My Choice for Governor in the Republican Runoff
I’m voting for Brian Kemp for Governor on July 24th and it’s not because I’m simply “anti-Cagle,” though I am in the strongest sense of the term.
In fact, I’m not just ‘against the other guy,’ I’ve had a 3×4 Kemp sign displayed in my yard since March of this year. I believe I’ve had fewer than five candidate signs in my yard over the last several years, so it’s safe to say I’m committed to why I’m supporting him.
I first saw Kemp as a gubernatorial candidate at the forum in Milledgeville. I was a moderator and had the opportunity to ask all of the candidates questions. Kemp seemed genuine and I remarked after the debate in my analysis that he appeared to be the only candidate of the five who appeared on stage to grasp the contrasting lifestyles in rural and metro areas across our state.
I then had the opportunity to sit down with all of the gubernatorial candidates – with the exception of Cagle, who refused – during the primary election. I spent an hour grilling Kemp on his positions and his plan for rural Georgia. He had recently released the plan and I was among the first news organization to discuss the details. I assumed I would see him dodge a few questions or maybe even contradict himself throughout the lengthy interview, as most politicians do, but he did not. Kemp earned my vote that day.
I found it respectable that he answered all of my questions. I didn’t agree with every response, but he took a position and, from what I’ve seen over the last nine months, hasn’t wavered. I will take a candidate who I disagree with on a consistent basis over an inconsistent chameleon any day. Kemp isn’t on the campaign trail telling different groups of people different things. He is the same when he’s in jeans as he is when he’s in a suit.
I’ve lived in metro Atlanta and I now live in rural Georgia. The differences in quality of life are staggering. I’m not looking for a candidate who will “fix” rural Georgia because I don’t believe that’s the proper role of government, but to get government out of the way, one must first understand where government is the problem. Kemp made it clear that he does.
From health care to infrastructure to broadband internet and even education, Kemp’s answers illustrated that he wasnt just regurgitating what he’d put on his website. His positions were taken because of what he has seen, because he’s the only candidate who has actually visited rural communities.
Had you told me a year and a half ago that I’d have a nice Kemp sign in my yard, I would have laughed in your face. I’ve been a vocal critic of his while he’s served as Secretary of State. His teams knows that and I’m sure he knows that. (I was actually nervous about interviewing him after so much criticism, but he was nothing but humble and kind throughout.) Kemp is not perfect. He made some mistakes as Secretary of State.
But he isn’t running for Secretary of State. He’s running for Governor of this state and the offices are vastly different with two totally different operational positions. I feel strongly that Kemp is the most qualified candidate to lead Georgia with honesty and integrity.
I believed all of these things before Cagle’s infamous recordings came out, well before Cagle’s campaign accused me writing fake news, and long before the laundry list of unprincipled legislators lined up for #CagleLead. To me, those are just bonus points — further assurance that I’m supporting the right person.
This office isn’t one that’s supposed to operate off of political favors, backscratching, and “thank yous.” It shouldn’t be about special interest donations or “****ing politics.” It should be about someone who has conviction and a concrete belief system you can look to, even in the face of losing support. This election is about electing someone who will put the needs of others above his own.
I don’t believe Kemp will hold grudges or govern with a vengeance. I believe he’ll be someone who is accessible and accountable. I also believe that when he tells Georgians “NO” on an issue, there will be a reason — not a dollar — behind the decision. Successes seen will be seen in the lives of Georgians, not the reflection in the mirror. Aren’t those the qualities of a person in which this state is in dire need?
I expect him to make mistakes, as every elected official in the history of elected officials before him has. But I believe we’ll always know what to expect. And I also think we’ll be able to bring criticisms to the table with a Kemp governorship. Do you think we could say the same about a Cagle dictatorship governorship?
Issues and policies seem to change with the times and circumstances surrounding social trends, the economy, and so much more. That’s why we need to look to elect people of character because when everything else is fluctuating, character remains in tact. We have the opportunity to do that in the Peach State.
I hope you’ll join me in supporting Brian Kemp on July 24th.
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Having served as Assistant Division Director Elections Technology for 4 years under Brian Kemp – hired by Karen Handel in 2008, I cannot support Secretary Kemp’s candidacy for governor. I will leave it at that.
If he happens to win, one hopes his Chief of Staff and top aides are better managers than he has been. Do we have any insight into who would fill those roles?
Bubba the Clown and that kid he pointed the gun at in the commercial.
I’ve come to believe that most of the bad things Kemp and Cagle say about the other are true. I don’t see how I can vote for either.
So, you do a really poor job as SOS, and that means you should be promoted? I dont think so.
Within the primary, that is not the choice. The choice is to promote someone who did a poor job as SoS vs. someone who did a poor job as Lt. Gov. It becomes a choice of which flaws you prefer.
Maybe Peter’s Principle is kicking in for them both.
Yeah, they are different jobs, but if he can’t do the one he has with competence I have no reason to believe he can do a bigger job.
Kemp isn’t on the campaign trail telling different groups of people different things. Yet.
There, I fixed that for you.
Brian Kemp, the selfless public servant, living a life dedicated to helping others?
Oh yeah, that guy doesn’t exist.
Instead you are encouraging us to vote for Brian “Pass The Buck” Kemp, who blundered his way through the Secretary of State’s office while blaming everyone except himself.
Hell of a role model you’ve got there, Jessica.
In the general? No. He would be running against Stacey freaking Abrams. I am not sure the GOP would not win that contest if they nominated John Wayne Gacy.
That said, I voted Kemp in the runoff, after voting Hill initially. But rumors had nothing to do with my vote.
I wouldnt bet much on that premise…these two clowns make that outcome more likely every day that passes
When it comes to candidates of either party, I ask myself two questions:
“Is this person an insufferable douche bag who only got into politics because he lacked any discernible talents or skills outside of saying whatever people with big checkbooks want him to say?”
AND
“Does this person’s unquenchable greed and utter lack of empathy prevent them caring about anyone other than themselves and increase the risk they’ll screw over Georgians for personal gain?”
The only thing you ask is if there is an R after their name
And now you’re a mind reader??
I wonder how close these two want to be tied to Trump after the “unbelievable” news conference he gave with Putin today? Calling something Trump does unbelievable at this point really means something
Treasonous is more descriptive.
Weii, don’t keep us in suspense, which guy are you talking about?
I worked as a RN. I would never vote for Brian Kemp. I’m afraid Georgia would have a “mini-Trump” as governor.
2016:
“Leaders in the nursing profession, meanwhile, are discussing a way for their board to move out of Kemp’s office, as the pharmacy and dental boards did in 2013.
“We have gone down a path with the secretary of state, who really has limited communication with us, and makes decisions without communicating with us,’’ said Brenda Rowe, immediate past president of the Board of Nursing.
“We deal with a lack of respect of us and our profession,’’ added Rowe, a faculty member at Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University.
Making the nursing board independent would require action by the General Assembly, and Rowe conceded that persuading legislators to take such a step “is not easy.’’
Nevertheless, she told GHN (Georgia Health News), some legislators have expressed support for the nurses.”
According to a friend of mine who is into family history Kemp closed down the GA archives and fired everybody. She said she would never vote for him for that reason. I guess everything has their “thing”.
Kemp exceeded his Peter Principle level of incompetence as Secretary of State. Gov. Deal cut his budget more than once because he handled what he was given poorly. You really want a guy like that as Governor? The choice is a poor one but give me a hack over a total incompetent any day.
It’s funny- and I appreciate- how the discussion here lets Dems and Indys show how they would vote if they were Repubs, and vice versa.
Oddly, I find myself defending Kemp, even though I know I would never vote for him. Because I take Jessica at her word, which I have some very minor corroborating evidence for- which means the choice is between an incompetent with some of the right intent, and a perhaps more competent with less of the right intent. And in that choice, I’d go with intent all day- mostly because staff can overcome incompetence, but nothing will negate ill will.
OK, I will stipulate that Cagle is more ethically challenged than Kemp. As noted time and again ethically challenged governors are sort of a Georgia staple. As noted by gt7348b on another thread though, having a governor who is in other folk’s pockets could help prevent social issue blunders from an incompetent who is also backed by a super-majority Republican legislature that is prone to such things. Typically a fully bent politician only gets to wet his beak. A RFRA without any civil rights legislation to go with it could cost us billions.
Also a NY Mag article on political incorrectness being the new conservative mantra features Kemp prominently. Do we really want the Georgia governor’s office filled with this clown?
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/07/anti-pc-is-political-correctness-for-the-right.html
These two really do make me appreciate Nathan Deal.