Although Southerland’s district does not include Washington County, which is currently represented by Jeff Miller, potential redistricting of the region could change that.  ‘It’s good to have a kindred spirit in Jeff Miller’, Southerland quipped ‘and I think he likes that he has an ally to the east of his district’.

The informal meeting, which included a lunch catered by Pat Brown, included a short address by Southerland followed by a passionate question and answer session.  Southerland, an avid hunter and outdoorsman, and accompanied by his legislative aid Melissa Thompson and District Director Jonathan Hayes, took the opportunity to tour Chipley Gun & Pawn and to look over the large selection of firearms available at the store.

Southerland made note that he worked with a loose coalition of Christian-minded representatives who met frequently to discuss issues and to stay focused on family- and faith-based initiatives.  Issues discussed at Monday’s lunch meeting included entitlements and the 2012 election cycle as well as the next Presidential election.

‘I campaigned on the platform to represent my constituents in the same manner that I treat my wife and four daughters‘, Southerland stated, ‘and I am proud to be in the position in which I find myself.  Even the worst day in America is better than any day in any other part of the world, and I am a proud American’.