Charlie Laughinghouse, Chairman of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, was named by the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center as their 2007 Elected Official of the Year.  This award stems from Commissioner Laughinghouse's role in the community and the GMRDC.  He has served on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners since 2002 and has served on numerous committees of the GMRDC (Finance Committee, Executive Committee, and the GMRDC/EDC Settlement Committee).  Mr. Laughinghouse is currently the vice chairman of the GMRDC Board of Directors.  The GMRDC has 51 participating agencies that make up its membership.  The focus of the GMRDC is to establish a regional forum where local leaders could have discussion and make recommendations concerning multi-jurisdiction problems and interests; to provide technical assistance to member governments; to foster economic development in the region; and to perform research on the population, economy, resources and other characteristics of the area which may be useful in the formation of the public and private policies and programs.