Republican gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Chris Carr says he is the only candidate with the experience, proven results and vision to be Georgia’s next governor.
Carr gave a wide-ranging April 16 interview with The Times via telephone. He is one of eight Republicans and seven Democrats running for the position. Current Governor Brian Kemp is term limited and cannot run again.
“I am the best candidate in this race. I’m trying to earn the nomination, not buy it,” Carr said, citing his record of service. “It’s going to take more than just having the most money and one endorsement to win this race.”
Carr’s remarks were aimed at Lt. Governor Burt Jones and healthcare mogul Rick Jackson, the perceived front-runners in the race. Both are wellfunded candidates and Jones has received President Trump’s endorsement.
Carr said Republicans need someone who can appeal to independent voters and can engage voters who are turned off by the mud-slinging.
Carr says he is the candidate who is capable of winning the party primary and statewide election in November.
Former Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Carr as attorney general in 2016. He went on to win two reelection campaigns before announcing his bid for governor. Prior to his role as Georgia’s chief legal officer, he served as state economic development commissioner (2013-16) and chief of staff to former U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (2007-13).
“I think we’re the model for the nation as it relates to job creation and keeping people safe,” Carr said, citing a correlation he has observed throughout Georgia between public safety and economic development.
Carr grew up in Dunwoody and attended Marist School before earning his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia.
Carr and his wife, Joan, have two grown daughters.
He said his campaign is focused on lowering the cost of living, supporting public safety and investing in job creation, education and mental health.
As attorney general, Carr said he shifted the office’s historical focus on civil cases to aggressively pursuing criminal prosecutions for human trafficking, gang activity and domestic terrorism.
He says he will also work to expand Georgia’s accountability courts, by helping those with addictions.
He also wants to help those with mental health issues by getting them treatment, not putting them in jail.
“I know it is an issue in rural Georgia. We need to marshal our state and federal resources, private and faith-based groups to help those who need help,” he said.
Carr touted securing 84,000 jobs and $14 billion in investment in the state of Georgia as a state commissioner.
“I was a part of helping Georgia become the number one state in the nation to do business, a designation we have held for over a decade,” he said.
Carr said Georgia’s economy is diverse and is built around agriculture, manufacturing, trade, military and hospitality.
Carr said he would focus on agriculture since it is the number one industry.
“I am proud to have worked with Senator Isakson on the farm bill to help poultry and timber growers and row crop farmers,” he said.
To keep Georgia as a national model for economic growth, Carr said he wants to focus on expanding work force training, invest in mental health and encourage foster care programs.
“We need to focus on skilled trades and bring shop class back to our middle schools to help reach students who want to work with their hands,” he said.
Carr said his wife, Joan, came through the foster care program in Georgia and as first lady that will be her focus.
Carr said he also wants to focus on affordability and work to reduce the tax burden in Georgia.
“In this state, part of our DNA is that the public and private sectors just come together to solve problems,” Carr said. “I have spent the last 25 years working and building relationships.”
Carr said he supports continuing to gradually lower the income tax rate through a relief fund and working to cap property tax assessments.
Carr will face Jackson, Jones, real estate executive Clark Dean, entrepreneur Gregg Kirkpatrick, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, software engineer Thomas Williams and Army National Guardsman Ken Yasger.
If no candidate receives 50 plus one percent of the vote, a run-off will be held Tuesday, June 16.
The winner of the Republican nomination will face the winner of the Democratic nomination in the general election November 3.
Democratic candidates include former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Olu Brown, Amanda Duffy, former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Derrick Jackson and former Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.
