History
The Republican Liberty Caucus was founded as a national organization in 1990.
Earle Smith of Cobb County was one of the first Georgians to join the RLC and served as State Coordinator throughout the 1990s.
The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia was formally chartered in 2002 with Pete Krembs of Chatham County as the first State Chairman. Senator David Shafer of Gwinnett County, a longtime RLC member, was named Honorary State Chairman.
A website was launched, and an effort was begun to enlist Republican candidates and elected officials as signers of the Liberty Compact.
The RLC formed the Liberty Political Fund (now the Freedom Fund of Georgia) in 2002 as an affiliated political action committee. David Suddoth of Gwinnett County was appointed its first Treasurer. Funds were raised to make nominal contributions to RLC endorsed candidates.
Sean Turner of Fulton County succeeded Krembs as State Chairman in 2004.
Senator David Shafer founded the Senate Liberty Caucus in 2005 with eleven Republicans joining him as charter members. Founding members of the Senate Liberty Caucus pledged themselves to the principles of lower taxes, less government and free enterprise. The group is recognized as a “welcome ally” of the RLC.
The first RLC county organization in Georgia, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Gwinnet County, was formed in 2005, with Todd Pull as the first County Chairman.
Chris Farris of Gwinnett County succeeded Turner as State Chairman in 2006. The RLC launched a new “blog” style website at www.gopliberty.org.
Twenty five Republicans won office in the 2006 elections with the endorsement of the RLC, including three statewide elected officials.
In 2007, an effort was begun to form a House Liberty Caucus as a companion to the Senate Liberty Caucus, leading to the recogntion of the House’s 216 Group as a “welcome ally” of the RLC. Also in 2007, an RLC Legislative Committee was formed to monitor the work of the General Assembly and take positions on bills.
Chris Farris was re-elected as state chairman at the 2007 state convention. An expanded executive committee was elected, and a fundraising campaign was begun for the Freedom Fund of Georgia. Also at the convention, the RLC’s second county organization, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Dade County, was chartered.
