The head of the Forsyth County Republican Party has announced he will resign from his position.

Forsyth County GOP Chairman Justin Hawkins announced this week he would be stepping down from his position in a letter to members of the party. His resignation is effective March 23.

“It has truly been an honor and privilege to serve you as chairman and lead the fight for the conservative cause in Forsyth County,” Hawkins said. “From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank my team and the very people who volunteer each and every day to do the necessary work but ask for no recognition in return.”

Hawkins, who said he would not be commenting further on his resignation, was selected as chairman at the party’s convention in March 2017. The party will elect his replacement at a future meeting.

In the letter, Hawkins said he was proud of what the party had accomplished in his time in the position. 

“In one year alone, we not only achieved our goals but we surpassed all expectations. Simply put — our team achieved the ‘impossible,’” he said. “We raised more than $40,000 by creating the largest political event in Georgia, drove the attendance at the state GOP convention to its highest level in years and continue to have record turnout each month as we continue to reach diverse segments across our community.”

Hawkins did not elaborate on his decision, except to say it was time for him to move on.

“Every organization arrives at a season where new leadership is required,” he said. “Today, it is my time to step down and serve my community in a much different capacity.”

He said while he had made friendships in the position, there was a negative side of politics, which he urged others to move past. 

“However, the vast majority, although tremendously talented and gifted, have allowed this arena with small glamour to infiltrate the very worst of what us as humans are capable of,” Hawkins said. “Often times gossip, lying and deceiving become normal and are justified as the ‘necessities’ of politics. If we continue to ignore or participate in that behavior, we as a nation and community will deteriorate.”

Hawkins continued: “Our people deserve leadership that is not focused on tearing down one another from miles away on a computer screen but instead confronting one another, face to face, with honesty and integrity to build a consensus and overcome great challenges.”

Hawkins previously ran for the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners District 5 seat in 2016 and was selected as the local GOP treasurer in 2015. He is a graduate of South Forsyth High School.