Gubernatorial Election Coverage

By Nicole Alanko, Lexi Lutsky, and MaLea Berry, M&M TIPsters

The people are speaking their mind at the polls and on the streets. The election for the next governor of Georgia is coming up in November, but a runoff for the two leading Republicans is August 10th. In the primaries on July 20th, Democrat Roy Barnes was a clear leader with 64%. Karen Handel was the leading Republican with 33% and Nathan Deal was a close second with 23%.

All of the candidates are focused on job growth in the state, education, and resources. Democrat Roy Barnes is basing his campaign on growing jobs in different areas, and education is extremely important. He wants to increase funding to schools and make sure the funds are used well. He also does not want to cut teacher salaries.

Karen Handel is basing her campaign on keeping taxes low to increase jobs and creating a better infrastructure. She is also serious about making it easier for parents to enroll their children in charter schools and is in support of a water plan for the next drought.

Nathan Deal is basing his campaign on promoting the private sector of businesses and supporting the FairTax, and also giving local school systems more power. Nathan Deal also wants to be strong about illegal immigration.

The people of Athens are also talking on the streets, answering the fundamental question: What do the people want in a candidate? Some are looking for candidates’ decisions to be faith based, and others look for them to have a good education. Most said that they just want people to do what they say, have similar views, and to be honest.

“I’m looking for someone to improve the economic state of Georgia,” said Rohaid Nanji, a young man in his twenties. “[It’s important that he will] Follow through on his plans, especially for improving the state.”

Ross Daniel said, “I want their decisions to be faith based.”

“I want them to have integrity,” one woman responded.

Ben Pearlman said that he wants his candidate to “just be able to express decent views and not pander to the electorate.”

Nicole Alanko, 16, is a junior at Riverheads High School in Staunton, Virginia.
MaLea Berry, 15, is a sophomore at The Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lexi Lutsky, 15, is a freshman at Carolina Forest High School in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.