State and Local

Democratic Party of Paulding County

Information/Issues

STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS:

GOVERNOR:
[ George "Sonny" Perdue (R)* - Term Limited in 2010. ]
Jeff Chapman (R) - State Sen., Ex-Glynn County Commissioner & Businessman
Nathan Deal (R) - Congressman, Ex-State Sen., Ex-Juvenile Court Judge, Attorney & Army Veteran
Karen Handel (R) - Secretary of State, Ex-Fulton County Commission Chair & Ex-Gubernatorial Aide
Eric Johnson (R) - State Senate President & Architect
Ray McBerry (R) - Radio Station Owner, Confederate Heritage Activist & '06 Candidate
John Oxendine (R) - State Insurance Commissioner
Austin Scott (R) - State Rep. & Insurance Agent
Thurbert Baker (D) - Attorney General & Ex-State Rep.
Roy Barnes (D) - Ex-Governor, Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
Carl Camon (D) - Ray City Mayor, Educator & USAF Veteran
Vernon Jones (D) - Ex-DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer & '08 US Sen. Candidate
DuBose Porter (D) - State House Minority Leader, Newspaper Editor & Attorney
David Poythress (D) - Ex-State Labor Commissioner, Ex-State Adjutant General, Retired USAF Lt. General & '98 Candidate
John Monds (Libertarian) - Grady County Planning Commission Member & '08 PSC Nominee
Sam Hay III (Write-In) - Environmental Activist, Retired Businessman & '02 Candidate

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR:
Casey Cagle (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Tim Golden (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Ex-Congressional Aide
Floyd Griffin Jr (D) - Ex-State Sen., Ex-Milledgeville Mayor & Vietnam War Veteran
Michael Meyer von Bremen (D) - Ex-State Sen., Attorney & '08 State Court of Appeals Candidate
Mike Thurmond (D) - State Labor Commissioner, Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
Allen Buckley (Libertarian) - Attorney, Accountant , '06 Nominee & '04 US Senate Nominee

SECRETARY OF STATE:
[ Karen Handel (R) * Candidate for Governor in 2010. ]
Brian Kemp (R) - Ex-State Sen. & '06 State Agriculture Commissioner Candidate
Jeff Lewis (R) - State Rep. & Businessman
Doug MacGinnitie (R) - Sandy Springs City Commissioner, Insurance Broker, Attorney & Ex-White House Intern
Gail Buckner (D)
Darryl Hicks (D) - Lobbyist, Community Activist & '06 Candidate
Gary Horlacher (D) - Attorney, Ex-Gubernatorial Press Secretary & Campaign Manager
Vernon Jones (D) - Ex-DeKalb County CEO, Ex-State Rep. & '08 US Sen. Candidate
Michael Mills (D) - Public Relations Executive & Ex-State Legislative Aide
Walter Ray (D) - Ex-State Senate President Pro-Tempore, Ex-State Parole Board Member & '06 Candidate

ATTORNEY GENERAL:
[ Thurbert Baker (D)* - Candidate for Governor in 2010. ]
Ken Hodges (D) - Ex-Dougherty Circuit District Attorney
Michael Meyer von Bremen (D) - Ex-State Sen., Attorney & '08 State Court of Appeals Candidate
Rob Teilhet (D) - State Rep. & Attorney
Ed Lindsey (R) - State Rep. & Attorney
Sam Olens (R) - Cobb County Commission Chair & Attorney
David Ralston (R) - State Sen. & Attorney
Preston Smith (R) - State Sen. & Attorney
Max Wood (R) - Ex-US Attorney & USAF Veteran

STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT:
Kathy Cox (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Roger Hines (R) - Ex-State Rep. & Teacher
Richard Woods (R) - School Administrator & Teacher
Beth Farokhi (D) - University Administrator
Brian Westlake (D) - Teacher & USMC Veteran

STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER:
[ Tommy Irvin (D)* - Retiring in 2010. ]
Terry Coleman (D) - Deputy Agriculture Commissioner & Ex-State House Speaker
Rand Knight (D) - Ecosystem Scientist, Businessman & '08 US Senate Candidate
Alan Powell (D) - State Rep., Ex-Hart County Commissioner & Businessman
Gary Black (R) - Georgia Agribusiness Council President & '06 Nominee
Darwin Carter (R) - Ex-USDA Official, '94 US Sen. Candidate & '90 Congressional Candidate

STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER:
[ John Oxendine (R)* - Candidate for Governor in 2010. ]
Mike Coan (R) - State Rep. & Businessman
Seth Harp (R) - State Sen. & Attorney
Ralph Hudgens (R) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & '94 Congressional Nominee
Tom Knox (R) - State Rep.
Harold Logsdon (R) - Peachtree City Mayor, Retired BellSouth Manager & Retired National Guard Officer
Stephen Northington (R) - Insurance Broker
Gerry Purcell (R) - Health Benefits Consultant, GOP Activist & Army Veteran
Maria Sheffield (R) - Attorney & GOP Activist
Terry Coleman (D) - Deputy Agriculture Commissioner & Ex-State House Speaker
Keith Heard (D) - State Rep. & Insurance Agency Owner
Mary Squires (D) - Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Paralegal

STATE LABOR COMMISSIONER:
Mike Thurmond (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Melvin Everson (R) - State Rep., Ex-Snellville City Councilman & Retired Army Veteran

STATE LEGISLATURE:

State House - ( Republican Caucus - Democratic Caucus )

State Senate - ( Republican Caucus - Democratic Caucus )

U.S. SENATOR:

Johnny Isakson (R)* - (Campaign Site) - Next Election in 2010.
Paul Broun (R) - Congressman & Physician
Jim Butler (D) - Attorney
Michael Thurmond (D) - State Labor Commissioner, Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
Chuck Donovan (Libertarian) - Airline Pilot & USMC Veteran

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Healthcare Reform

As the passing of health insurance reform draws near, the defenders of the status quo in Washington are growing fierce in their opposition and using misleading information to defeat the chance of real reform. Health insurance reform will protect people against unfair insurance practices; provide quality, affordable insurance to every American; and bring down rising costs for families and businesses — this shouldn’t be about Washington politics. It’s about American lives, businesses and our future.

It’s never been more important to dispel these outlandish rumors and myths. Learn the facts and share them with your friends, family and neighbors.

You Can Keep Your Own Insurance

Reform isn’t about putting government in charge of your health insurance; it’s about putting you in charge of your health insurance. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.

Reform Will Stop "Rationing" — Not Increase It

Reform will not lead to a "government takeover" of health care or "rationing." On the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.

Reform Will Benefit Small Business — Not Burden It

Health insurance reform will ease the burdens on small businesses and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.

The "Euthanasia" Distortion on Help for Families

It’s a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. On the contrary, reform empowers families and provides the option to get resources and accurate information.

Your Medicare is Safe, and Stronger with Reform

Reform would simply eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, not cut Medicare benefits.

Reform Won’t Add to the Deficit — it Will Bring Down Long Term Costs

President Obama has demanded that health insurance reform not add to the deficit, and has identified hundreds of billions of dollars in savings by eliminating unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies through Medicare. Skyrocketing health care costs pose the biggest threat to our fiscal stability in the long term under the status quo, and reform is imperative to bring down those costs.

Health Insurance Consumer Protections

The security YOU GET from healthinsurance reform:

• No Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions

• No Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays

• No Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care

• No Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill

• No Gender Discrimination

• No Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage

• Extended Coverage for Young Adults

• Guaranteed Insurance Renewal

Learn More and tell us what myths we should address next

Visit WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck

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