When

Fayette County Republican Chairman Eric Dial

received the call from Mack Mattingly asking him

to be his finance director, Dial says, "I

did not hesitate. I said, `yes, sir.'"

Mattingly,

who served in the U.S. Senate from 1981 until

1987, is running for the seat vacated by the

untimely death of Paul Coverdell, a Republican.

Gov. Roy Barnes appointed Zell Miller, former

Democratic governor of Georgia, to fill the seat

until a special election in November.

The

non-partisan November election for the post has

eight candidates, including Mattingly and Miller.

Two candidates registered, then dropped out of

the race.

Mattingly

has the support and backing of the Georgia

Republican Party.

"I

felt it was my duty to serve in this position out

of a profound respect for Sen. Paul Coverdell and

his legacy," said Dial. "I will give my

full effort to see that his legacy continues by

helping to keep this seat in Republican

hands."

Dial

is a 1999 graduate and president of the Coverdell

Leadership Institute. The Institute was started

leaders to successfully win and sustain elected

positions, to make effective appointments and/or

to grow the ranks of Republican leaders."

Each year a few candidates are chosen through a

highly selective process to attend the institute.

Fellow

Coverdell graduate (class of 1996) and Fayette

County Commission Vice Chairman Greg Dunn said

regarding Dial's selection, "Sen.

Mattingly's selection of Eric to serve as his

campaign finance director is a perfect choice.

Eric's religious roots, total devotion to family,

unquestionable integrity and impressive

experience mark him as an outstanding young

Republican of whom all citizens of Fayette County

can be justifiably proud."

Dial

is not new to politics or fund-raising. He is

currently the chairman of the Fayette County

Republican Party, a two-year position. His local

political activism began in 1994 when he worked

with Paul Heard as his political director. In

late 1994 he joined the office of U.S. Rep. Mac

Collins, working first as his legislative

assistant and then as constituent services

representative serving as military affairs

liaison.

In

1998 Dial joined the Southeastern Legal

Foundation, a nonprofit conservative law firm, as

director of development. During his fund-raising

work for the foundation, Dial came into close

contact with Mattingly, who sits on its board.

Through Dial's efforts, the foundation has seen

an increase in net profits, exceeding

fund-raising projections this year by a

quarter-million dollars.

During

a recent meeting at Southeastern, Mattingly asked

Dial about the foundation's financial situation.

Dial jokingly told Mattingly that "it's

doing well; we're a million over budget. Now I'm

ready to turn myself over to Mattingly

2000."

Dial

later said, "I was joking. It never crossed

my mind that I would receive a call from

him." Mattingly called Dial from the

Republican Convention in Philadelphia after

solidifying the party's support.

Regarding

the challenge ahead of him, Dial said, "Zell

Miller is attempting to attach himself to the

legacy of Paul Coverdell. It is impossible for

any Democrat to vote the way that Paul would

have. A Georgia Democrat's vote in Georgia, where

Democrats are in charge, is worlds apart from a

Georgia Democrat in Washington, where they are in

the minority. It will be the Kennedys and

Daschles who determine how votes are cast in

behalf of Georgia."

He

continued, "I am grateful to my wife,

Cheryl, for her support in this. I will be

working 14- to 16-hour days and it is not easy to

be a `political widow' with two small children.

As I attempt to do in all aspect of life, I am

seeking the guidance and wisdom of God in this

venture. I recognize we have a hard task ahead. I

am committed to doing it."

Mattingly

is tentatively scheduled to speak at the Fayette

County Republican Party's First Saturday

breakfast in September. Due to the Labor Day

holiday, the breakfast will be Sept. 9. For

information, phone Danny Harrison at 770-460-0073

or go to the party's web site at www.fayettegop.org .

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