so long as they are ethical and share your values.
Richard
March 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
@gop conservative
Exactly.
Base
March 26th, 2010
2:25 pm
Another Linder wacko!
grizzybear
March 26th, 2010
3:21 pm
tom kirby is also running for the seat.www.tomkirby2010.com, he is a local businessman from loganville.
TP4U
March 26th, 2010
10:08 pm
Enter your comments here
really
March 26th, 2010
10:16 pm
@richard – are you on linder’s staff. you are probably the district director. that’s the person that takes care of the constituents in the district. COS don’t take care of constituent’s services. you are so apparent that you are even using acronyms for Chief of Staff. woodall is the guy that goes with linder to meet with all of the lobbyists to receptions and dinners. He gets to do all the things that linder could care less about. woodall says, “omg, i am going to miss all of this stuff when linder retires–I know, I will run for my boss’ seat. that way, I don’t have to give up my washington home, the free dinners, the free trips and all on the dime of the dumb taxpayers in the district.” He could care less about folks outside of gwinnett—those folks don’t have a clue as far as he is concerned–they don’t even vote! that’s why he takes a small place in lawrenceville and will probably make that his campaign headquarters. And, guess what Linder will still be able to govern while sitting in his golf cart!
tj
March 26th, 2010
11:08 pm
I saw this quote and had to laugh. What has John Linder ever done? He’s never passed a major piece of legislation. Of course when you’re drunk, it’s hard to get anything done.
“Three weeks ago John announced that he would retire at the end of this year. He and I have worked together side-by-side for more than a decade, first to expand freedom and liberty, and now to fight America’s slide toward socialism. I hope you agree it is imperative, at this critical juncture in our nation’s history, that we ensure that John’s years of dedicated work in Congress on your behalf and on behalf of all the people of our district are not lost.
Mom
March 27th, 2010
9:21 am
Can this Rob guy hold his liquor better than Linder? Does this Rob guy live in Georgia or Washington? How much is this Rob guy going to take from lobbyist and how much of our taxmoney is he going to give the lobbyist?
Joe
April 3rd, 2010
5:14 pm
To the person that says you want an insider and not to be the laughing stock, I’ll take an outsider any day. This is the problem even locally. These guys are too cozy with the system. New blood and term limits. Didn’t Linder say he was going to be one term, well we see after 16 years nothing. I’m getting to the point if people really want to change things they should stop complaining and run themselves. What do you have to lose? Can it be worse choosing an outsider? Insiders haven’t gotten us anything but debt and misery.
Mike
April 7th, 2010
9:06 pm
For those of you looking for a candidate to support take a look at Josh McKay. Josh believes in smaller government, reduced taxes, fiscal responsibility, and term limits. He is not a professional politician and is building a grassroots campaign. Visit http://joshmckay.org/ for more info. If you are on Facebook search Josh McKay to locate his FB page.
Stephen M. Arnold
May 7th, 2010
9:21 am
WOW! What a hatchet job. Has anyone looked a Congressman Linder voting Record? You should he’s one of the most conservative leaders we have representing us in Washington D.C. And his Chief of staff is there with him on all votes.
Now after 10 years in State Government and 18 years serving Walton, (P/O) Forsyth, Barrow and Newton Counties and yes Gwinnett also John wants to retire and his Chief of Staff wants to keep the conservative fight going.
I think we should be proud to have him step forward and continue the good job Congressman Linder has done for the 7th District.
As for the FairTax, I support it and 85% at the last count of the 7th District does too. Maybe it want happen but one thing for sure, we can’t keep going the way we are or we will end up like Greece.
Rob Woodall you Have my vote!
Steve
Cathy
June 1st, 2010
4:53 pm
I cannot believe the American people love that the national debt is totally incomprehensible and no one is accountable for that spending. and that both parties in Congress are enjoying deficit spending and printing and diluting our dollar and sending us the bill. I want to see a correlation between minimal taxes collected from everyone and money spent in Washington. and don’t you think it would nice to take some power away from the IRS and have no loopholes, no deductions, no filing and no social engineering by Congress?
remember, a government big enough to give you everything you want
is strong enough to take everything you have.
and…government does some things well and most things poorly, therefore they should do as little as possible.
Daniel S
August 16th, 2010
2:40 am
I am not thrilled about a political insider winning the primary. And add to that the fact that he is making Illuminati hand signals on his website, the pyramid. Look it up. But I know that I could be wrong about the New World Order. But I highly doubt that, based upon what I have seen, and my knowledge of the occult. Too many coincedences.
But we already know this, the Democrats will take us there swiftly, the Republicans slowly. So that is why I am considering voting for Rob Woodall, because of the lesser of two evils.