C2 ♦ SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2018 ♦ MDJ ♦ ELECTION 2018
GOVERNOR
For GOP,
race is for
the runoff
By Ricky Leroux
rleroux@mdjonline.com
Come January, Georgia will have a new
governor for the first time in eight years.
Republican candidates looking to replace
term-limited Gov. Nathan Deal as the state’s
chief executive include Georgia’s lieutenant
governor and its secretary of state, two former
state senators and a political newcomer who
is looking to take his business experience to
the governor’s mansion. Republican primary
voters will head to the polls on May 22 to
choose their party’s nominee.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle is leading the pack in
public polls and fundraising. Kerwin Swint,
political science professor at Kennesaw
State University and director of its School
of Government and International Affairs,
said Cagle is out front thanks to his “holy
trinity” of advantages: incumbency, name
recognition and money.
“He has a tremendous name ID advantage,
money advantage, organizational advantage,
relationship advantage,” Swint said. “So he’s
got a lot of advantages. However, it looks
increasingly like he’s going to be in a runoff,
which he should win.”
If no Republican candidate receives more
than 50 percent of the vote on May 22, the
top two voter-getters will compete in a runoff
election on July 24.
“In a runoff, of course, there’s no
guarantee of anything,” Swint said. “It can
be unpredictable and depends on turnout
and other factors. It’s going to be another
campaign. It’s going to be a whole different
campaign leading up to July 24th with him
and one of the other Republicans.”
Swint said it’s clear that Cagle is likely to
make the runoff, so the Republican primary
comes down to a race for the No. 2 spot and a
chance to go one-on-one with the lieutenant
governor.
Those vying for that spot include former
state Sen. Hunter Hill of Smyrna, Georgia
Secretary of State Brian Kemp, businessman
Clay Tippins and former state Sen. Michael
Williams. Another GOP candidate, author
Marc Urbach, has dropped out of the race.
“I think we’ve heard the most from Hunter
Hill in terms of advertising and social media
presence and from what I’ve seen at forums
and debate performances,” Swint said. “And
he’s trying to be the arch-conservative in the
race, talking about eliminating the income
tax in Georgia, talking about more room for
social conservative causes. So he’s trying to be
the conservative alternative to Casey Cagle,
whereas Brian Kemp, who everyone assumes
would be the natural No. 2 in the race, is
fighting for that No. 2 spot. And he, too, has
been trying to identify as a conservative, of
course most recently on the gun rights issue,
but a lot of the other conservative issues,
too. It’s those two, I think, that are vying
for that No. 2 spot.”
At a recent debate in Cobb that featured
the GOP candidates, Hill drew attacks from
several of the other candiates, which the
former state senator shrugged off.
“This is very encouraging, this is more
encouraging than looking at polling data
because clearly we’re doing very well if we’re
being attacked …” Hill said.
Swint said Hill likely drew most of the
attacks at that April debate because Cagle
did not attend.
Kemp’s campaign drew national attention
with his recent television ad that featured
the secretary of state interrogating a young
man who wants to date Kemp’s daughter.
Surrounded by firearms, Kemp holds a shotgun
while the young man answers questions about
Kemp’s policies, and the ad ends with Kemp
appearing to point a gun at his daughter’s
suitor.
“Brian Kemp, I think , is reaping the
benefits of his semi-controversal shock ad.
But I think that’s actually — if he wants to
win the Republican nomination, I think that’s
actually helping him. He was just endorsed
by a big gun group,” Swint said.
Kemp recently followed up his gun-centered
ad with another ad sure to draw attention.
In it, he calls himself a “politically incorrect
conservative” and stands near a pickup truck
that he says he owns “just in case I need
to round up criminal illegals and take ‘em
home myself.”
These ads aren’t the only time Republican
gubernatorial candidates have made it in the
national press. Cagle made headlines when,
as president of the Georgia Senate, he pushed
to eliminate a tax break for Delta after the
airline stopped offering discounts to NRA
members in the wake of the February 14
school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
“When the Delta thing happened, Cagle
jumped all over it, which is smart politics if
you want to win the Republican nomination,”
Swint said. “And it got national attention, it
was on Fox News, which was great for him.
It worked out very well for him politically,
and I can’t say that was an overt strategy on
their part. They certainly took maximum
advantage of the opportunity.”
These strategies are “right along with the
playbook” for Republican primary campaigns,
Swint said, which typically see candidates
appealing to the right flank of the GOP.
“The Georgia Republican Primary electorate
is very conservative, and so all the candidates
are trying to be as conservative as the possibly
can on almost every issue,” Swint said.
CASEY CAGLE (R)
♦ AGE: 52
♦ O C C U PAT I O N :
lieutenant governor,
president of Casey Cagle
Properties LLC
♦ RESIDENCE: Gaines-
ville
♦ FAMILY: wife, Nita; three sons; three
grandkids
♦ EDUCATION: Degree from Brenau
University
♦ POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Elected
Georgia senator in 1994 and reelected
five times, chairman of Finance Com-
mittee, vice chairman of Science and
Technology, member of Appropriations
Committee and Natural Resources
Committee, became lieutenant governor
in 2006 (current position)
♦ GOALS: Cut taxes, create 500,000
jobs, reduce regulation, maintain fair
tort system, invest in infrastructure,
increase agriculture opportunities,
expand Georgia film industry, make
Georgia “Silicon Valley of the South,”
reform/improve education, protect
second amendment rights, promote
anti-abortion cause, fight illegal immi-
gration.
HUNTER HILL (R)
♦ AGE: 40
♦ RESIDENCE: Smyr-
na/Vinings
♦ OCCUPATION: Presi-
dent, Tommy Newberry
Coaching
♦ FAMILY: Shannan,
wife; Hunter, Jr., 7; Annie, 6
♦ EDUCATION: B.S., general man-
agement and civil engineering, U.S.
Military Academy at West Point
♦ POLITICAL EXPERIENCE :Former
Georgia state senator
♦ GOALS: Eliminate state income
tax; double investment in transporta-
tion; fight illegal immigration; care for
veterans; promote school choice and
improve education; improve healthcare
through free-market options; protect
religious liberty; support first responders.
BRIAN KEMP (R)
♦ AGE: 54
♦ RESIDENCE: Athens
♦ OCCUPATION: Small
business owner, Georgia’s
secretary of state
♦ FAMILY: Wife, Marty;
three teenage daughters
♦ EDUCATION: Bachelor of science
in agriculture, University of Georgia
♦ POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Georgia
Secretary of State, former state senator
♦ GOALS: Cut regulations for small
businesses, cut government spending
and waste, strengthen rural communi-
ties, fight illegal immigration, improve
education through local control, expand
school choice, strengthen rural schools
and remove burdensome regulations
that tie teachers’ hands, defend second
amendment, fight gangs and special
interests.
MICHAEL WILLIAMS (R)
♦ FAMILY: Married, four children
♦ EDUCATION: Univer-
sity of Montevallo (Ala.)
♦ POLITICAL EXPE-
RIENCE: Elected to
Georgia Senate in 2014,
first Georgia co-chair
for Trump campaign
(traveled across country campaigning)
♦ GOALS: Promote tax reform, school
choice, Constitutional Carry (guns),
spending cuts, term limits for all state-
wide elected offices, use veto power to
defeat liberal legislation, keep casinos
out of Georgia, promote religious free-
dom, fight illegal immigration, support
anti-abortion cause, increase minimum
salaries for law enforcement officers,
reduce regulations on agriculture,
promote school choice, freeze college
tuition rates, fight illegal immigration,
fight defacing monuments, support
medical marijuana.
STACEY ABRAMS (D)
♦ AGE: 44
♦ OCCUPATION:
Entrepreneur, author,
former House Minority
Leader
♦ RESIDENCE: Atlanta
♦ FAMILY: Single
♦ EDUCATION: Spellman College, B.A.
in Interdisciplinary Studies; University
of Texas at Austin, master’s degree in
Public Policy; Yale Law School, J.D.
♦ POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Founder
of New Georgia Project, Georgia state
representative (House Minority Leader)
♦ GOALS: Extend access to childcare,
pre-K and afterschool programs; raise
teacher salaries; offer tax credits and
subsidies to working parents; promote
free access to technical colleges and
debt-free four-year colleges; expand
apprenticeships and adult literacy
programs; invest in small businesses;
fight poverty and discrimination in the
workplace; expand Medicaid; support
reproductive freedom; promote new jobs
in infrastructure, clean energy, biotech
and agritech; reform the justice system;
promote diversity; help veterans and
military families; tighten gun laws and
expand mental healthcare and substance
abuse treatment; expand voter rights;
support the arts and film industry in
Georgia
STACEY EVANS (D)
♦ AGE: 40
♦ RESIDENCE: Smyrna
♦ O C C U PAT I O N :
Attorney
♦ FAMILY: husband,
Andrew; daughter, Ashley
♦ EDUCATION: Universi-
ty of Georgia for undergrad (economics
and political science) and law school
♦ POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Georgia
representative, helped restore HOPE
scholarship for many students and
“expanded the pool of students eligible for
financial aid to attend technical college
and increased the aid amount for top
per-forming students”
♦ GOALS: Increase minimum wage;
promote equal pay, affordable childcare,
tax credits for working people and a
state earned income tax credit; invest
in infrastructure (roads, mass transit,
commuter rail); promote small businesses
through access to state contracts; promote
higher pay for teachers, first responders
and service providers; expand Medic-
aid and access to healthcare; promote
reproductive rights; expand funding of
education; expand preschool access;
reform the justice and prison systems
and end for-profit prisons; oppose all
discrimination based on race, religion,
gender, sexual orientation, or gender
identity; make it easier for people to
vote; protect the environment.
CLAY TIPPINS (R)
♦ AGE: 45
♦ RESIDENCE: Atlanta
♦ OCCUPATION: Former
Navy SEAL, technology
businessman
♦ FAMILY: Wife, Lori;
daughter Henley, 14,
and son Tip, 11
♦ EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in political
science, Stanford University
♦ MILITARY EXPERIENCE: Navy SEAL
(lieutenant commander), served in Iraq
♦ GOALS: Stop Atlanta gangs and
sex trafficking, make sure every child
can read by third grade, rein in state
spending, support second amendment,
fight illegal immigration, support medical
marijuana but oppose legal recreational
use, support freedom of religion but
oppose RFRA, fight opioid crisis, support
anti-abortion cause.
Dems tout
humble
beginnings
By Bill Barrow and R.J. Rico
Associated Press
ATLANTA — One spent much of her childhood
in trailers, raised by her mother, college made
possible partly by a lottery scholarship and other
grants. The other grew up in a working-class,
African-American household in the Deep South,
her path to law school also paved with financial aid.
Now, 40-year-old Stacey Evans and 44-year-old
Stacey Abrams, both Atlanta-area attorneys and
erstwhile legislative colleagues, want to bolster
those boot-strap biographies with the Democratic
nomination for Georgia governor. Either would
be the first woman to claim that distinction and,
if victorious in November, the first to serve as
chief executive. Abrams would be the first black
female governor in any American capital.
Besides their personal success stories, the two
rivals have similar policy aims on everything
from health care and education to opposition to
President Donald Trump. Yet they find themselves
along increasingly sharp fault lines over their
legislative and professional histories as they
debate just who has the attributes to make life
better for poor, marginalized and middle-class
Georgians.
Their May 22 contest is part of Georgia
Democrats’ latest attempt to dent GOP domination
in the state. Nationally, it’s a benchmark of
Democrats’ ongoing push for identity and direction
in the Trump era.
Abrams, who has outraised Evans and leads in
public polling, says she’s pursued “freedom and
opportunity” for all Georgians as an attorney,
entrepreneur and Georgia House minority leader,
a post she resigned to run for governor. Her top
policy priority is expanding the Medicaid insurance
program, something outgoing Republican Gov.
Nathan Deal and GOP lawmakers have refused
to do since national Democrats’ 2010 health
insurance overhaul.
Evans’ top policy priority is expanding Georgia’s
well-known HOPE lottery scholarships, restoring
all four-year awards to full tuition and making
two-year college tuition free. She says she also
supports Medicaid expansion.
Each woman cites her challenging upbringing
as a defining force that qualifies her for the job.
“Anyone who has ever had their lights turned off,
was evicted or worried about their next meal knows
that the experience never leaves you. It defines
you,” Evans wrote in her campaign biography.
One of her advertisements tells voters she lived
in 16 different homes in her 18 years growing up
in Ringgold, Georgia, and she mentions often her
own HOPE scholarship she used at the University
of Georgia.
Abrams notes she’s the “daughter of a shipyard
worker and librarian” who “understands first-
hand that discrimination and disability can be
barriers to success.” Besides her legislative work,
she touts her partnership in a company designed
to help small businesses with cash flow as they
balance their obligations and accounts receivable
from larger outfits. She willingly explains her
own personal debts incurred from her Yale law
education and the fact that she continues to
support her aging parents and other relatives.
The two have jousted over who’s worked harder
to represent struggling households.
As Evans tells it, Abrams once cut a deal with
Republican legislators that “gutted” the HOPE
scholarship program. In contrast, Evans says,
she worked toward restoring some of those cuts
in subsequent legislative sessions.
Abrams retorts: “Ms. Evans has a demonstrated
pattern ... of recasting the past for a more favorable
impression.” And Abrams notes that she also has
pitched another HOPE expansion, offering aid
based on financial need, without steep academic
requirements.
The former minority leader acknowledges she
ultimately backed a Republican-driven measure
in 2011 that trimmed HOPE amid lottery revenue
declines that followed the 2008 housing and market
crash. Among other changes, the plan imposed
higher academic requirements for technical-college
awards and imposed new academic requirements
for full-tuition scholarships at four-year schools,
with lower-achieving students getting smaller
awards.
Abrams says the move preserved money for pre-
kindergarten programs and staved off even tougher
academic requirements she says Republicans
wanted for all four-year award recipients — an
idea Abrams argues would have cut off college
access for tens of thousands of Georgians.
Evans points out that thousands of students
left technical colleges anyway. She insists Abrams
had “no justification” for a deal.
When lottery finances improved, Evans did
sponsor legislation that eased some HOPE
contraction. But Abrams wants voters to remember
that she, as minority leader, picked Evans for
that role. “My issue is that she has cast herself
as both a nonparticipant in the process (in 2011)
and as the victim of the result, neither of which
is true,” Abrams says.
On banking policy, Evans hits Abrams for
her 2017 vote in favor of a law — approved
overwhelmingly — that critics assert makes it too
hard for plaintiffs to recover damages from bank
executives and board members in civil litigation.
“I thought it was shareholders and members of the
public that needed more protection,” Evans says.
Abrams says that argument is inconsistent with
some of Evans’ legal work on behalf of big financial
institutions accused of harming consumers.
Evans once represented Countrywide Financial,
a Bank of America subsidiary, in litigation with
the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta after
the 2008 mortgage crisis. Evans says she has no
recollection of the case and “must have been a
low-level associate” for a firm that she left before
the case settled.
MAIN
GRADE
Should Georgia give more or few-
er incentives to new businesses?
Incentives should be designed to attract busi-
ness, but to also sustain those businesses …
Otherwise, you’re just (waiting) for the next
state to offer more … That means investing in
worker training, making certain that the cost
of living is met by the salaries paid … that we
have quality schools, quality transportation
Stacey
Abrahams (and) quality healthcare.
I want to make sure we’re not just using
the incentive packages for the big fish ...
we’ve got rural communities struggling to
DEMOCRAT
attract industry. … we need to be open to
providing tax credits and incentives for folks
that want to start or grow a small business,
particularly outside of 285.
Stacey
Evans
You have … a jobs tax credit. So if you bring
us 10 jobs, and even if you’re an existing
company, you’re expanding, then you get
those job tax credits. So that is in place to
incentivize companies to grow and obviously
to expand. Am I in favor of that? Absolutely.
Casey
Cagle
I’d love it if Amazon came … but I don’t
want to give away the farm. (That) govern-
ment continues to put so much of the public’s
money on the table … is disconcerting. (We
need to) take into account the great small
businesses that are already here and make
sure they have benefits.
Hunter
Hill
It would depend on what the project is,
where it’s going, what the benefits of get-
REPUBLICAN
ting something like that are and what the
detriments of it would be. And you’re just in
a world where you’ve got to compete to get
some of those things.
Brian
Kemp
… We’ve got to apply a three-point criteria
... Number one … What is that real ROI?
Number two, is it applied evenly … across
a set of companies? Third … when you do
those first two, you end up with fewer of
them. Tax credits … should be more rare
than they are today.
Clay
Tippins
YOUR
GOVERNOR
What changes to the state’s gun
laws, if any, would you support?
I think we have to begin with universal
background checks. We have to ban assault
weapons and the accouterments that make
those weapons so dangerous. We have to …
investigate extreme protective risk orders,
which allow interventions when someone
poses a danger to … themselves or to
others. ... I would repeal campus carry.
We need common-sense gun safety legis-
lation. I think the step that Florida took was
one in the right direction, passing legislation
so that you can’t buy weapons until you’re
21. I’m in favor of … universal background
checks. We need to ban things like bump
stocks and silencers.
My focus is going to be around mental
health and school safety. … moving the age
to 21 (doesn’t) really solve anything. … there
needs to be very, very careful scrutiny … not
just restricting (those with mental illness)
from purchasing guns, but for a court to
… say that those guns can be taken. …
During my time in the General Assembly,
I’ve supported every gun bill that’s gone
through the General Assembly and those have
all been in expanding gun owners’ rights,
not constricting them. I will be a governor
that, if anything, will expand gun rights,
not constrict them.
I think definitely on the mental health side
of things, I would be open to that. I don’t
know that anything else people are talking
about really solves the issue of people shooting
somebody. If it’s not a gun, it could be bomb, it
can be a Molotov cocktail, it could be a vehicle.
I believe in strong carry rights in Georgia.
I would support a coalition of the willing,
Air-Marshal-type approach to school safety.
Do I think the local school districts should
have the power to do that Air-Marshal-type
coalition of the willing approach? Absolutely.
What is your plan for manag-
ing the population growth in
Georgia?
Part of that is thinking about (expanding)
our energy grid so we can actually absorb that
population. … We have to have a regional trans-
portation and transit conversation. … We have to
also increase … our conservation efforts when it
comes to water. … (And we must have) the jobs
necessary for … this increasing workforce.
We need to make sure our transportation
infrastructure is strong, and we’re going to
have to invest in transit. And I think the best
thing that we could do is have a coordinated
regional mass transit system.
… we need to build out commuter rail lines
to connect the smaller cities to Atlanta
and to each other.
(We need) to be focused on … reversible
lanes and movable barriers. We also have
to look at the elevated road systems … We
have to analyze a tunnel under Atlanta. So
it’s certainly roads, but it’s also looking at
… a bus transit system that has a dedicated
lane …
Career politicians have been under-funding
… transportation and infrastructure for 40
years. In the 1970s, transportation was 15
percent of the budget. It’s now dwindled to
five. Transportation … should be funded
and prioritized in the budget process. That’s
what I fought for in 2015.
I’m certainly supportive of county approaches
and regional approaches to dealing with con-
gestion ... but also understand that people
that aren’t living here don’t want to pay for
Atlanta’s congestion relief. But I do think
the state can be involved in doing projects
that do have the best return on investment.
Atlanta is really the only southern town of
comparable size without an outer bypass …
that’s something we should have invested in
already. … We’ve got to be more aggressive with
the Sa-vannah Port. We’re … approaching three
years behind the original dredging schedule
... Another thing that needs to be done
… is synchronizing traffic lights.
Seven Republicans and two Democrats qualify to seek their party’s nomination. All
candidates were invited to an interview with the MDJ editorial board. Williams and
Hayes did not schedule an interview despite repeated invitations. Urbach has since 5 being best.
dropped out of the race.
The answers are edited from lengthy interviews with each candidate.
To see the full Q-and-A’s, go to www.mdjonline.com.
Is Georgia in need of religious
freedom legislation?
We have not only a constitutional protec-
tion, but we have legislative protections that
have been put in place that I think more than
adequately provide for religious freedom in
the state of Georgia. What these bills have pro-
posed, and I voted against or worked against
every single one of them, they propose to
legalize discrimination.
No. … I would ask folks … ‘Give me an
example of something that you have wanted
to do, an exercise of your religious freedom,
that you haven’t been able to do that wasn’t
otherwise protected by the First Amendment.’
And I never got an answer to that question.
: I have — am on record — as I think most
of the other gubernatorial candidates are
saying, that the law of the land right now,
which is the federal RFRA … that I would, if
the Legislature passed a mirror image of the
existing law of the land, that I would sign it.
… we have downgraded religious liberty in
our country and in our state. RFRA restores
religious liberty to its rightful protection in the
law. … and it’s good for business. There was
a Super Bowl in Texas. Walt Disney World is
happily placed in the heart of Florida. They
have a RFRA.
I’m in support and will sign a bill that just
simply references the federal statute that would
codify that better language into state law. ... The
legislation that Deal vetoed, a lot of the conservative
evangelical religious leaders that I’ve talked to
felt like that bill was more about the personalities
than it was the policy, and that’s what happened,
and obviously it got politicized.
I’m the only Republican candidate that’s
refused to take the pledge … on religious
freedom. I … got baptized on March 5, 1978.
My faith is the most important thing in my
life. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect reli-
gious freedom … But you won’t ever see me
vowing to sign undrafted legislation …
HOW TO USE THIS GRID:
1. Grade each candidate’s answers on a scale of 1 to 5 with
2. Write that rating in the box in the corner of each answer.
3. Total the ratings in the box at far right to compare your
rankings of all candidates’ answers to these questions.
As governor, would you sign any
legislation to allow casinos in
Georgia/metro Atlanta?
I support putting it on the ballot. … I think
‘where’ should be left to public referendum.
I think ‘how many’ should be very carefully
studied based on what has happened in other
communities. … The funds should be used
to provide for need-based aid for college
students, and … for expansion and true
universality of pre-K.
I am open to it. I’m supportive of bringing
casino gambling if we made sure that a sig-
nificant portion of funds were allocated for
need-based aid for college. Georgia is one of
only two states that has no needs-based aid
for college and it’s something that we need.
I don’t see the added benefit of casinos
… there are a lot of venues here that fill up
with various acts. Casinos do have a way of
basically moving a lot of those to them and
not …venues that we have. So I just don’t
see the added benefit.
I don’t think Georgia needs casinos. When
you look at states or cities or counties that
are looking to have a casino, they’re trying to
overcome a problem. I think Georgia is special
enough without casinos. The challenges that
come in and around casinos from a crime and
cultural standpoint take a toll …
I’ve been on the record for quite a long while
as opposing that. ... I just don’t see it being
beneficial. I think there’s a lot of negative
things that come with that and we’re not a
state that really needs that to be successful
like a state like Mississippi or maybe Alabama.
Here’s the problem with casinos. You get
a big revenue projection, but it rarely backs
out the lost revenue from (those) it puts out
of business. There’s usually social costs …
we’re the num-ber one place in America for
human trafficking. We need less prostitution,
not more.
Should the Legislature be cov-
ered by the state’s sunshine
I think that we have to expand the coverage
for the General Assembly.
We want to make the sunshine laws, the
open records laws, as open as we possibly
can. I would want to look at the details …
because I do think it’s important that folks
are able to have candid, difficult conver-
sations and work through differences and
compromises.
As Lt. Governor, I’ve been a strong advocate
for greater transparency and strong ethics
laws. As governor, I will continue to advocate
for Georgia to advance the nation’s strongest
transparency and open records laws.
I’m very much for transparency. I think
that is a double standard ... Look, if we’re
going to impose it on cities and counties,
we ought to be under the same standards
that we’re imposing on local governments.
: I’m all for (it). ... We (in the secretary
of state’s office) put our budget up on the
website for everyone to see. We post our
expenses monthly so you can see everything
we’re spending in the secretary of state’s office
with state dollars ... we’re as transparent as
anybody out there. I’d certainly sign that bill
if it got to my desk.
It infuriates me that I and 10.3 million
Georgians pay for our government and
we have sexual harassment cases floating
around there, being resolved in the dark,
behind closed doors, maybe with taxpayer
dollars, and we have no transparency into
that. That’s wrong
A3
What grade would you give Gov. Your
Total
Deal for his years as governor?
On criminal justice reform, an A-plus. On
willingness to fully engage the cross section
of our state, B-minus, C-plus. On healthcare,
immigration and guns, an F.
There are some things that he’s done really,
really well …. criminal justice reform. …
economic development … vetoing the reli-
gious liberty legislation. But … I would give
him a very bad grade in his dealings with
HOPE. … his decisions against expanding
Medicaid …
I would certainly give Governor Deal an
A-plus. I think history is going to reflect very
favorably on the governor. Every governor
only has a finite amount of time to do what
he’s gonna do. Gov. Deal has made the most
of that.
I’d give him an A. I mean, there’s clearly
things I disagree with. He moved us econom-
ically out of that recession and made some
good reforms: criminal justice, et cetera. He’s
set up a situation for the next governor to, I
believe, take us to the next level.
He’s done a great job. I’m definitely giving
him an A. He’s been a steady leader, he’s tackled
problems that were important to him, part of
his political agenda, which I think any governor
should do. Mine are different than his, but
there’s nothing wrong with that. Every gov-
ernor is going to have their different priorities.
(An) A. He’s done criminal justice reform
that’s been great for our state. No. 2, he has
been great … in terms of economic develop-
ment. I’m not running because Governor Deal’s
done a bad job … I’m running because … we
face a set of long-term structural challenges
that have to be dealt with.
C4 ♦ SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2018 ♦ MDJ ♦ ELECTION 2018

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
David Shafer (R)
♦ Residence: Duluth
♦ Education:
University of
Georgia, degree
in government
♦ Family: Wife,
Lee; daughter,
Ellie
♦ Occupation:State Senator since
2002; President Pro Tempore of
the Senate
♦ Mission: Shafer plans to prioritize
eliminating wasteful spending and
the phased elimination of the income
tax. Shafer wants to simplify the
state education system so more
dollars go to local school systems,
eliminate parole for criminals and
enhance roadway infrastructure.
“Shafer is a conservative work horse
who has sponsored legislation to
implement zero based budgeting,
limit tax increases and provide for
the periodic review of government
regulations.” — From Shafer’s
campaign website
Geoff Duncan (R)
♦ Residence: Forsyth County
♦ Educa-
tion: Georgia
Institute of
Technology (3
years, left early
to play profes-
sional baseball
in the Marlins
organization)
♦ Family: Wife, Brooke; sons, Parker,
Bayler and Ryder
♦ Occupation: Board of Directors
at Wellview Health; Former Repre-
sentative of the 26th District in the
Georgia House of Representatives
♦ Mission: Geoff Duncan says he
will stand for conservative principles,
pursue smaller government in an
effort to help businesses and seek to
defend the rights of the unborn. He
hopes to empower parents by limiting
the education bureaucracy, and he
wants to streamline the budget by
removing ineffective government
programs.
“Geoff Duncan is running for Lt.
Governor to change up the status
quo, not to play politics as usual...
If you want someone who is truly
principled, truly conservative, and
truly focused on the next generation,
then you support Team Duncan.” –
From Duncan’s campaign website
Rick Jeffares (R)
♦ Residence:Locust Grove
♦ Education:
Clayton Col-
lege and State
U n i v e r s i t y,
Bachelor of
Arts degree in
Management
♦ Family: Wife,
Leslie; four children, Brooke, Lauren,
Alex and Cameron
♦ Occupation: Former Georgia state
senator for the 17th district
♦ Mission: Rick Jeffares says he
will prioritize the protection and
expansion of Second Amendment
rights, the protection of the rights
of the unborn and the defense of
religious liberty. Jeffares will pursue
the repeal of regulations and boosts
to rural economic development. He
wants to lower tuition costs and
expand technical education.
“It’s time for conservative leadership
in Georgia. Lots of politicians talk and
vote for things that go nowhere. Rick
gets things done.” – From Jeffares’
campaign website
Sarah Riggs Amico (D)
♦ Residence: Cobb County
♦ Education:
Washington &
Lee University;
MBA from the
Harvard Busi-
ness School
♦ Family: Hus-
band, Andrea
and two daughters, Ava and Sofia
♦ Occupation: Executive Chairper-
son of Jack Cooper Holdings Corp.
♦ Mission: Sarah Riggs Amico says
she will prioritize affordable health-
care, strong education, government
reform and better jobs. She will
pursue funding for rural hospitals
and affordable insurance for families.
She will push for a quality public
education that prepares students to
enter the work force. She hopes to
limit inefficient government programs
and offer quality jobs for Georgia
residents. “I want everyone to have
access to quality, affordable health
care, a great public education, and
an equal opportunity to build their
American Dream.” – From Amico’s
campaign website
Triana Arnold James (D)
♦ Residence: Morris Brown College
♦ Family: Has
husband and
children
♦ Occupation:
Senior accoun-
tant/auditor
for James &
Arnold-James & Associates LLC
♦ Mission: Triana Arnold James says
she wants to increase government
transparency and accountability. She
wants to help workers by increasing
take-home pay, assuring equal pay
for equal work and saving pensions.
James will pursue tax cuts and
reduced regulations to make the
government more efficient.
“Education, health care, ratifying the
Equal Rights Amendment, protecting
Voting Rights and securing veteran
rights are pivotal platforms of my
candidacy. I will work on the many
issues that ‘We The People’ care
about.” — From James’ campaign
website

SECRETARY OF STATE
David Belle Isle (R)
♦ Residence: Alpharetta
♦ Education: B.A. in
Marketing, University
of Georgia; J.D. and
M.B.A., Georgia State
University
♦ Family: Wife,
Candice; son, Colton;
daughter, Kayley
♦ Occupation: Former Mayor of Alpharetta
♦ Mission: David Belle Isle hopes to defeat
voter fraud and champion Georgia jobs.
His campaign prioritizes these two goals
in an effort to increase citizens’ pride
for Georgia. He hopes to demonstrate
conservative leadership and embrace
Georgia’s economic strengths.
“David Belle Isle is a sixth generation
Georgian, running for Secretary of State to
defeat voter fraud and champion Georgia
jobs. As a conservative leader, David will
work to create an environment of trust,
opportunity and respect.” – From David
Belle Isle Republican for Secretary of
State Website
Buzz Brockway (R)
♦ Age: 51 years
♦ Residence: Lawrenceville
♦ Education: B.S. in Man-
agement Science and certif-
icate in Economics, Georgia
Institute of Technology
♦ Family: Wife, Christa;
three daughters, Hope,
Grace and Joy
♦ Occupation: State representative for District
102; Operations Manager
♦ Mission: Brockway wants to streamline
the election process by shortening the runoff
period and purchase new voting machines
with verifiable backup systems. He hopes to
pass House Resolution 744, encouraging the
Regulatory Review Council to periodically review
the need to license certain professions. This
could potentially reduce licenses needed to
do business.
“I’m running for Secretary of State because I
want Georgia to have the best elections system,
and be the easiest place to do business in
America.” – From Buzz for Secretary of State
Website
Josh McKoon (R)
♦ Age: 39
♦ Residence:: Columbus
♦ Education: B.A. in Politi-
cal Science and Communi-
cations, Furman University;
J.D., The University of Ala-
bama Law School
♦ Family: Wife, Jacqueline;
son, Jackson
♦ Occupation:State senator for District 29;
Attorney in private practice for 14 years, currently
a solo practitioner for McKoon law firm
♦ Mission: Josh McKoon hopes to secure the
ballot box by preventing illegal aliens from voting
and requiring photo identification for every vote
cast. The McKoon campaign has prioritized
a streamlined licensure process to allow for
easier business startup.
“I’m running for Secretary of State to make
Georgia the fastest state in the nation to get a
job and the toughest state in the nation to cast
an illegal vote. That’s really what my campaign
boils down to,” said McKoon. “I have a real
passion for reforming our professional licensing
in the state because I feel like it’s preventing
people from starting new businesses.”
Brad Raffensperger (R)
♦ Age: 62
♦ Residence: Johns Creek
♦ Education: B.S. in Civil
engineering, Western Univer-
sity; M.B.A., Georgia State
University
♦ Family: Wife, Tricia; two
sons
♦ Occupation: CEO and owner of Tendon Sys-
tems, LLC; State representative for District 50;
Business Owner, Licensed Professional Engineer
♦ Mission: Raffensperger was endorsed by
Georgia Right to Life, earned an “A” rating from
the National Rifle Association as a state legislator
and has never voted in favor of a tax increase.
“I have the business experience to run a complex,
multi-disciplinary firm. The secretary of state’s
office is similar in size to my own organization,”
Raffenberger said. “I have a first-hand knowledge
to streamline the licensure process. … (My) No.
1 (priority) is voter protection, to make sure
that only Americans who are lawful Georgia
residents can vote in our elections.”

John Barrow (D) Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D)
♦ Age: 62 years ♦ Residence: Lithonia
♦ Residence: Athens ♦ Education: B.A. in Politi-
♦ Education: B.A. cal Science, South Carolina
in Political Science State University; Master
and History, Univer- of Public Administration,
sity of Georgia; J.D., Kentucky State University;
Harvard Law School Master of Divinity, Turner
Theological Seminary
♦ Family: Wife,
Angèle; children ♦ Family: Husband, David;
Charlie, Manette, Alex, James and Ruth children Christopher, Christyn, Hannah and
Joshua
♦ Occupation: Former U.S. representative
for Georgia District 12; Attorney ♦ Occupation: Ordained minister and pastor;
Former State representative for District 91
♦ Mission: John Barrow formerly served
on the Athens-Clarke County Commission, ♦ Mission: Dee Dawkins-Haigler has prioritized
and he never voted for a tax increase. the rights of women and minorities throughout
During his time in Congress, Barrow her career. While serving as a Georgia state
worked on veterans’ rights, pushed to representative, Dawkins-Haigler was the chair
open a Veterans Affairs health clinic in of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and the
Statesboro and to increase veterans’ Georgia Women’s Legislative Caucus.
mileage reimbursements. “Dorothea (Dee) Dawkins-Haigler dedicates
her life to public service through her role as an
ordained minister and pastor, college educator,
community activist and political strategist.” – From
Elect Dee Dawkins-Haigler Website.
Rakeim “RJ” Hadley (D)
♦ Residence: Rockdale
♦ Education: Dartmouth
College
♦ Family: Wife Dr. Tarah
Hadley, five children
♦ Occupation:Rockdale
County Chief Deputy Tax
Commissioner
♦ Mission: “As Secretary of State, I will make
our elections safer, faster and open to all Georgia
citizens. I will protect and secure voter data
while advocating for more accountable, secure
voting equipment. Professional licensing and
corporate registrations must move at the speed
of business, which means reducing processing
time from the current three weeks down to five
days. I have the technology and management
experience needed to make you very proud as
your Secretary of State.” – RJ Hadley, Candidate
Statement
J. Smythe Duval (L)
♦ Age: 51
♦ Residence: Marietta
♦ Education: B.S. in Nurs-
ing, University of North
Georgia; B.A. in American
Studies, Oglethorpe Uni-
versity
♦ Family: Two teenage sons,
Cooper, 14, Bowen, 16
♦ Occupation:Director of IT for medical company
♦ Mission: The Smythe Duval platform priorities
expanded voter registration, an independent
redistricting commission and ranked-choice
voting. Duval desires a later voter registration
deadline. He hopes to limit gerrymandering of
districts by taking the authority to draw districts
out of the legislature. Duval wants a ranked-
choice voting system to streamline the runoff
election process.
“Smythe has been passionate about election
and voting system reform since 2000. He is
running for Secretary of State in order to help
provide Georgia citizens fair and competitive
elections.” – From Duval for Georgia Website
C6 ♦ SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2018 ♦ MDJ ♦ ELECTION 2018
U.S. HOUSE
4 Dems lined up to challenge new incumbent Handel
By Jon Gargis
jgargis@mdjonline.com
U.S. Rep. Karen Handel,
R-Roswell, may have her eyes
on May 22’s election night
coverage to learn who she
may face come November.
The incumbent
Congresswoman, still fresh
off last year’s special election
victory over Democratic
challenger Jon Ossoff, has
no GOP opponents as she
seeks her first full term.
But four new Democratic
opponents — businessman
Kevin Abel, consultant Steven
Griffin, TV news anchor
Bobby Kaple and community
organizer Lucy McBath — are
squaring off in this month’s
primary to determine which
of them will advance to the
general election.
Should any of the four take
more than half the vote in the
May 22 election, they will
go on to face Handel in the
Nov. 6 general election; if no
candidate earns that share
of the ballots, the top two
vote-getters will compete in
a runoff July 24 to determine
the Democratic nominee.
KEVIN ABEL
“I’m seeking this office
because I came to this
country when I was 14 as
an immigrant, and I’ve
lived the American dream
by any definition of the
American dream,” says Abel,
the founder of technology
consulting company Abel
Solutions. “Over the last
decade, I’ve seen dysfunction
in Congress, I’ve seen decline
in opportunity in this country,
just huge issues that need to
be addressed.”
While he believes he stands
fairly close to his opponents
on policy issues, saying
that “it’s time for health
care reform to take hold in
this country,” Abel points
to his experience in the
metro Atlanta community
as something that makes
him stand out above the rest.
He has served on the boards
of several organizations,
including The Davis Academy
Two Republicans running for Rep. Scott’s D13 seat
By Shaddi Abusaid
sabusaid@mdjonline.com
Two Republicans will
battle it out this month for
a chance to unseat U.S. Rep.
David Scott, D-Atlanta, in
November’s general election.
They include a Stockbridge
Army veteran calling for
stricter gun laws and a South
Fulton semi-retired printing
industry worker who thinks
reforming America’s tax code
could prompt more women
to marry before having
children.
Femi Akinkugbe, a native
Nigerian who reached the
rank of captain in the U.S.
Army and worked as a
defense contractor for a year
in Afghanistan, said he is
running on a platform of
im-proving the Department
of Veterans Affairs.
He faces David Callahan,
the printer turned part-
time driver for a car rental
company who opted to run
for Scott’s seat after realizing
the incumbent Democrat was
swept into office unop-posed
the last two election cycles.
Akinkugbe and Callahan
face off in the May 22
primary. The winner moves
on to November’s general
election where they will take
on Scott and Libertarian
challenger Martin Cowen.
Both candidates say they
will be hard-pressed to
win against the incumbent
congressman as Republicans
in a majority blue district,
but say Scott has little impact
on District 13.
Both men support
GUN LAWS President Donald Trump
The two candidates and the impact they say his
have different views on administration is having on
in Atlanta and New American
Pathways, a nonprofit aimed
at assisting refugees. He has
also been on the board of the
Metro Atlanta Chamber of
Commerce and chairman of
its small business council.
“I’m the candidate who
has the most expertise,
having lived in this district
for 26 years, having
created a business that
had good-paying jobs with
healthcare, balanced budgets,
being deeply involved in
organizations throughout
Atlanta as long as I have,”
Abel says. “I believe that my
positioning and who I am as a
candidate and how I’ve been
engaged in this community all
this time puts me in a position
to not only win the votes from
the Democrats ... but also the
independent voters.”
STEVEN GRIFFIN
Griffin previously worked
as a policy coordinator at the
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, a position
that had him focused on early
childhood development, the
prevention of neural tube
defects and the prevention
of fetal alcohol syndrome.
He left his job to pursue the
congressional seat and says
that if elected, he would bring
his public policy experience
to the role.
In the wake of tragic
shootings that drew national
headlines, Griffin said he
would support measures that
would enact what are known
as extreme risk protection
orders or gun violence
restraining orders, where
law enforcement, teachers,
family members or others can
immediately approach a judge
with evidence that someone
is a danger to themselves or
others. If the judge agrees,
they can issue an order that
would allow police within
24 hours of its issuance to
go to that person’s place
of residence and remove
weapons.
“Is that going to prevent
every tragedy? No. But when
we look at the tragedies in
Parkland and the one in
the Second Amendment,
with Akinkugbe advocating
for more regulations and
Callahan calling for fewer.
In the wake of the
Valentine’s Day mass
shooting that left 17 dead
at a Parkland, Florida, high
school, groups across the U.S.
have called for stricter gun
laws to attempt to prevent
further gun deaths.
Breaking with the majority
of his party, Akinkugbe says
Congress should pass laws
making it harder to purchase
assault-style rifles, which he
says “should have no place
in our society,” and raise
the age to buy them from
18 to 21.
“I’m all for the Second
Amendment. I also have
three children,” he said,
acknowledging he will likely
lose votes from some gun
enthusiasts within his party.
“I can’t imagine somebody
going to their school and
doing something so awful … I
care about my children much
more than party politics.”
Callahan said he is open
to the idea of expanding
background checks, but
thinks getting guns out of
the hands of criminals should
be a function of local law
enforcement, not the federal
government.
One bill he would like
to see passed, however,
is legislation allowing
concealed carry permits to
function across state lines.
DONALD TRUMP
AND THE VA
KEVIN
ABEL (D)
♦ Age: 53
♦ Occupation: Founder,
Abel Solutions
♦ Family:
Cindy, wife;
daughters,
Juliana &
Danielle;
son, Eric
♦ Resi-
dence:
Sandy
Springs
♦ Education: B.S. in
electrical engineering, Uni-
versity of Texas at Austin
♦ Campaign website:
www.kevinabelforcongress.
com
♦ Email address: kevin@
kevinabelforcongress.com
Maryland, these people
had been sending up red
flags for some time, and law
enforcement in some cases
had been notified — it was
simply either ignored or that
the lacked the tools to do
anything about (it).”
Griffin also said that he
would support measures
that would end legal and
social discrimination against
LGBTQ individuals, including
those that would open access
to adoption for same sex
couples.
BOBBY KAPLE
Formerly a morning anchor
on CBS 46 in Atlanta, Kaple
could capture screen time on
C-SPAN if sent to Congress.
He says his reasons for
entering the race include his
2 ½-year-old twins, Camden
and Alice, who were born
prematurely at just over 3
pounds each in Piedmont
Hospital.
“They spent their first 17
days of life in the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit, racked
up hundreds of thousands of
the U.S. economy, though
neither voted for him in the
2016 presidential primary.
Akinkugbe voted for
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio,
while Callahan cast his ballot
for former Hewlett-Packard
CEO Carly Fiorina, who he
says would make a great
fit for the next secretary of
Veterans Affairs.
Still, the two Republicans
have different views on the
way the president is running
the country, with Callahan
supportive of Trump’s
actions and Akinkugbe
suggesting some refinement
may be necessary.
“I don’t know what Trump
does,” Akinkugbe said. “Does
he even vet his nominees
before he puts them up? …
It’s always a disaster.”
He said he likes the
aggressive stance the
president is taking when it
comes to Syria and believes
former President Barack
Obama should have done
more to stop the violence
and end the civil war during
his time in office.
Callahan said the president
has made good cabinet picks
and is simply moving folks
around until he gets them
where he wants them.
“I like the things the
Trump administration
is trying to accomplish,”
Callahan said, calling the
new tax bill “very effective.”
He said tax cuts for
corporations are encouraging
those companies to hire
additional employees with
the savings, putting more
money into the pockets of
the average worker.
Both he and Akinkugbe
suggested the president and
STEVEN KNIGHT
GRIFFIN (D)
♦ Age: 30
♦ Occupation: Previously
a policy coordinator at the
Centers for Disease Control
and Preven-
tion
♦ Family: In
a relation-
ship
♦ Resi-
dence:
Unincorpo-
rated Atlanta (closest to
Chamblee)
♦ Education: Lassiter High
School (2006); B.A. in his-
tory, University of Georgia
♦ Campaign website:
griffinforcongress.com
♦ Email address: steven@
griffinforcongress.com
dollars in bills — those are the
kind of bills that can bankrupt
a family, and I’m running to
make sure that everybody has
access to the same kind of
care that my kids got,” Kaple
said. “I want to make sure
we’re protecting coverage
for people with pre-existing
conditions so there’s never a
choice between your health
care and bankruptcy, and I’m
running to make sure lifetime
caps never make their way
back into the health insurance
marketplace.”
Kaple says he also wants
to see the protections of the
federal Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals program
be made permanent. DACA,
created under President
Barack Obama in 2012,
has provided protection
from deportation and work
permits for about 800,000
young people who came to
the U.S. as children and
stayed illegally. A person
enrolled in the program gets
protection from deportation
that lasts two years and can
his cabinet would benefit if
he scaled back his Twitter
usage.
Akinkugbe, who says
he is running to help
fellow veterans, believes
privatizing the VA would
allow America’s vets faster
access to healthcare.
Callahan has reservations
about privatizing the
administration entirely,
but said some private
partnerships might be
helpful for those who live
hundreds of miles from the
nearest VA hospital.
“If you’re too far away
from the VA facility, you
should have the ability to
go to a private physician,”
Callahan said. “A veteran
shouldn’t have to drive two
or three hours to get medical
care.”
Akinkugbe said it takes him
entirely too long to schedule
doctor’s appointments now,
and believes expanding the
pool of doctors available to
treat veterans will ease some
of their frustrations.
JOBS AND TAXES
Akinkugbe said his top
priority if getting elected
is improving the lives of
United States veterans. The
Stockbridge resident decided
to run against Scott after
failing to land employment
at the congressman’s
annual job fair. When he
left the Army after nearly
16 years, Akinkugbe said he
was unable to find steady
employment, even with a
master’s degree in business
administration.
“You would think that a
captain with a degree would
be able to get a job at his
BOBBY
KAPLE (D)
♦ Age: 35
♦ Occupation: Journalist
♦ Family: Wife, Rebecca;
two chil-
dren, boy/
girl twins
Camden
and Alice,
2.5 years
old
♦ Resi-
dence:
Milton
♦ Education: Broadcast
journalism and political sci-
ence, University of Miami
♦ Campaign website:
bobbykaple.com
♦ Campaign email: con-
tact@bobbykaple.com
be renewed.
President Donald Trump’s
administration has moved
to end the DACA program,
though their actions are tied
up in court.
“You’ve got millions of kids
who are hanging in limbo
wondering if they’re going
to be deported to a country
they’ve never known, and
I think it’s important that
Congress acts on this,” Kaple
said.
LUCY MCBATH
Requests to McBath’s
campaign to arrange an
interview with the candidate
were not fulfilled. A Cobb
resident, she lost her only son,
Jordan Russell Davis, who
was shot at a Jacksonville gas
station as he sat in a friend’s
car by a shooter who allegedly
disagreed with the music
coming from it. The shooter
was convicted of first-degree
murder and sentenced to life
in prison.
Today, McBath serves as a
national spokesperson and
faith and outreach leader for
Everytown for Gun Safety
and Moms Demand Action
DAVID
CALLAHAN (R)
♦ Age: 67
♦ Residence: City of South
Fulton
♦ Occupation: part-time driver
for Enterprise
leasing
♦ Education:
Studied
graphic arts
technology at
Florida A&M
♦ Family: Son
and daughter, both grown
job fair,” Akinkugbe said.
“I wasn’t. Nobody gave me
a call, nothing.”
Georgia’s unemployment
rate among veterans is higher
than the national average,
Akinkugbe said, and there
are about 1,400 vets without
homes.
His solution: more
vocational training for men
and women coming out of
the armed forces.
By linking them with
trade schools and two year
colleges, Akinkugbe said vets
will be able to land decent
jobs without having to worry
about whether they will be
thrown out of their homes.
“We need to get them skills
they can use right away,” he
said, adding that small loans
for aspiring veteran business
owners may be another way
to give them a boost after
life in the service.
Callahan said his top
priority, if elected, is
eliminating tax breaks for
LUCY
MCBATH (D)
♦ Occupation: National
spokesperson and faith
and outreach leader for
Everytown for Gun Safety
and Moms
Demand
Action for
Gun Sense
in America;
previously
employed
by Delta
Airlines
In-Flight Service for 30
years
♦ Family: Married
♦ Residence: Cobb County
♦ Education: B.A. degree
in political science, Virginia
State University
♦ Campaign website:
LucyForCongress.com
for Gun Sense in America.
Though she had planned
last year to run for the
House District 37 seat held
by state Rep. Sam Teasley,
R-Marietta, she instead
signed up to seek Handel’s
congressional spot this
spring.
“In doing work on gun
violence prevention and
around the country, I began
to recognize that there were a
a lot of issues outside of gun
violence that my citizens, my
neighbors and my district
were concerned about,”
McBath said of her switch
to the federal race during an
Atlanta Press Club debate
streamed May 1.
McBath said her first
priority if elected to the
congressional seat would
be to work on gun violence
prevention.
“I believe that every
individual in this country
should be able to live without
the fear of being gunned down
unnecessarily,” she said.
FEMI
AKINKUGBE (R)
♦ Age: 44
♦ Residence: Stockbridge
♦ Occupation: TSA Officer
♦ Education:
bachelor’s
in computer
science from
Carleton Col-
lege, MBA
from the
University
of Phoenix, Doctor of busi-
ness administration from the
University of Phoenix
♦ Family: Wife, Bunmi; three
children, two boys and a girl,
ages 11, 8 and 5
single parents.
“My No. 1 issue is
fatherhood,” he said. “The
welfare system the way it is
currently structured needs
to be changed because the
way it functions, it financially
incentivizes women to have
children without a father in
the home.”
He said children who grow
up without a father tend to
lack discipline and are more
likely to perform poorly in
school and end up in prison.
He said he believes
structuring the tax system
differently and offering more
incentives to married couples
with children will compel
fathers to stick around.
“We need to encourage
married couples to raise
their children rather than
single-parent households,”
Callahan said.
C10 ♦ SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2018 ♦ MDJ ♦ ELECTION 2018

STATE HOUSE
Three Republicans seek retiring Rep. Ehrhart’s seat
By Shaddi Abusaid
sabusaid@mdjonline.com
Three Republicans are
looking to fill the seat held
by retiring state Rep. Earl
Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs,
including his wife, Ginny.
The three Republicans
in the race face off in next
month’s primary. In addi-
tion to Ginny Ehrhart, an
author and radio host, they
include Rob Harrell, who
runs a construction busi-
ness, and Tom Gray, the
senior pastor of Mars Hill
Community Church who
also runs a Bible study at
the Marietta Country Club.
The winner faces Jen
Slipakoff, a stay-at-home
mom, LGBT advocate and
the lone Democrat seeking
office in the very red House
District 36.
The three Republican
candidates have differing
views on taxation, gun
laws, transit expansion
and whether Georgia’s
schoolteachers should be
allowed to carry guns into
the classroom.
While Ehrhart promises
conservative representation
for the west Cobb district,
Harrell says “holding public
office is not a family busi-
ness and should not be
treated as such.”
Ehrhart said both she and
her husband are “strong
conservatives who believe
in limited government, indi-
vidual freedom and personal
responsibility,” but don’t
agree on everything. She
also said her marriage to
the outgoing representa-
tive has given her a unique
perspective on the ins and
outs of the job.
TRANSIT EXPANSION the best route to go.”
The candidates have dif-
fering opinions regarding a
transit bill that would give
Cobb the option of holding
a countywide vote to levy a
sales tax for up to 30 years
or create a special transit
district in the county with
the sales tax levied within
the district’s boundaries.
Ehrhart said she supports
the creation of a special
transit district because it
would allow residents who
would get the most use out
of an expanded transit sys-
tem to vote on and pay for it.
“It was written in such
a way that it gives Cobb
County options,” she said of
the bill. “Nothing is going to
be shoved down the throats
of voters.”
She said Cobb constit-
uents in her district who
wouldn’t directly benefit
from transit expansion have
no interest in funding it.
Gray didn’t commit to an
option, saying he needed
to study the bill more and
its potential impact on
the county before decid-
ing where he stood on the
issue, but likes that voters
will have a say.
He said ideally, “you want
people who are using the
infrastructure to pay for it.”
Harrell said he’s a believer
in ballot referendums and
says the question should be
posed to all Cobb voters,
not just some living in an
area where it’s more likely
to be approved.
“It’s something that’s
going to affect the entire
county,” he said. “If the
people vote and decide
they want to be taxed for
something, I think that’s
GINNY TOM ROB
He said he thinks the
transit plans are being
EHRHART (R) GRAY (R) HARRELL (R)
forced on Cobb residents ♦ Age: 53 ♦ Age: 52 ♦ Age: 47
and doesn’t believe it will
pass if placed before all ♦ Occupation: Author, radio ♦ Occupation: Pastor at Mars ♦ Occupation: Runs a con-
voters. host, owner Hill Commu- struction
of business nity Church business,
GUN RESTRICTIONS specializing in ♦ Education:
coaches
Ehrhart, an NRA member designing and bachelor baseball
and concealed weapons m a r ket i n g of arts and ♦ Education:
permit holder, does not home textile
see a need to raise the master’s in Studied busi-
products business ness man-
age requirements to buy
assault-style weapons to 21 ♦ Education: administra- agement at
and would not support such Osborne High tion from San Jacinto
a measure right now. But graduate- Auburn University, Vanderbilt, master’s in divinity in Texas, went to Major League
she said she would like to bachelor’s international trade from Mid-America Baptist umpire college
see additional restrictions in Theological Seminary ♦ Children: two sons, ages
place for people with mental ♦ Children: 4 children, two
illness. stepchildren - 3 girls, 3 boys ♦ Children: Son, 18; twin boy 19 and 14
“I believe in responsible (all grown) and girl, ages 14
gun ownership,” she said, rights of convicted felons,
calling the mass shooting to insane people is insane ownership. he said deciding who is
in Parkland, Florida, one in and of itself,” Gray said. “Criminals are never mentally fit to keep and bear
of the most preventable Harrell was the only can- going to abide by any law arms is a slippery slope.
in U.S. history. “We can didate to say he would not you pass anyway,” he said. “How do you police that?”
make changes that don’t support any new legislation While he takes no issue Harrell asked. “And who
involve depriving law-abid- aimed at restricting gun with restricting the gun makes that determination?”
ing citizens of their Second
Amendment rights.”
Gray called the right to
bear arms “an essential,
final level of government
accountability to its citi-
Good people are hard to find in the political
zens” and said there were arena, but the people listed below know a good
already laws on the books
keeping everyday people thing when they see it. They know Tom Gray
from “going out and buying
bazookas.” to be exceptional. That’s why they support
Regarding the Park-
land shooting, Gray said him and encourage you to vote for him.
the shooter should have
never been able to acquire
an AR-15. He said there
should be restrictions in Lew Achord Carol Grayson Bob Lewis
place making it harder for
people with histories of vio- William Adams Jim Grayson Frank Mann
lence and mental illness to Chet Austin Paula Grayson Sissy Mann
get weapons.
“To think we can legally David Austin Robert Grayson Walter McBride
sell high-powered firearms
Billie Blackwell Don Griffin Jim McCann
Mickey Blackwell Lee Haddock Don Mixon

Incumbent Thomas facing Jim Boone

Bernie Brown
Dick Hagman
Don Hammett
Bob Mulliniks
Joyce Mulliniks

three fellow Democrats

Becky Buday Bob Harper Paul Ross
Ray Buday Felton Haygood Tony Scarratt
Jim Bunda Linda Haygood Justin Schneider
By Jon Gargis of going to meetings and feel people knew that she was
jgargis@mdjonline.com like my voice is not being their state representative. Robin Burruss Bradley Henderson Julie Schneider
heard.” They have not heard from Penny Burruss Cheryl Holland Don Shirk
State Rep. Erica Thomas, Edwards ran against her, and that’s across the
D-Austell, is Cobb’s sole Thomas two years ago, taking board when we talked to Jim Curlee Rocky Holland Keith Smith
House Democrat to face a almost 40 percent of the vote Democrats all throughout Diana Day Ron Hoover Dan Stephens
primary challenge this spring. to Thomas’ more than 58 our county,” Deadwyler said.
Three residents of her percent. Tim Day Bill Hutson Bob Stevens
district are vying to unseat “I was pretty fed up with TRANSIT
her — Tray S. Deadwyler, going to community meetings A bill passed by the leg- Mike Dickens Jon Hutson Kathy Sullivan
Shelia Edwards and Victoria and not seeing my represen- islature and signed by Gov. Clem Doxey Myles Jerdan Paul Sullivan,
Randle — but the Democrat tatives there,” said Edwards, Nathan Deal this month
who ultimately advances who owns a communications allows metro Atlanta coun- Dick Engberg Mark Johnson Paul Sullivan
from the primary won’t have consulting business, Cordial ties to increase sales tax up
a direct line to the General Endeavor Communications. to 1 percent to fund new
Ken Farrar Brenda Jones Ben Tarver
Assembly, as they will face “A lot of people think this transit projects. Cobb has Janet Fisher Ted Jones Gloria Tarver
a general election contest position is a job of going to two options, impose the tax
against Austell resident and the General Assembly for 40 countywide or create a special Steve Fisher Charles Kilgore Vic Tobler
Republican James “J.W.” days, but it’s a 365-days-of- district within the county and Dennis Gomez Mark Kirk Larry Watts
Morrow Jr., a teacher and the-year job, and you have only impose the tax within
coach. to be responsive to your that district’s boundaries. Warren Gordon John Knox, Jr. Tom Wurzbach
If no Democratic candi- community.” Both would require a
date earns more than half Deadwyler, a consultant referendum of voters who
the Democratic votes cast, and servant leadership would pay the tax.
the top two vote-getters will
go head-to-head in a runoff
coach with Atlanta-based
CompleMentor Leadership
While all four candidates
agree about the need for Elect Republican

Tom Gray
on July 24 to determine the Development Consultancy, increased transit options
party nominee. says he and his campaign are in their district, only one
Thomas, who serves as not “against Ms. Thomas” candidate says she has
CEO of the nonprofit Speak but are “definitely for our made up her mind on how
Out Loud and owner of district,” which lies in the to pursue that.
marketing company Foster southern tip of the county. Thomas says she favors
United LLC, is seeking her
third two-year term to the
“Even in the incumbent’s
own neighborhood, when
pursuits of a special transit
district in an area of the coun- State Representative · District 36
House. The 30-year-old we did our canvassing — the ty where expanded transit Paid for by friends of Tom Gray.
points to her work thus far incumbent’s actually been
in the General Assembly as elected twice — and only two See TRANSIT, C16
reasons to send her back to
the Legislature.
“We’ve done a lot when
it comes to school safety
this year,” Thomas said,
referring to legislation she
worked on this year to allow
school police to run radar in
school zones.
The new law was in
response to a Lindley Mid-
dle School crossing guard,
Edna Umeh, who was struck
and killed while directing
traffic outside the school in
November.
All three of Thomas’
opponents say they were
seeking her office to provide
greater representation to
their district, though not
all the candidates alluded
to Thomas in their reasons
for running.
“A lot leadership — and
I’m not speaking of anyone
specific — I’m just saying that
a lot of leaders tend to have
their own agenda, and that’s
not the way it’s supposed to
go,” says Randle, a family
nurse practitioner and found-
er of Mableton-based New
Beginnings Career Center.
“I’m tired of emailing, tired
of making phone calls, tired Paid for by Idella Moore Campaign *Paid for by Gordon for Senate

STATE HOUSE
Cobb party chairs: race for District 40 will be close
Republicans hoping to hold Democrats look to flip seat
By Shaddi Abusaid
sabusaid@mdjonline.com
Two Republicans are look-
ing to retain GOP control of
a state House district that
could go either way.
Attorney Matt Bentley,
who last year ran unsuc-
cessfully for the District
6 State Senate seat, faces
Taryn Bowman — who
works in the film industry
and unsuccessfully ran for
Atlanta’s school board in
2013 — for the seat held
by retiring state Rep. Rich
Golick, R-Smyrna.
The chairmen of both
the Cobb Republican and
Democrat parties say the
District 40 race should be
the most competitive on this
year’s ballot.
For years, the district has
been solidly conservative. In
2012, Golick ran unopposed
for the seat. Two years later
he defeated Democrat Erick
Allen with 60 percent of
the vote. In 2016, Golick
defeated Allen again by a
lesser margin, winning with
just 53.5 percent of the vote.
The Republicans face off
in the May 22 primary. The
top vote-getter moves on
to the November 6 general
election where he or she will
take on the winner of District
40’s Democratic primary.
Allen, the Democrat who
lost to Golick in the last
two elections, is making a
third consecutive bid for the
House seat. He faces fellow
Democrat Sandra Bullock
next month.
TRANSIT IN COBB
The two Republican can-
didates running to replace
him have different views of a
transit bill that was signed by
Gov. Nathan Deal last week
that looks to expand transit
across metro Atlanta. Cobb
has several options, one of
them being a countywide
referendum to levy a trans-
portation sales tax for up
to 30 years to fund transit
projects. Another option is
for the creation of a special
transit district in Cobb that
MARTA would operate in.
The latter option would be
voted on and funded by those
living within the district’s
boundaries, which could
likely include District 40.
While Bowman favors
the special transit district
option, Bentley believes
it should be put up to a
countywide vote, though he
is skeptical a referendum
increasing sales tax to pay for
transit would even pass. He
believes the bill was rushed
through the General Assem-
Two young Republicans square off for chance at D41 seat
By Ross Williams
rwilliams@mdjonline.com
Two Republican first-time
candidates are both taking
aim at state Rep. Michael
Smith, D-Marietta, in the
November general election.
Marketing director Deanna
Harris and college student
Bryan Almanza, who is
self-employed, will face off
in the May 22 primary to see
who will get the chance to
face Smith.
Whoever wins the pri-
mary will not have an easy
go. When Smith first took
office in 2012, he got nearly
two-thirds of the vote over
his Republican opponent.
In the two elections since,
he ran unopposed.
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Deanna Harris, 31, works
as director of marketing at
Atlanta-based Virtual Prop-
erties Realty and is cofounder
of a digital design and mar-
keting startup called Brown
& Harris Media Company.
She said her background is
what makes her the better
choice to defeat Smith.
“I definitely believe I
am the better Republican
candidate that can flip
this seat, primarily due to
being so closely tied to the
district. A large portion of
my district demographic is
African-American women,
and I believe I will be able
to connect with them,” said
bly in an attempt to get it
before voters.
He said whatever ends up
getting approved by voters
needs to be a long-term solu-
tion, one that benefits Cobb
for generations to come.
“We need the people in
power to understand the
drastic ramifications that
can happen here,” Bentley
said. “They’re looking at
spending billions of dollars
and they’re rushing a bill.
That is unacceptable as an
elected official.”
Bowman, on the other
hand, thinks the creation
of a special district would
be best for her would-be
constituents because it
would allow those reaping
the benefits of expanded
transit to fund it.
“I think that’s fair,” she
said. “People who are using
it need to decide what they
want. We’re going to let the
voters decide. That’s the
important thing.”
OTHER ISSUES
Bentley is calling for the
repeal of Georgia’s income
tax if elected, a move Bow-
man said she has no problem
supporting.
Georgia’s sales tax would
need to increase to offset
the revenue loss, the GOP
candidates say, but both are
opposed to hiking taxes on
groceries, which they say
would disproportionately
affect lower-income families.
Bowman says lowering
income taxes will make
Georgia’s businesses more
competitive.
“I would love to get to
the point where we could
eliminate the state income
tax,” she said.
Bentley said in addition to
creating jobs, eliminating the
income tax could encourage
Georgia families to save
money.
“If I don’t want to buy
something because it’s
more expensive, that’s me
being encouraged to save
my money and that’s a good
thing for everyone,” the
29-year-old new father said.
Neither candidate would
commit to a set sales tax
rate that would be needed
to make up for the loss in
state funding.
GUN RESTRICTIONS
Bentley said he would like
to see more state funding for
a stronger police presence
in schools.
He also said he would
“consider” looking into a ban
on bump stocks and mea-
sures aimed at encouraging
Harris, an African-American
woman.
“… My background in real
estate and small business is
also something valuable to
the people of the district. I am
the person willing to move
to connect with leadership
and make things happen.”
Harris also touted her
endorsements, including
one from Cobb Sheriff Neil
Warren.
Almanza, 24, works in
the personal injury field
while seeking a political
science degree at Georgia
State University. His par-
ents immigrated to Smyrna
from Mexico in 1986. They
started several small busi-
nesses, including in jewelry,
clothing and real estate. On
his website, Almanza says
he decided to get involved
with politics after seeing
leadership fail to provide
solutions for his commu-
nity. He acknowledged he
is younger than the average
candidate, but said he has
had excellent role models
who taught him about hard
work and faith.
“I grew up getting to
understand diversity and
how much of the minorities
within my community had
no real leadership,” he said
on his website. “I got to see
how businesses that once
prospered in my community
were later removed because
of the recession and failed
regulations. Drugs, gangs
MATT
BENTLEY (R)
♦ Age: 29
♦ Occupation: Attorney
♦ Education:
studied busi-
ness man-
agement at
Auburn, law
at Emor y
University
♦ Family:
Wife, Kelsey; 1-month-old
daughter; two rescue labs
♦ Website: votemattbentley.
com
TARYN
BOWMAN (R)
♦ Age: 49
♦ Occupation: Site rep in the
film industry,
owns a com-
pany linking
homeowners
with produc-
tion compa-
nies
♦ Education:
studied communications and
business at Southern Method-
ist University in Dallas, Texas
♦ Family: Husband, Pete;
three daughters, ages 14, 12,
11; two rescue dogs
♦ Website: bowmanforhouse.
com
people to report suspicious
activity and mental health
concerns to authorities. He
said he would also consid-
er expanding background
checks, but didn’t know
how effective it would be
at deterring someone from
committing mass murder.
The best solution, Bentley
said, is increasing the police
presence in places shootings
could happen.
Bowman said she would
not support any measure
that sought to “chip away”
at the Second Amendment.
“What we need to do is
enforce our current laws,”
she said.
As for arming classroom
teachers, Bowman said she
believes local school dis-
tricts, not the state, should
have the final say.
Bentley said he would
have no problem allowing
teachers with military back-
grounds carry firearms at
school.
and ignorance penetrated my
community and disturbed the
youth. Combatting to succeed
in this type of environment,
I was able to pursue a college
education and educate myself
about how political engage-
ment was necessary to help
bring awareness to people
who had no representation.”
ON THE ISSUES
A transit bill signed by
Gov. Nathan Deal this
month would give Cobb
several options to expand
transportation in the county.
Commissioners could decide
to hold a vote for a 1 percent
sales tax across the county,
or they could create a special
tax district where only the
people living there would
vote on the measure, and
only they would pay the tax.
Almanza said the people
in the areas that would be
impacted should make the
decision.
“I believe that with the
transit, it should all be at the
local level and see if it’s going
to benefit the constituents,”
he said. “I would always leave
it up to constituents at the
local level.”
Harris said she would pre-
fer to see the entire county
have a say.
“I think the people should
be allowed to vote 100 per-
cent,” she said.
When it comes to what is
needed to solve local traffic
problems, she said she wants
ELECTION 2018 ♦ MDJ ♦ SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2018 ♦ C11
JON GARGIS
jgargis@mdjonline.com
Both Democratic candi-
dates vying for the House
seat of state Rep. Rich
Golick, R-Smyrna, say they
believe Cobb is in need of
transit expansion but differ
on how they want to see it
happen.
Golick is stepping down
at the end of this year, and
Democrats Erick Allen and
Sandra Bullock will face
off in the May 22 primary
election to determine which
of them gets one step clos-
er to flipping the seat. In
November the winner will
face either Matt Bentley
or Taryn Bowman, who
will square off in the GOP
primary.
Allen, who is running
for the House seat for
the third election cycle
in a row, is a talent man-
agement consultant with
Cornerstone on Demand,
a workforce development
firm. He personally favors
a countywide sales tax to
pay for a list of approved
transit projects as would
be allowed under House
Bill 930, which was signed
by Gov. Nathan Deal this
month.
Alternatively, the bill
would also allow Cobb to
create a special district
within the county in which
the sales tax would be levied
and used for transportation
projects within its bound-
aries.
Either option would have
to be passed by Cobb resi-
dents by referendum.
“Right now, I want to
wait and see what comes
out of the (county’s transit)
study,” Allen said, “(but)
I really believe in the ‘one
Cobb’ mentality, the ‘one
Cobb’ philosophy. I think
we need to do this as one
county; I’m not a fan of the
special districts, because
what that typically does
is goes to (less) affluent
communities and those
communities will be taxed,
and really double-taxed
— they’ll be taxed in the
transit district and they will
be assessed fees to get onto
public transportation.”
Expanded transit, Allen
says, would benefit House
District 40, which covers
parts of Smyrna, Mableton,
Vinings and Atlanta, but
would also allow other
areas of the county, such
as south Cobb and east
Cobb, to “thrive together.”
Cobb also has the option
to see new freight routes and
expanded road lanes through
the metro area.
“Those are the things I
think are the primary con-
cern of the constituents,” she
said. “I’m not sure if they are
as open and happy to create a
tax for MARTA to be imposed
here. We already have our
own bus line … Cobb is very
vital to Georgia as a whole.
We deserve the best deals.”
She said she does not
support changing the HOPE
Scholarship to become
needs-based. She praised
Gov. Nathan Deal for pro-
viding education funding
up to the level prescribed
by the state’s Quality Basic
Education funding formula,
and said she wants to work
with legislators to make sure
it stays funded.
Almanza disagreed on
the topic of HOPE, saying
he would support lowering
the GPA requirement from
3.0 to 2.8. He is also a pro-
ponent of school choice, he
said. He said Osborne and
Campbell high schools have
the lowest graduation rates
in Cobb County and called
for involving parents in
school decisions through
new committees.
“I want to create local
committees where they
are uniform in enacting
solutions and oversight on
issues like student absence
in schools and failing student
academic progress,” he said.
to contract with MARTA
outright — a choice the
county could have pur-
sued in previous years well
before the drafting of the
pending transit bill.
Bullock, who recently
retired after 20 years as
a database administrator
at Georgia Tech University,
says she would like to see
the county join MARTA
“so people could catch the
train, get downtown to their
downtown jobs.” She would
like to see the transit ser-
vice’s existing train line
extended across Interstate
285 into Cobb. MARTA’s
Red line already ventures
north of the Perimeter but
only at the top end with
stops near Georgia 400.
“I’d want it at least to
go to the Braves stadium.
Getting a train to the Braves
would be a good first step,
because it would be close
to Cobb Energy (Perform-
ing Arts) Centre and all
the development that’s
around the Braves, the
Roxy Theatre. I don’t know
what the next population
center is after that — up to
Kennesaw or to Marietta,
whatever the hotspots are
for the best bang for your
buck for the population,”
Bullock said.
CAN DEMS FLIP
RED SEAT TO BLUE?
Bullock said she calls
herself a “non-traditional
candidate” and even dis-
likes politics, but is running
to offer her technological
background to the General
Assembly.
Her knowledge, she says,
is crucial as the state is still
operating voting machines
that are old and in need
of upgrades and while the
state and nation deal with
the fallout of computer
breaches and identity theft.
“I feel like they need
computer people in the
House that can actually
explain and understand
some of the complexities
of what’s happening now in
computer security,” Bullock
said. “Equifax hasn’t even
gotten a slap on the wrist
yet and quite possibly won’t
get much more from the
federal level, and they’re
a Georgia company. There
should be something hap-
pening to go with Equifax
for that huge breach.”
Allen, who took 46.5
percent of the vote to
incumbent Republican
Golick’s 53.5 percent in the
November 2016 general
BRYAN
ALMANZA (R)
♦ Age: 24
♦ Occupation: student,
personal injury
♦ Education:
Campbell
High graduate;
studying politi-
cal science at
Georgia State
University
♦ Family: Not married, no
children
♦ Residence: Smyrna
♦ Website: bryanforgeorgia.
“These committees can be
organized by parents within
a neighborhood and will be
in compliance with school
officials and guidelines.”
ERICK
ALLEN (D)
♦ Age: 42
♦ Occupation: Consultant,
Cornerstone
on Demand
♦ Family: Dr.
Tameka Allen;
d a u g h t e r,
Elise
♦ Residence:
Vinings
♦ Education: MBA, Kennesaw
State University; B.A., Organi-
zational Leadership, Belmont
University
♦ Campaign website: allen-
forgeorgia.com
♦ Email address: erick@
allenforgeorgia.com
SANDRA
BULLOCK (D)
♦ Age: 54
♦ Occupation: Retired, data-
base admin-
istrator from
Georgia Tech
for 20 years;
26 years total
at Georgia
Tech
♦ Education:
B.A. in radio and TV from
Southern Illinois University
♦ Family: N/A (single)
♦ Residence: Smyrna
♦ Email address: sbullock52@
gmail.com
election, said he believes
that while the district’s
demographics have changed
over the years, that alone
is not enough to hand the
longtime GOP seat over to
the Democrats. Golick has
held the seat since 1998.
“I don’t think it’s about a
generic R or D seeking the
seat,” Allen said. “I think
it’s my commitment to the
community, the persistence
over the years, the trust I’ve
built within the community.
I think that’s what is going
to bring the seat my way.”
Allen and Bullock
previously had a third
Democratic opponent in
attorney Justin Gorman,
but the latter dropped
out of the race and has
endorsed Allen, Gorman
told the MDJ.
DEANNA
HARRIS (R)
♦ Age: 31
♦ Occupation: marketing
director for Vir-
tual Properties
Realty
♦ Education:
Bachelor’s
degree, Florida
State University,
apparel design
and advertising; master’s
degree, Cleveland State Uni-
versity, communication and
journalism
♦ Family: Not married, no
children
♦ Residence: Smyrna
♦ Website: vote4harris.org
C14 ♦ SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2018 ♦ MDJ ♦ ELECTION 2018

STATE HOUSE
Business owner challenges Longtime legislator Parsons
Rep. Cooper for House D43 facing GOP primary challenge
By Ross Williams
rwilliams@mdjonline.com
primary will go on to face
Democrat Luisa Wakeman, SHARON By Jon Gargis
jgargis@mdjonline.com
of the Ebenezer Farm
subdivision HOA. DON
who has no opposition for
East Cobb Republican vot- her party’s nomination, in
COOPER (I)(R) State Rep. Don Parsons,
Those issues, he says,
include the U.S. Depart- PARSONS (I)(R)
ers may have two choices for November’s general election. ♦ Occupation: Medical R-north Cobb, and his ment of Education’s “tight
District 43 Representative adminis- primary opponent, Homer hold” on schools through- Age: 70
when they go to the ballot PRESCRIPTIONS AND trator, nurse Crothers, both say they do out the country due to Occupation: Consultant in
box May 22: State Rep. Sha- not see the need for new Common Core standards
ron Cooper, R-east Cobb, OPIOIDS ♦ Family: telecommuni-
transit options for their and mandatory testing. cations field;
faces a Republican challenge Widowed Human trafficking is
Cooper said one of her House District 44, which spent 35 years
from businessman Kevin ♦ Resi- includes portions of north- another focus of Crothers,
James. top priorities if re-elected at BellSouth,
dence: east Cobb and land between who says he does not want
The MDJ spoke with will be reintroducing a bill East Cobb Interstates 75 and 575. to see the metro Atlanta
retiring as
both Republican candidates that was left on the table this Whichever man advances area remain a hub for the operations
before the recent allegations past legislative session. It ♦ Education: BS in child from the May 22 GOP pri- crime. As a legislator, he manager of
about James’ taxes were has to do with step therapy, development from Univer- mary will go onto to face would seek greater funding BellSouth
made public. or the medical practice of sity of Tennessee, MA in Communica-
Democrat Chinita Allen, a for law enforcement to
Cooper, chair of the House beginning a patient on the education from University address the issue. tions Systems in 2004
teacher, in the November
Health and Human Services safest, most cost-effective of South Florida, BSN
Committee and a nurse by treatment before moving on general election. Education: B.S. in secondary
and MSN in nursing from NO APPETITE
training, said she is proud to riskier or more expensive education from West Virginia
of her record supporting options.
Medical College of Georgia THE CANDIDATES FOR TRANSIT? State University
legislation she said benefits “One of the problems that ♦ Campaign website: www. Parsons, first elected While the two candi-
patients have is that often state representative in 1994 dates’ campaign motiva- Family: Wife, Jo Lynn; two
Georgia’s patients. sharoncooper.org tions venture in different daughters and six grandchil-
First elected in 1996, an insurance company will and vying for his 13th two-
Cooper said her proudest want them to try one or two year term, is a consultant directions, Crothers and dren
Parsons appear to be trav-
accomplishments since then cheaper medicines before
include a bill that allows they will give them a med-
KEVIN in the telecommunications
field who spent 35 years eling in a similar direction
police to carry Narcan, an icine that’s more expensive, JAMES (R) at BellSouth, retiring as as it comes to a transit bill
overdose-reversal drug, and even if their doctor, who
shields from arrest those knows them, has ordered ♦ Occupation: Business
operations manager of
BellSouth Communica-
signed into law this month.
House Bill 930 offers
HOMER
who call 911 to report an that medication and thinks owner, tions Systems in 2004. He Cobb two options for tran- CROTHERS
overdose. She said she that’s the best medication for founder says the telecom industry sit expansion through a
moved a bill to establish them to have,” Cooper said. of Inter- would remain a big focus public referendum that (R)
free clinics around the Problems can arise when, national if re-elected as he would would raise the sales tax Age: 78
state by allowing the state for instance, a patient gets Motorsports continue to work on legis- up to 1 percent for up to Occupation: Retired; previously
to cover malpractice for new insurance and the new Inc., Hi-Def lation that would stream- 30 years.
worked as an international
the physicians and nurses company wants them to go Media line process of cell phone One option would levy
manufacturing
working there. back onto a drug that was companies installing 5th the sales tax countywide to
James said he decided to ineffective for them under ♦ Family: generation wireless sys- pay for a list of approved consultant
run after a difficult divorce their old insurance. Divorced, one son tems, also known as 5G, projects. Education:
that involved child custody. Cooper said her bill will into areas of the state. The Another would levy the Ph.D. in
♦ Residence: East Cobb
He says laws governing mar- give patients new ways to technology often utilizes tax on a special district mathematical
riage are broken in Georgia appeal decisions like that ♦ Education: Studied politi- smaller, more numerous drawn within the county statistics from
and that he is the one to fix if their doctor thinks there cal science at West Georgia antennas throughout cities and only undertake proj- The Union
the white-collar crime and is good reason to avoid the College, now University of versus larger cell towers. ects within that district. Institute (Cin-
widespread corruption that cheaper treatment. West Georgia “It’s not an easy process Cobb also has the option
he believes has reached the cinnati, Ohio); also holds a
because you have a lot of to contract with MARTA masters in management and
level of assassination. TRAFFIC AND ♦ Campaign website: www. backlash, especially from outright.
Judges, attorneys, TRANSIT winwithkevinwjames.org Crothers said he favors
bachelor of law
cities across the state ... that
court-appointed guardians James said his solution want to establish their own none of the three options. Family: Wife, Sandra; three
ad litem, child protective for traffic woes includes fees and permitting pro- “I don’t think Cobb adult children, eight grandchil-
workers and psychologists, building an elevated roadway they made changes for Cobb cesses.” Parsons said. “The County or any portion dren, five great-grandchildren
James said, are practicing exclusively for autonomous County, which they didn’t longer this thing is held up needs to join MARTA,”
malfeasance for monetary vehicles. make for others,” she said. and doesn’t move through, Crothers said, arguing that
gain. He also alleges the “It’s going to have to be, in “We actually looked at our the (telecom) companies the county’s existing bus
Department of Family and an interstate environment, situation and they did give are going to move their service, CobbLinc, saw Delegation. It’ll be the del-
Children Services is involved it’s going to have to be a sep- us more options.” infrastructure investments dismal ridership on the egation and the Board of
in a kickback scheme for arate roadway system,” he When it comes to which Cumberland Circulator Commissioners working on
into other states where they
children “harvested” from said. “Maybe even locally, approach Cobb County bus routes that launched this, and frankly, I’ve never
don’t have these problems.”
contentious divorces. too, there could be some should take — voting to in March 2017. He says really heard any call from
“This is white-collar crime restraints on it as well. … Parsons also hopes to
create a countywide penny that service serves as a the people in my district
at its finest …” James said Who developed autonomous sales tax or instituting a push for advancements
in broadband availability barometer on the county’s for it,” Parsons said.
in a statement. “This is cars? Google, Apple, Verizon, special tax district where But Parsons would not
direct criminal behavior AT&T et cetera, as they want in rural areas — something stance on transit.
residents would vote on and share a personal prefer-
conducted by the judicia- to continue to barrage you that he says also has an “Why is it not being uti-
exclusively pay the sales tax ence on which of the three
ry as they manipulate the with pop-ups and text while — she said she will leave that impact on metro counties lized? Because people pre-
such as Cobb. fer their personal vehicle options he would like to
system for their financial driving, but it is illegal to do up to the county.
gain and forget their mor- so. So they want to control Crothers said he is versus a mass transit vehi- see, saying that it depends
“I certainly believe our
als and lose their fiduciary the ‘center stack’ of the car, seeking the seat from the cle,” Crothers said, adding on what county commis-
commissioners and the peo-
responsibility of providing and autonomous cars is their ple they have appointed to longtime lawmaker to be that he does not believe sioners decide, with only
honest services.” study our transit needs for a “citizens’ legislator for his House district would the transit district option
own solution.”
James cited one case in James also proposes an our area know a lot more the people.” benefit from inclusion in bringing him and other
which he alleges a former elevated high-speed rail about it than I do,” she said. “Through my experi- a special transit district. legislators into play.
elected official and spouse track to Florida and to James said he would need ence as president of the Parsons said he too does “If they decide to go with
were assassinated after the Brunswick and Savannah to get another look at the homeowners association, not see his portion of north the special district, then
official published a report and another high-speed rail bill before deciding. I got talking to folks and Cobb included in a transit that’s a process that we
on what she believed was for freight. “A lot of these House Bills listening to some of the district if county leaders as part of the Cobb Del-
corruption in DFACS. Police Cooper voted in favor of that get pushed through, things that they’re deal- pursue that route. egation is involved in,”
determined she was the vic- House Bill 930, a sweep- the language changes, so ing with and trying to help “I don’t anticipate any Parsons said. “I think that’s
tim in a murder-suicide, but ing metro Atlanta transit much, and before I would them come to resolution on of my House district being probably the way they will
James discounts the inves- bill passed by the General agree one way or another on some of the issues,” said in a special district. I see go, then I’ll be involved
tigation and contends both Assembly and signed by Gov. that, I would need to review Crothers, a retired inter- it being more of a Cum- in it, and there will be a
were murder victims. Nathan Deal. the bill in its final entirety,” national manufacturing berland area district, but number of decisions that
The winner of the May 22 “I voted for the bill after he said. consultant and president I’m only one in the Cobb have to be made.”

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

By Ross Williams
rwilliams@mdjonline.com
The Georgia Public Service
Commission is responsible for
regulating the state’s public
utilities: electric, gas, telecom-
munications and transportation
firms.
Commissioners are elected
in staggered six-year terms to
represent one of five districts.
Though the commissioner must
reside within the district he or
she represents, commissioners
are chosen in statewide elec-
tions.
District 3 represents Fulton,
DeKalb, Clayton and Rockdale
counties.
District 5 seat represents west
Georgia, including Cobb County.
The commission regulates
Georgia’s public utilities: elec-
tric, gas, telecommunications
and transportation firms.
One major issue the com-
mission is sure to face is Plant
Vogtle, a site near Waynesboro,
Georgia, where two nuclear
reactors are under construc-
tion. The project is years behind
schedule and billions of dollars
over budget. Supporters say
the nuclear plant, the only
one under construction in the
country, will produce cheap
power for years to come, but
detractors call it a money pit
and say ratepayers are stuck
with the costs of the continuing
construction.
JOHN NOEL (D)
♦ Age: 47
♦ Occupation: President of ener-
gy efficiency company, Energy &
Environment LLC
♦ Education: B.A., history, Lake
Forest College
♦ Family: Wendy Hogg, spouse;
no children
♦ Residence: Northwest Atlanta
♦ Website: noelforpsc.com
TRICIA
PRIDEMORE (R) (I)
♦ Age: 46
♦ Occupation: Solar
♦ Occupation: Public
Service Commissioner
♦ Education: B.S.,
marketing and polit-
ical science, Ken-
nesaw State University
♦ Family: Michael,
husband
♦ Residence: Marietta
♦ Website: pridemorepsc.com
DISTRICT 3
JOHNNY C. WHITE (D) LINDY MILLER (D)
♦ Age: 58 ♦ Age: 39
♦ Occupation: IT consultant ♦ Occupation: Businesswoman
♦ Education: Business degree, Miles ♦ Education: Bachelor’s degree,
College in Birmingham, Alabama
economics and philosophy and
♦ Family: Married with two adult science, University of Pennsylvania;
children master’s degree, public administra-
tion, Harvard University’s Kennedy
♦ Residence: Roswell
School of Government
♦ Website: the-utility-guy.com ♦ Family: Jonathan, husband; three sons, ages
4, 7 and 9
♦ Residence: Decatur
♦ Website: millerforgeorgia.com
DISTRICT 5
JOHN DAWN A. DOUG
HITCHINS (R)
RANDOLPH (D) STONER (D)
♦ Age: 52 ♦ Occupation: Business owner
advo-
♦ Occupation: Public policy consultant ♦ Website: doug-
cacy stonerforga.com
♦ Education: B.A., international
♦ Web- political science, Pennsylvania
site:
State University; Master’s degree,
hitchin- public administration, Georgia State
s4psc.
University
com
♦ Family: Christopher, husband
♦ Residence: Stockbridge
♦ Website: randolphforgeorgia.com