This year has been busy for me. Serving as your GADA Chairman and as a representative of District 160 of the great state of Georgia has allowed me to see both sides of the political process — as a car dealer advocating to address issues our industry faces and as an elected House member, having the ability to enact change — one could say things have come full circle.

As Chairman of the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association, I was proud to be joined by my colleagues in the industry at our Dealer Day at the Capitol. That day gave us the opportunity to show our strong presence, showcase vehicles, and most importantly, interact with elected officials. I want to thank Speaker Burns, Lt. Gov. Jones and my many colleagues in the House and Senate for taking time out of their day to drop by the event.

This sort of grassroots advocacy is important to the future of our industry. We are in a unique position to speak with authority as to what our industry is facing. Automotive retailing is one of the most heavily regulated businesses in America. To ensure the decisions made at a state level are fully informed, dealers need to educate lawmakers about our industry, the benefits of the franchise system and our contributions to our communities.

One of the most effective ways to educate lawmakers is to invite them to your dealership for a visit, tour, and discussion. When elected officials learn about your business first-hand, they become better informed about how their votes affect your business, employees, and customers. Dealers can also advocate for dealer legislative priorities at a district office meeting with the lawmaker or by attending events like Dealer Day at the Capitol. Your voice is needed, and it matters.
Another way to get involved is to donate to the CARD of Georgia, which was established to promote and directly support legislators concerned with the welfare of the automotive industry. To find out more and contribute, please visit www.gada.com/advocacy.

It has been an honor to serve as your Chairman this year, and I hope you will reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. I am always happy to help.

Sincerely,
Lehman Franklin
GADA Chairman