Student Voter's Guide
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UNG VOTES! 2018 (Courtesy of the PSSA and the SGA) FREE for YOU! Student Voter’s Guide To the November 6th General Election Political Science Student Association President – Meredith Shea Faculty Advisor – Dr. Carl Cavalli Voters Guide co-ordinators – Patrick Price, Austin Stacy Supporting Organization: The American Democracy Project Table of Contents Candidates for Governor ......................................................................... 1 Candidates for Lieutenant Governor ........................................................ 3 Candidates for Secretary of State ............................................................ 3 Candidates for Attorney General ............................................................. 4 Candidates for Contested U.S. House Districts ....................................... 5 Candidates for Contested State House Districts .................................... 14 Candidates for Contested State Senate Districts ................................... 15 U.S. Congressional District Map for Georgia ......................................... 16 State House District Map for Georgia .................................................... 17 State Senate District Map for Georgia ................................................... 18 This voter’s guide is designed to assist University of North Georgia students in the November 6th general election (and December 4th runoff elections, if needed). The guide contains information on candidates for state and federal offices. This non-partisan guide is a unique benefit to UNG students as the questions reprinted here were gathered from our students. In the spring of 2018, the PSSA surveyed UNG students regarding the issues about which they are most concerned. This guide presents candidate information for the three top issues. We’ve done our best to provide as much information as possible given both space limitations and information availability. We apologize for any errors or omissions. Every effort was made to accurately represent candidate positions. Print versions of this guide and other primary information material were produced by UNG Print Services using funding from the SGA. The PSSA thanks both for their efforts. We are also very grateful for the ongoing support of the UNG American Democracy Project. An important note about REGISTRATION: If you were not registered by October 9th, you may not vote in this election. However, you may always register for future elections. You can register online here: https://registertovote.sos.ga.gov/ You may also register online, and receive text/email notifications about election dates specifically tailored for UNG students (including early voting and absentee ballots) here: https://northgeorgia.turbovote.org/ To check your registration status, or for ballot and polling place information, see: https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, all information is from candidate web sites. Editing for space was unavoidable, but every effort was made to preserve the candidates’ intent. Writ-in candidates are not included. See our Facebook page (and like us!) for updated election information: https://www.facebook.com/UNGPSSA Legend: (R) = Republican, (D) = Democrat, (L) = Libertarian, (I) = Independent, * = Incumbent Candidates for Governor Brian Kemp (R) – Secretary of State of Georgia, http://www.kempforgovernor.com/ • Gun Control/Gun Rights: Respect the 2nd Amendment… (May 2018); Rated A+ by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record. (Nov 2011) (ontheissues.org) • Immigration: Sanctuary cities are dangerous, unlawful, and defy our Georgia values. As governor, our state will respect the rule of law and put the well-being of Georgians - not illegal immigrants - first. Like Texas Governor Greg Abbott, I will fight radical, left-wing organizations and activists who are more concerned with advancing their agenda than keeping citizens and communities safe. Our borders are broken and America’s immigration system is in complete disarray. Fundamental reform is long overdue but all we get is lip service and empty promises from career politicians in Congress. To put hardworking Georgians – not illegal immigrants - first, we must: 1. Build a border wall to keep drug cartels, criminals, and terrorists from entering the country illegally; 2. Deport criminal illegal immigrants from our jails and from sanctuary cities; 3. Fix America’s legal immigration system by passing The RAISE ACT and reform the H-2A visa program to provide a labor force for Georgia farmers. 4. Defund sanctuary cities, end DACA, cut off taxpayer-funded benefits like free healthcare for illegal immigrants, and plug special interest loopholes that favor those who are here illegally • The Economy/Job Development: “I’ve been a small business owner for 30 years,” he said. “I’ve been working with working Georgians every day, and that includes today. I think that’s one of the values that I’ve had — I’ve never lost touch with what’s going on in the real world.” (gainesvilletimes.com) The Athens conservative launched an economic platform focused on recruiting and building small business. As governor, I will work to make Georgia #1 for small business. Through • regulatory reform, • targeted economic development, and • enhanced connectivity, we can ensure that businesses on Main Street can compete, grow, and thrive. “[T]he secretary of state wants to “take a chainsaw” to state government and its regulatory system. Kemp’s platform includes a cap to state spending, refunds for taxpayers and the reduction of Georgia’s bureaucratic corps…. On regulations generally, Kemp said he’s a fan of Trump’s requirement that for every new regulation at the federal level, two existing regulations have to be cut.” (gainesvilletimes.com) Stacey Abrams (D) – Former State Representative, https://staceyabrams.com/ • Gun Control/Gun Rights: Stacey Abrams is the only Democratic candidate for governor with a proven track record of voting against legislation that would put guns in the wrong hands, including opposing SB 350 in 2012, and opposing 2017’s NRA omnibus bill, HR 292. Keep Guns Out of the Wrong Hands: Support Survivors of Domestic Violence, Require Universal Background Checks, Allow Families to Petition for Extreme Risk Protection Orders. Fix Our Broken Gun Laws: Immediate Repeal of 2012’s SB 350 and 2017’s HB 280 Support Violence Prevention Efforts, Including Hospital Interventions, Community • Immigration: Voted NAY on prohibiting state funding for sanctuary campuses (February 2017) Voted NAY on prohibiting undocumented immigrants from serving on local governing bodies (February 2016) Voted NAY on Immigration Enforcement Act (April 2011) Voted NAY on citizenship status verification of government assistance recipients (April 2009) Voted NAY on requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration (April 2009) Voted NAY on English only requirement for driver’s license examination (March 2009) Voted NAY on vehicle seizures for unlicensed drivers (April 2008) Voted NAY on increasing penalties for driving without a license (March 2008) Voted NAY on vehicle seizures for undocumented immigrant traffic violations (February 2008) Voted NAY on English as the official language of Georgia (February 2008) (votesmart.org) • The Economy/Job Development: We must build a Georgia where no one has to work more than one full-time job to make ends meet. A fair economy means investing in diverse businesses, fighting for equality in the workplace, lifting 1 families out of poverty, and ensuring access to affordable healthcare. Fairness is the backbone of an economy that eliminates poverty and fosters prosperity for every family. • Georgia’s Advanced Energy Jobs Plan is the first in a series of economic revitalization proposals to deliver 25,000-45,000 long term, high wage jobs in Georgia – from construction, coding, sales, and installation to manufacturing and beyond. Georgia must have a bold and comprehensive economic vision to (1) ensure no person has to work more than one full-time job to make ends meet and (2) catalyze the creation of good-paying jobs in all 159 counties, at all skill levels. We must leverage our natural resources and assets, working together across sectors, to build an economy for every worker. Let’s imagine more for our state and create an economy that leads the nation in advanced energy jobs and local innovation. • Investment in Community Businesses: Small businesses employ more Georgians, and they can be started anywhere. As Governor, Stacey Abrams will direct more of our economic development dollars to our hometown businesses: the barbershop that wants to expand, the nurse who wants to launch a home healthcare company, the entrepreneur who can’t get venture capital in rural Georgia. Funds will be targeted to reach low-income communities and rural counties, and we will help Georgia businesses expand by offering access to capital. • Workplace Equality: We must demand that our workplaces never discriminate based on a person’s race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, or immigration status. As Governor, Stacey Abrams will promote policies to ensure pay equity and expand paid sick leave. Georgia should require a living wage in every county. Furthermore, the right to form a union and collectively bargain for fair wages and employment conditions is fundamental to workplace fairness… As Governor, Stacey Abrams will continue to support a Georgia civil rights bill to protect the LGBTQ+ community, as well as immigrants,