DALTON, Ga. — Party faithful packed the Whitfield County Republican Party headquarters Tuesday night to hear from three candidates for statewide office.

A standing room crowd of more than 100 listened as gubernatorial candidates Hunter Hill and Michael Williams and secretary of state candidate David Belle Isle made the case for why voters should select them in the May 22 GOP primary.

Hill, a former state senator from Smyrna, has a connection to Dalton. His mother Dicksie McCutchen Hill is from Dalton, and he is the grandnephew of Jack Bandy, one of the co-founders of Coronet Industries, one of the major leaders in the carpet industry for many years.

Hill graduated from the United States Military Academy, where he played football. He went on to graduate from the U.S. Army Airborne, Air Assault and Ranger schools and served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, receiving two Bronze Stars.

“There is so much more we can do to move the conservative agenda forward in this state,” he said.

Hill said that if elected he would make sure the state government focuses on its “core competencies”: education, public safety and transportation.

“The more limited and focused government is, the better the results it delivers to taxpayers,” he said.

Williams, a state senator from Cumming, noted that he was the first elected official in Georgia to endorse President Donald Trump back in 2015 when many political observers were dismissing Trump’s chances of winning the Republican Party nomination for president, much less the presidency. Like Trump, Williams is a businessman and relative newcomer to politics.

Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Montevallo in Alabama and worked as an accountant for several years. He then opened a Sports Clips hair salon that he eventually grew into 18 franchises.

“I never saw myself running for elected office,” he said. “But then came Obamacare. I looked at the numbers and didn’t see how I could afford the costs of Obamacare on my business. But rather than just complain, I decided to try to do something.”

Both men are running to succeed fellow Republican Gov. Nathan Deal, who is term limited. Also seeking the Republican nomination for governor are Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, restaurant owner Eddie Hayes of Watkinsville, Secretary of State Brian Kemp and businessman Clay Tippins of Atlanta. Former state House of Representatives members Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans are seeking the Democratic nomination.

Those in attendance also heard from Belle Isle, who touted his experience as a former mayor of Alpharetta, calling himself a “visionary, proven leader.”

“I’m a free market, pro-life Christian conservative,” he said.

The secretary of state’s office manages professional licensing in Georgia and oversees elections.

Belle Isle said he would focus on “defeating voter fraud and championing jobs.”

He faces state representatives Buzz Brockway of Lawrenceville and Brad Raffensperger of Johns Creek and state Sen. Josh McKoon of Columbus for the GOP nomination. Former U.S. representative John Barrow of Athens, former state representative Dee Dawkins-Haigler of Lithonia and former Rockdale County tax commissioner Rakeim “R.J.” Hadley are vying for the Democratic nomination for secretary of state.

Dalton resident Charles Bennett said he found the presentations very informative.

“I’m supporting Michael Williams for governor,” he said. “He has some good ideas. I like the fact that he is funding his own campaign. He isn’t beholden to anybody.”

Dalton resident Frank Barnes said he’s supporting Hill.

“I like him. I like his message. I think he will be a good governor,” he said.