While Chatooga County in Northwest Georgia has voted reliably red in state elections for more than 20 years, Democrats have maintained a hold on local offices. Following a series of events that started on Facebook, however, that appears to have changed. After Chatooga Sheriff Mark Schrader, a Democrat, was attacked over a picture he posted referencing antifa’s presence at a white supremacy rally in Dahlonega, he received hundreds of hateful comments and even threats, nearly all coming from Democrats. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Schrader, who was joined by Magistrate Judge Tracy Maddux, Clerk of Courts Kim James and Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton in announcing they were leaving the party. Maddux has said he will run as a Republican in 2020, while the others have not yet stated their intentions, but whatever they decide one thing is for sure: the Democrat ship in Chatooga County is SINKING…
