Georgia gubernatorial candidates make last campaign push before runoff elections
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)-Monday is the last day of campaigning before major runoff elections in Georgia.
With Governor Brian Kemp being term-limited, two Republicans remain in the race to take on former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November to replace.
One of those candidates, businessman Rick Jackson, made one of his final campaign stops for the primary in Dalton however.
His opponent, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones however, received a key endorsement from Governor Kemp, highlighting their work together over the past eight years.
Gov. Kemp said, “Over the past eight years we’ve accomplished a lot and we’ve had a strong ally in Burt Jones. Burt knows how to get things done. Cutting taxes, taking criminals off the street, raising teacher pay, creating jobs. Burt Jones has been a trusted ally in these efforts, being there every step of the way.”
Lt. Gov. Jones said,”I enjoyed working with the governor. He and I are very similar in our way of thinking as just common sense, business minded and trying to do what’s right for every day Georgians.”
However, Rick Jackson while making a campaign stop in Dalton Monday morning accused Jones of using his office to personally enrich himself.
Jackson said, “I am not running like my opponent to have the governorship in order to make money for me or my family.”
He addressed the increasing hostility between him and Lieutenant Governor Jones in numerous political advertisements saying he is sorry Georgians are having to endure them.
Jackson said, “I challenged my opponent 40 days ago and said if you quit telling lies about me, I’ll quit telling the truth about you, and most of what he’s said has been completely made up BS as far as I’m concerned.”
We asked him about how he would address the forever chemicals issue in Northwest Georgia, as we have covered the extensive concerns residents have about the safety of their drinking water and soil.
Jackson said, “We have two equal issues. Number one you have people that may have been hurt and you want to solve their issues. But you also have an industry that Dalton and Rome relies on and we don’t want to lose industry, so the question is a balance. Personally I’d like to be a mediator and negotiator to see how everybody wins.”
He did receive an endorsement Monday afternoon from Texas Senator Ted Cruz at a separate rally in Alpharetta.
Sen. Cruz said there, “When Rick is elected, he’s going to freeze property taxes all across the state of Georgia. And he is going to cut the income tax in half. And Rick’s background, an outsider, a businessman. I don’t know anyone in politics like that. There is an independence. There is a freedom that comes from campaigning because you know what you believe and you’re fighting for what’s right. If you want to win in November, vote for Rick Jackson for governor.”
Republicans will also choose their nominee in the Senate race between Representative Mike Collins and former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley to take on the incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.
Voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, and we’ll have the results here on News 12 Tuesday evening.
