Austin Scott Advances to ‘On the Radar’

July 26, 2010

Austin Scott Advances to ‘On the Radar’
Georgia Candidate Takes Important First Step Toward ‘Young Gun’ Status

Washington– The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has officially announced Austin Scott (GA-08) as an ‘On the Radar’ candidate, an important first step in its Young Guns program. Founded in the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Paul Ryan (R-WI), the Young Guns program is a member-driven organization dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger candidates nationwide. Scott is aiming to retire incumbent Democrat Rep. Jim Marshall this fall in Georgia’s Eighth Congressional District, a Republican-leaning area that has been held by Marshall since 2003.

The Young Guns program is designed to assist Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives achieve goals and benchmarks throughout the election cycle focused on the fundamentals of a winning campaign. By achieving ‘On the Radar’ status, Scott has already proven his ability to build a successful campaign structure and achieve important fundraising goals.

“The NRCC is committed to working with Austin Scott as he continues to meet the rigorous goals of the Young Guns program,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions. “Austin is an accomplished small businessman and public servant with practical experience in both government and the private sector. I know he’ll fight to create jobs and rein in government spending, and I am confident that we will be successful in our efforts to put this seat in the Republican column come November.”

Scott’s entrepreneurial background and political experience make him the ideal fit for the Eighth District. The founder of a successful insurance brokerage in Tifton, Georgia, Scott is a strong advocate for Georgia small businesses and is dedicated to a pro-growth economic agenda that will benefit Peach State families. He has served for fourteen years in the Georgia General Assembly, where he has earned a reputation for his work ethic, integrity, and solutions-oriented approach. He is committed to conservative beliefs and Republican values and will work hard to get the economy back on track. Scott and his wife, Vivien, are the proud parents of their ten-year-old son, Wells.

Scott recently raised eyebrows by outraising Marshall in his debut fundraising quarter and winning his three-way primary without a runoff, earning 53% of the vote. The non-partisan Rothenberg Political Report moved this race to the competitive “Lean Democrat” column as a result of Scott’s successes.

Having achieved certain benchmarks to place him on the road to victory, Austin Scott now faces a new set of rigorous goals that will help him advance to the next level of the Young Guns program and help him build a competitive, effective and winning campaign.

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