Labor Commissioner
All statements, answers, and information found within the 159 Georgia Together voter guide were collected via an electronic survey. Due to the sheer volume of information collected and the number of candidates that submitted survey data, all of the information presented in the guide is verbatim per the input from the survey participants (including any spelling or grammatical errors).
Richard Keatley (D)
TOP 3 PRIORITIES IF ELECTED
Raising the state minimum wage A working family cannot survive on Georgia’s $5.15 minimum wage. As Labor Commissioner, I will publicly push for our state lawmakers to raise the state minimum wage so that Georgia’s workers can receive fair compensation and support their families. When Georgia’s working families thrive, Georgia thrives. Modernizing the Labor Commission
As a former naval officer, I know how to run a tight ship. As Labor Commissioner, I’ll fight for funding to streamline and modernize the department by using technology to make services more accessible and more efficient so that every dollar is invested wisely.
Building new partnerships When it comes to protecting Georgia’s working families, partisan politics have left valuable talents and knowledge on the table. In my first year as Labor Commissioner, I will build new partnerships with the groups and institutions who make it their business to put people to work, like technical schools and labor unions.
DO YOU SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PREVENT BUSINESS OWNERS AND EMPLOYERS FROM DENYING SERVICES TO LGBTQ PEOPLE AND OTHERS BASED ON THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS?
Yes. Working in higher education over the past twenty years, I have developed many close relationships with LGBT students and friends and am acutely aware of the challenges they often face at home and in the workplace. We cannot allow businesses to discriminate against anyone under the guise of religious liberty.
DO YOU SUPPORT ENDING CASH BAIL FOR LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES?
Yes. Cash bail perpetuates a cycle within our judicial system that is difficult to break. Georgia should be in the business of developing productive members of society rather than imposing counter-productive barriers to rehabilitation.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A NON-PARTISAN INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION?
Yes. Partisan gerrymandering has created disproportionate representation both in Atlanta and Washington, and independent redistricting is the best way to fix that.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT AN ENGLISH-ONLY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IF IT WERE ON THE BALLOT?
No. Ours is a nation of immigrants, and English-only legislation sends the wrong message to our growing and vibrant populace.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF WORKERS TO FORM A UNION AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY?
Yes. I grew up in a labor family, and have always supported the rights of workers to organize.
DID YOU/DO YOU SUPPORT GUNS ON CAMPUS?
No. As a former college educator, I know that college campuses are places where our students, faculty, and staff should feel safe. Guns on campus do the opposite.
DO YOU SUPPORT ELECTRICITY RATE INCREASES TO COMPLETE TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS AT PLANT VOGTLE?
No. While a complicated issue, I believe that Georgia Power should have found a more efficient way to fund the Plant Vogtle project without rate increases.
DO YOU SUPPORT CHANGING GEORGIA'S VOTING SYSTEM TO A VOTER-MARKED (PEN OR PENCIL) PAPER BALLOT WITH OPTICAL SCANNERS?
Yes. I have concerns about the ease with which electronic machines may be hacked, and would support reforms like paper balloting to reduce the risk of fraud.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF EARLY VOTING?
Yes. We need to make it easier to vote, not harder, and the expansion of early voting does just that.
DO YOU SUPPORT PUBLIC VOUCHERS BEING USED FOR PRIVATE AND/OR CHARTER SCHOOLS?
No. It is vital that we fully fund our public schools before putting taxpayer dollars into a voucher system.
DO YOU SUPPORT MEDICAID EXPANSION OR ANOTHER GEORGIA-SPECIFIC PLAN TO EXTEND HEALTH INSURANCE TO LOW-INCOME GEORGIANS?
Yes. Hundreds of thousands of Georgians are without coverage because we failed to expand Medicaid, and we can't put people to work if they aren't healthy.
WILL YOU SUPPORT POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION, AND OPPOSE POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT LIMIT OR REDUCE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION?
Yes. Our society must protect access to reproductive health care.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES AND PUT THE PROGRAM ON A MORE STABLE FISCAL PATH?
Yes. Social Security is a vital program that allows Georgians to live stable and productive lives, and we must protect it.
DO YOU SUPPORT A LIVABLE WAGE OF A MINIMUM OF $15 PER HOUR?
Yes. Georgia's current minimum wage is shameful, and I will publicly advocate for an increase when I am Commissioner of Labor.
Mark Butler (R, Incumbent)
TOP 3 PRIORITIES IF ELECTED
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PREVENT BUSINESS OWNERS AND EMPLOYERS FROM DENYING SERVICES TO LGBTQ PEOPLE AND OTHERS BASED ON THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT ENDING CASH BAIL FOR LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A NON-PARTISAN INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION?
No response yet.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT AN ENGLISH-ONLY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IF IT WERE ON THE BALLOT?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF WORKERS TO FORM A UNION AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY?
No response yet.
DID YOU/DO YOU SUPPORT GUNS ON CAMPUS?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT ELECTRICITY RATE INCREASES TO COMPLETE TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS AT PLANT VOGTLE?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT CHANGING GEORGIA'S VOTING SYSTEM TO A VOTER-MARKED (PEN OR PENCIL) PAPER BALLOT WITH OPTICAL SCANNERS?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF EARLY VOTING?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT PUBLIC VOUCHERS BEING USED FOR PRIVATE AND/OR CHARTER SCHOOLS?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT MEDICAID EXPANSION OR ANOTHER GEORGIA-SPECIFIC PLAN TO EXTEND HEALTH INSURANCE TO LOW-INCOME GEORGIANS?
No response yet.
WILL YOU SUPPORT POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION, AND OPPOSE POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT LIMIT OR REDUCE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION?
No response yet.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES AND PUT THE PROGRAM ON A MORE STABLE FISCAL PATH?
No response yet.
DO YOU SUPPORT A LIVABLE WAGE OF A MINIMUM OF $15 PER HOUR?
No response yet.