History of Muscogee YRs
January 2005: The Muscogee County YR group (hereafter “MCYRs”) is officially created and chartered by local attorney and Republican activist Josh McKoon, who is elected as the group’s first chairman. The group begins its monthly meetings which are attended by various political figures and speakers.
June 2005: A group of about ten MCYRs travel to Savannah, Georgia for the Georgia GOP and YR Convention. Just a few months after their group’s creation, under the leadership of Josh McKoon the MCYRs bring the third largest statewide delegation to the YR convention. More importantly, the contingent has a great time hanging out with other like-minded individuals and exciting candidates.
July 2005: Several MCYRs travel to the national YR convention in Las Vegas, NV. Both Josh McKoon and H.L. Barnett are elected to regional positions.
May 2006: The MCYRs host the Georgia YR convention in Columbus, which is attended by several statewide candidates.
September 2006: The MCYRs elect several new competent and energetic officers, including Katie and Ty Harrison, Johnson Trawick and Mitch Zamora, who constructs an excellent website for the group. Dave Helmick takes over the reins as Chairman to help out Josh McKoon, who is busy assisting in several statewide and local campaigns. Senator Seth Harp is named as the official advisor to the MCYRs and provides the group with critical assistance as it continues to move forward.
November 1, 2006: The MCYRs plan and host their inaugural fundraiser, a reception and pre-election rally honoring local Republican legislators Senator Seth Harp, Representative Richard Smith, Representative Vance Smith, and Congressman Lynn Westmoreland at the Chattahoochee River Club in downtown Columbus, Georgia, at 6:00 p.m. Spearheaded by a committee led by Ty and Katie Harrison, Johnson Trawick and Dave Helmick, the event is a huge success attended by close to 70 people. According to an official at the River Club, it is their best attended political event in years.
November 7, 2006: After a full cycle of campaigning, the MCYR's work pays off on election day as Governor Perdue carries Muscogee County on his way to reelection. MCYR favorites Senator Seth Harp and Congressman Lynn Westmoreland win by comfortable margins, while both Casey Cagle and Karen Handel become the first Republican Lt. Governor and Secretary of State. A contingent of MCYRs travels to the slate-wide party in Buckhead to join in the celebration and prove that Republicans do indeed have more fun.
February 7, 2007: The MCYRs sponsor a forum to discuss the site surrounding the public library on Macon Road. Featured speakers at the forum were Teresa Tomlinson (representing Midtown Inc.), Bob Hydrick (Trees Columbus), Chris Wightman and Josh Mckoon (both of the Educational Park Coalition). Believed to be the first forum of its type on the issue, a longtime elected official present called it the most productive meeting and discussion they had been involved in on this extremely important issue.
March 2007: YR Josh McKoon is elected Chairman of the Muscogee County Republican Party, becoming the youngest chairman in recent years. His excellent first year is marked by increased communication via email and newsletters and a sucessful fundraiser honoring local GOP legend Bo Callaway.
June 2008: Chairman Dave Helmick resigns due to term limits. Ed Thompson was nominated by a nominations committee and is unopposed in being elected Chairman.
YR member Ryan Newbern qualified to run for School Board, being one of the youngest candidates for a city office in Columbus history.