Matt Gurtler

Matt Gurtler
Gurtler at the 2017 Young Americans for Liberty National Convention
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
from the 8th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2017
Preceded by Stephen Allison
Personal details
Born Rabun County, Georgia
Political party Republican
Residence Tiger, Georgia
Alma mater University of North Georgia

Matthew Levi Gurtler is a Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives.

Biography

Gurtler graduated from the University of North Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in 2012. He volunteered for Ron Paul's 2008 and 2012 campaigns for President, and served as a Delegate to the Georgia Republican Party in 2013 and 2015. Gurtler has worked as a political consultant since 2015, and is also CEO of Matthew L. Gurtler General Construction.[1]

On February 14, 2017, the Atlanta Journal Constitution published an article reporting that Gurtler had apparently been threatened by Governor Nathan Deal's top aide, Chris Riley.[2] The reason for this threat was Gurtler being the only "No" vote on the governors proposed budget due to his opposition on the budgets subsidies and interference in the free market. Riley threatened to "Cut all funding to your (Gurtler's) district." The day after the AJC article was released about the threat to Gurtler and his district, an article was released detailing a dropped charge that Gurtler incurred in 2013.

In 2013, Gurtler was arrested on the University of North Georgia campus and charged with obstruction of a law enforcement officer; the charge was later dropped.[3][4]

Gurtler ran for the House in 2016; he won the Republican primary runoff with 61% of the vote and was unopposed in the general election.[5][6][7]

In 2018, he had a primary challenger, Mickey Cummings.[8]

Gurtler has been called "'...one of the most, if not the most, Republican legislator in Georgia'". [9]

Gurtler was endorsed by State Senator Michael Williams, a 2018 Georgia gubernatorial candidate.[10]

Political positions

Gurtler is pro-life.[11] He supports the Second Amendment.[12] Some of Gurtler's main objectives are limiting the size and scope of government, reduction of taxes, as well as making sure that the Constitution is upheld. One of the groups that has been a large advocate for Gurtler is the Georgia Gun Owners Association. He has done several interviews with this association voicing his support for the Second Amendment as well as bills such as Constitutional Carry (HB 156).[13]

Electoral history

Georgia House District 8 Republican primary, 2016[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Gurtler 4,016 34.64
Republican Kent Woerner 2,621 22.61
Republican Joshua Littrell 2,602 22.45
Republican David Barton 2,354 20.31
Total votes 11,593 100.00
Georgia House District 8 Republican primary runoff, 2016[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Gurtler 3,476 60.84
Republican Kent Woerner 2,237 39.16
Total votes 5,713 100.00
Georgia House District 8 election, 2016[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Gurtler 24,824 100.00
Total votes 24,824 100.00

References

  1. ↑ "Matt Gurtler's Biography". Project VoteSmart. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  2. ↑ "GOP lawmaker says Nathan Deal's top aide 'threatened' him".
  3. ↑ Belcher, Richard (February 15, 2017). "New Ga. lawmaker settles 2013 arrest". WSB-TV Atlanta. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  4. ↑ Sheinin, Aaron Gould (February 15, 2017). "New lawmaker settled 2013 arrest last month". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Matthew Levi Gurtler (R-Tiger)". Atlanta Unfiltered. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Rabun County Republican, Matt Gurtler Announces His Run for State Representative for House District 8". Fetch Your News. February 22, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Rabun County's Matthew Gurtler running for state house". The Clayton Tribune. February 13, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Political Insider". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Political Insider". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  10. ↑ <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwilliamsforga%2Fposts%2F1697234727038268&width=500" width="500" height="759" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe>
  11. ↑ Taylor, Jason (March 14, 2017). "Proposal in MO legislature would override St. Louis anti-discrimination law". Missourinet. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Issues". Phil Christofanelli for State Representative. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Republican Matt Gurtler – Georgia Gun Owners". www.georgiagunowners.org. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  14. ↑ "GA State House 008 - R Primary 2016". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  15. ↑ "GA State House 008 - R Runoff 2016". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  16. ↑ "GA State House 008 2016". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
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