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July 19, 2010

City late stop in gubernatorial campaigns

Jamie Jones jamiejones@daltoncitizen.com

With the clock ticking before Tuesday’s primaries, three Republican candidates for governor flew into the Dalton Municipal Airport on Monday to make their final pushes for the state’s top office.

Nathan Deal, Karen Handel and Eric Johnson each briefly visited The Carpet Capital of the World, meeting with supporters and the media before whisking away to other parts of the state.

Deal, a former U.S. congressman from nearby Gainesville, was the first to arrive in Dalton shortly before 9 a.m. He was greeted by about 25 sign-waving, sticker-wearing supporters, including Mike Babb, chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners, state Rep. Tom Dickson, R-Cohutta, and Dalton Mayor David Pennington.

Deal continued his campaign theme of claiming to be the most conservative Republican candidate, a theme he repeated during his seven other stops throughout the state.

“Republicans know that we need to nominate somebody not only who can win in November, but someone who represents the core values of the Republican Party,” Deal said. “And when you think about it, what are those core values? Smaller government, less spending, more personal responsibility and someone who doesn’t just play lip service to those issues, but who has a consistent long-term voting record not only on the fiscal side of issues, but on the social side of issues as well.”

Johnson, a former state senator from Savannah, arrived at the airport as Deal’s contingent was leaving for Columbus. The two exchanged a handshake as they passed each other. Johnson was joined by his wife and daughter.

Johnson again highlighted his plan to eliminate the state sales tax on energy used in manufacturing, which would amount to about a $150 million tax cut.

 “Frankly, this country is in tough times,” Johnson said. “The people out there want a governor that’s got real world experience and the wisdom that comes with it. And I do. They want a governor that’s run a business and hasn’t been living off taxpayers. And I have. They want a governor with a good, solid conservative record of cutting taxes and balancing budgets. I have that, too.”

Johnson also appealed to voters in Dalton, remarking that as an architect he is the only candidate who has specified carpet. He visited six other cities across the state.

Handel arrived in Dalton at about 4 p.m. to a crowd of some 15 supporters, including Dalton City Councilman Gary Crews and Whitfield County Board of Commission member Randy Waskul. This was her next to last destination on a seven-stop tour, which originated and ended in Atlanta. Handel, a former secretary of state, said the six other GOP candidates have had the power to make changes but haven’t done so.

“Georgia needs to have a next generation leader who is not a career politician, someone who is a real reformer and is going to come in to the job with that mindset,” Handel said. “For me, coming out of the corporate world and then also having experience at the local election level as the Fulton County Commission chairman, so that we can rebuild the relationship between the state and the local government — because there are a lot of issues we have to tackle — they have to be solved with each level of our governments working together.”

Other Republican candidates are state Sen. Jeff Chapman, R-Brunswick, Ray McBerry, Otis Putnam and Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine. Vying for the Democratic nomination are Attorney General Thurbert Baker, former Gov. Roy Barnes, Marietta businessman Bill Bolton, Ray City Mayor Carl Camon, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter and former state adjutant general David Poythress.

 

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