The responses to these questions were edited for length and clarity by the Georgia Decides team. Each candidate was allotted 150 words for each answer and some answers were trimmed in order to abide by that length requirement. Other edits were made to make sure readers can fully follow and understand the candidate responses.
Campaigning for: Secretary of State
What role should government have in the lives of Georgians? How would you apply that philosophy to the job you are seeking?
The role of government is to protect the rights of individuals. I will uphold the rule of law.
If you are elected (or re-elected), what problems will you spend the most time solving and why?
A great deal of time will be spent to restore confidence in fair and free elections. I believe that the public needs to be educated in the role of government, the constitutional constraints placed on government, the checks and balances designed to keep the separate branches in check, and the power they have to ensure that their elected officials actually represent them.
Georgia is a politically diverse state. How will you work to represent Georgians whose political views differ from your own?
Upholding the law comes with criticism from those that cannot accept the outcomes of the legislative process. Being honest, transparent and forthright about the impacts and ramifications of law, and then calling out the misinformation and propaganda from the media and grievance organizations, is the best I will be able to do.
There were politicians who questioned the outcomes of Georgia elections in 2018 and 2020. Do you think Georgia’s elections are secure and will you stand by the results?
Let’s be realistic and honest about 2018 and 2020. With the Diebold DRE system, there was no record of voter intent and no way to verify the results. Yet there were anomalies that cannot be statistically explained. In 2020, we had paper ballots that no court would allow access to, which would have been proof of voter intent.
As Secretary of State, name any change you would seek to broaden or restrict voting in Georgia.
Frankly, our voting laws are among the best in the nation, regardless of what some groups claim. There may be room for improvement, especially when it comes to ballot access for third-party and independent candidates.
Who has been the biggest influence on how you view state government and politics? What have you learned from this person?
Ron Paul (former congressman), KrisAnne Hall (attorney) and others have taught me that government is supposed to serve the people and defend our God-given rights.
Politics is often about compromise. How do you decide when to compromise and take small, incremental wins, and when to refuse compromise?
As long it is moral, ethical and constitutional, I’m willing unless it has adverse impact on those that cannot stand up for themselves.