GA Gubernatorial Candidate Roy Barnes Doesn't Offer a Solution to Helping Black & Latino Communities Hardest Hit by Recession

I sent some questions to former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes about his upcoming gubernatorial election against Republican Nathan Deal. Here are our questions and his responses:

Hinterland Gazette:  Why should Georgians give you another chance as our governor? Why should they vote for you instead of Nathan Deal? What would you do differently this time around?

Roy Barnes:  Georgia is falling behind. Over the past several years, the other team has given us ethics violations, teacher furloughs, tax breaks to special interests and record homes foreclosures. But I have a plan to tackle the serious issues facing our state and make Georgia work. The last thing Georgia needs right now is more of the same. I have the competent experience to rebuild a solid foundation in Georgia – one that will support a better life, stronger communities, and a brighter future for our families.

Hinterland Gazette: Georgia’s unemployment rate is still high, at 9.9%, exceeding the national average. It seems that Gov. Perdue hasn’t done anything to these numbers. What will you do, if elected as governor?

Roy Barnes:  Georgia desperately needs more jobs. Our state’s ability to encourage job growth has a direct impact on the level of economic opportunity afforded to Georgia families. Given our current concerns about water, education and transportation, it comes as no real surprise that businesses are reluctant to locate and grow here. Frankly, we are fighting a losing battle with neighboring states for preference with companies that are establishing a presence in the South. As governor, I will make creating jobs my first priority.

Hinterland Gazette:  The foreclosure rate remains high in the state of Georgia, with certain areas in Metro Atlanta still dogged by thousands losing their homes. What will you do to force banks into meeting borrowers face-to-face to come to a reasonable agreement? Tell us what you have in your arsenal to help borrowers get a viable solution?

Roy Barnes:  The property tax relief that was instituted during my term as governor made it affordable for Georgians to purchase homes, raise families, start businesses and invest in a life here. It served as a basic building block of strong communities and a stable job market. We can start making Georgia work by bringing back the homestead exemption.

Hinterland Gazette:  In a recent debate with your Republican opponent Nathan Deal and Libertarian candidate John Monds, you proposed embracing embryonic stem cell research to create jobs. How many jobs do you anticipate this would create and wouldn’t this be miniscule considering to high unemployment rates we are grappling with in this state?

Roy Barnes:  Biomedical research and development could be a stepping-stone to the future. Initiatives such as the Georgia Cancer Coalition could lead to revolutionary advances in medical research, attract new business to our state, and create scores of jobs that will put Georgians back to work. How do we get there? Policy makers should act now to create incentives for medical research initiatives based in Georgia. The United States still has a comparative advantage in scientific technology – we can seize the opportunity now to be at the forefront of medical breakthroughs. Additionally, we can take advantage of our state’s existing educational infrastructure – our public and private research universities – and create a technology hub right here in Georgia, similar to the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

Hinterland Gazette: You also said, during the debate, that President Obama’s new healthcare plan would increase the costs associated with Medicaid. How so and what do you propose should be done to prevent the costs from skyrocketing?

Roy Barnes:  Numerous questions remain about the specific details and effects of implementing the federal health care reforms at the state level, and the rules and regulations that relate to the legislation have yet to be released. While I support the goals of and need for health care reform, I believe that there are certain provisions of the current legislation that will be too difficult and costly for states to implement; as Governor, I will work with the National Governors Association and Georgia state leaders to recommend changes to these provisions. We must examine each issue closely, and determine what the most effective and cost efficient solutions for Georgia will be when it comes to addressing our health care needs. In the meantime, the state can continue to play an important role in ensuring that Georgians, particularly Georgia children, receive all necessary health care services.

Hinterland Gazette:   Many Democrats up for election or re-election have been running from the Obama effect, since most of the candidates he endorsed went on to losing their elections, except one. Why didn’t you appear with the president when he visited Georgia recently?

Roy Barnes:  It’s my understanding that I could have attended a fundraiser with the President; however, I had already committed to spending the day with farmers and 40 sheriffs across Middle and South Georgia that day.

Hinterland Gazette:  How will you address the needs of the black community? Recently thousands turned out in East Point for applications for housing vouchers. The police got involved due to people cutting the lines, others being overcome by the heat. This shouldn’t have occurred in any city in the United States, but the economic woes have hit the black and Latino communities the hardest. How will you help the black and Latino communities if you are elected?

Roy Barnes:  We must restore the Georgia values and strong leadership that brought our state growth, opportunity and far-reaching prosperity in the past. Together, we can rebuild a solid foundation in Georgia – one that will support a better life, stronger communities, and a brighter future for our families.

Hinterland Gazette:   Karen Handel was endorsed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and she expressed implementing similar immigration legislation in Georgia. What are your thoughts on illegal immigration and what would you like to see happen, in terms of stemming the tide of illegal immigration?

Roy Barnes:  When the federal government fails to protect our nation’s borders, states like Georgia are forced to deal with the ramifications of illegal immigration. We are a nation of laws. All people – including employers who hire illegal immigrants – should be subject to these laws, and the law must be obeyed.

Hinterland Gazette:   In recent TV ads, the Republican Governors Association recently ridiculed you for apologies you issued for moving too fast during your first term. Gov. Perdue’s aide, Tommy Hills was quoted by the AJC as saying the following: Tommy Hills, the state’s chief financial officer and a top Perdue aide, thinks the overtures might be a smart move on Barnes’ part. “If he’s able to portray himself as a humble person, I would think it has more benefit than detriment to him, because I don’t think most voters who have some opinion of Governor Barnes would think he’s a very reticent or shy person,” Hills says. “Contrition may play in his favor.” How would you respond to those comments?

Roy Barnes:  I'll be the first to admit that I didn’t do enough listening during my first term as Governor. I tried to do too much, too fast, and I didn’t take the time to explain my plans for the state’s education system.

Over the past year, I have visited over 90 counties in Georgia. In every town that I visit, I make it a priority to meet with teachers and listen to their ideas and concerns. One thing is clear: educators are struggling to do more with a whole lot less. We cannot expect improvement in our public schools when we cut $3.5 billion from the education budget over the past seven years.

I would urge the black and Latino communities to take a hard look at Roy Barnes and Nathan Deal. Note his responses to my questions about the black & Latino communities and immigration. He has basically side-stepped the issues confronting the black and Latino communities. I guess he has no need to worry, since both communities will overwhelmingly support him in the upcoming election. Still, why are politicians taking our vote for granted? Well, because we allow them to do so.