Voters in this year’s Haralson County primary will have 17 different races to cast their vote for – from state-wide positions such as U.S. Senate seats and Governor positions to local offices like the county school board and commissioner. In order for voters to make the most informed decision possible at the polls this year, below are the particulars for candidates on the ballot. However, not all candidates could be reached for comment before press time. The following is the first of two lists that will appear in the paper. Next week’s list will include candidates for local elections. The primary election will take place on Wednesday, July 20. The general election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

U.S. Senate

R.J. Hadley: Democrat

rj4us@hadleyforussenate.com

According to the candidate’s Web site, R.J. Hadley, 41, graduated from Dartmouth in 1991 and later worked as a social worker in Atlantic City. He received a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and worked for various software companies in America and abroad.

Hadley is running on a platform organized around the creation of jobs. “We can bring some of our jobs back from overseas by removing tax policies that reward companies that send American jobs overseas with tax breaks. As much as possible, the federal government should do business with companies that show they value American workers by keeping jobs here at home [and] let’s re-establish sound financial regulations that clearly define each players’ role and helps avoid another financial disaster,” the site claims. Hadley is also a promoter of increasing the focus on mathematics and science in the classroom. According to his site, he also promotes health care reform to make it available to every American, immigration reform to prevent undocumented workers, clean energy technologies, a woman’s right to choose and withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Johnny Isakson: Republican (Incumbent)

info@johhnyisakson.com

Johnny Isakson recieved a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia in 1966. He worked with Northside Realty for 33 years, 20 of which were spent as president. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1999 and served for six years until he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2005. He and his wife, Dianne, have three children and nine grandchildren.

“I first ran for office because I was concerned about the direction our country was taking: too much debt; too much spending; and too high taxes. As our county faces a similar path today, I continue to focus on reducing reckless spending and reducing our tax burden, as these elements are critical for our economy to rebound from this recession and flourish in the long-term. My goal is to continue to fight for these conservative principles while preserving the security of our nation.”

Mike Thurmond: Democrat

Mike Thurmond, 57, graduated from Paine College with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and religion, and earned a juris doctorate from University of South Carolina’s School of Law. Thurmond began his career in public service in 1986 when he was elected to the Georgia General Assembly for Clarke County. In 1998, he was elected Labor Commissioner – a position he continues to hold. He and his wife, Zola, live in Athens, Ga., with their daughter, Mikaya.

During his announcement for candidacy, Thurmond proposed the following: “My campaign for the U.S. Senate will focus on demonstrating to Georgia voters that I have the qualifications, courage and conviction to go to Washington and represent the interests of all Georgians. If the people of Georgia will allow me to serve them as their senator, I will stand up for families that have been hit hard by unemployment and are struggling to get by [...] whose homes are threatened by foreclosure and small business owners who are struggling because bank credit has dried up [...] who simply want to provide a good education for their children and support their families.”

Georgia Governor

Thurbert Baker: Democrat

contact@thurbertbaker.com

The current State Attorney General Thurbert Baker, 57, has held his position through three elections since his first win in 1997. Before being elected to this position, Baker served five terms in the Georgia House of Representatives. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1974 and his law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1979. He now lives in Stone Mountain with his wife, Catherine. They have two daughters, Jocelyn and Chelsea.

Baker’s platform includes investing in Georgia’s biotechnology to create new jobs, as well as fill the shortage of nurses in the state.

“Baker will create a $50 million AdvanceGA deal closing fund. In exchange for bringing high quality jobs to the state, these companies will be eligible for funds to facilitate the deal,” his Web site said. Baker also wants to conserve Georgia water and create a bill of rights for victims of crime in the state.

Roy E. Barnes: Democrat

roy@roy2010.com

Roy Barnes, 62, is a former governor of Georgia from Mableton. He received his undergraduate and law degree from the University of Georgia. Following graduation, he served as prosecutor in the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office then served terms in the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives before being elected governor in 1998. Barnes and his wife, Marie, have three children and six grandchildren.

Barnes’ first campaign point is creating jobs for Georgians. His Web site lists several points that Barnes will address if elected, “to make Georgia work, we must focus on water, education and transportation. Above all else, we must create jobs and economic opportunity all across Georgia.”

Bill Bolton: Democrat

bill.bolton@bbprs.org

Bill Bolton, 62, holds three degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology and is a 10-year member of the Cobb Democrats. He worked for a CPA for 10 years and has a wife, Beverly, and two sons.

His platform consists of creating jobs for Georgia citizens, expanding commuter rails and water for farms, and ending corruption, tax loopholes and car loan deception.

Carl Camon: Democrat

hopeforgeorgia@gmail.com

Carl Camon, 42, is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He served two terms as a city councilman for Ray City and five terms as the city’s mayor. He earned his master’s degree in Special Education and his specialist’s degree in Education from Valdosta State University. He remains in Ray City with his wife, Angela, and their four children.

Camon plans to use his classroom experience to reform education. His plan is to restore the power of decisions to teachers. For the economy, Camon plans to hold public officials accountable for fiscal responsibility and to “close the disparity of wealth by providing opportunities for continued education and advanced job training for all Georgians.”

Jeff Chapman: Republican

jeffchapmangovernor@gmail.com

Jeff Chapman, 50, is serving his third term on the Georgia State Senate as a representative of the coastal third district. He served as Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Eminent Domain and Economic Development. Chapman has also served on the Glynn County Commission. He was founder of Chapman Waste Disposal and later became Division President for Waste Management, Inc. He and his wife, Angela, have two children and a grandchild.

According to his Web site, Chapman is running on a platform of job creation, water and natural resource conservation, raising standards of education, fixing problems with traffic congestion, protecting personal property, pro-life beliefs, enforcement of the Second Amendment, and the implementation of the Fair Tax Act.

“As Governor of Georgia, I will be guided by Teddy Roosevelt’s conservation principles. I will do my level best to put Georgia on the map as a national leader in responsible, sustainable management of our natural resources,” he wrote, “I will aggressively promote the advantages and resources that Georgia offers to the business community and will encourage incentives for growing firms that add jobs. As governor of Georgia, I will use the full extent of my constitutional authority to protect innocent human life, and I will use the power of moral persuasion to promote a positive culture of life.”

Nathan Deal: Republican

nathan@nathandeal.org

Nathan Deal, 67, is originally from Sandersville, Ga. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from Mercer University in Macon and also served as a captain in the U.S. Army. Prior to his political career, he served as an assistant district attorney and juvenile court judge in Hall County. He was first elected to public office in 1980, when he served as the chairman of Judiciary Committee on the Georgia State Senate. From 1992 to this year, he served on the U.S. House of Representatives as chairman and a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health. He is married, has four children and six grandchildren.

According to information put out by Deal’s campaign organizers, he will focus on reducing the state unemployment rate via tax relief, immigration reform that will mimic the law recently passed by the state of Arizona, the exploration of alternative routes to ease traffic congestion in the state, and more options for students and parents to keep education out of the hands of bureaucrats. Deal’s campaign organizers boast that he is only candidate with a plan for Georgia’s economy.

“[O]nly Nathan has put together a plan to make job creation and economic growth a reality. ‘Real Prosperity’ focuses on essential tax relief for families and small businesses and puts the building blocks in place to fuel growth and development. ‘Real Prosperity’ would boost Georgia’s tax competitiveness with other states from 29th in the nation to 16th.”

Karen Handel: Republican

info@karenhandel.com

Karen Handel, 48, began her political career in the early 90s when she took the position of deputy chief of staff to Marilyn Quayle. Since that time, she has served as a business executive, member of the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce board, and as chief of staff to Governor Sonny Purdue. She served as secretary of state from 2006 to 2008.

According to her campaign Web site, “Handel believes that the best way to grow our economy and create jobs is to provide comprehensive, statewide and long-term solutions in education, tax and regulatory policy, transportation, water and health care. Georgia is a natural magnet for job creation because of its location, hard working citizens and its low taxes. We are limited only by our educational and physical infrastructures, which are showing the strain of rapid population growth.”

Eric Johnson: Republican

eric@forgeorgians.com

The Savannah native and former Senate Minority Leader Eric Johnson became involved with the Republican party early with his involvement with the Reagan campaign in the 1970s. Johnson himself was elected to state senate in 1994. Johnson and his wife, Kathryn, have two children that live and work in the state.

According to his campaign Web site, “Eric Johnson’s number one priority will be putting Georgia back to work. Eric believes that government should have a limited role in people’s lives and that competition in the marketplace is the most effective way of producing economic growth. Consequently, he believes in lower taxes, limited government regulation, and the power of the free enterprise system.” The site lists education reform as another major piece of his platform, as well as strict legislation to protect families from crime.

Ray McBerry: Republican

Campaign@GeorgiaFirst.org

Georgia native Ray McBerry, 42, claims a Baptist upbringing and Scots-Irish heritage, as well as a “Constiutionalist” political persuasion. “I strongly support a return to the original principles of our Founding Fathers,” his Web site says, “Although I am a life-long Republican, I do not support the globalist, socialist policies of either the Democrat or Republican parties at the national level; but I do feel that most Georgians who vote Republican feel about the same as myself.”

McBerry’s campaign favors a smaller federal government; the abolition of the property and income taxes; the encouragement of job creation in the state; protection of Second Amendment rights and immigration reform to prevent the “excessive influx of illegal immigrants” migrating to the United States illegally.

John W. Oxendine: Republican

johnox@earthlink.net

John Oxendine, 48, earned a triple major in Christianity, Greek and Political Science, as well as his law degree from Mercer University in Macon. Following college, he was appointed to the State Personnel Board and was eventually named chairman of the board by the Governor. Oxendine and his wife, Ivy, have four children and live in Gwinnett County. He still holds the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner for the state.

Oxendine’s main platform is his “Contract with Georgia.” In it, he outlines his plans for government accountability, taxes, economic development, transportation, water conservation, education, immigration and Second Amendment Rights.

“As Governor, my primary focus will be on putting Georgians back to work and growing our economy. I don’t believe that government can directly create jobs, but it can help to create an environment for job growth and job creation by fostering a strong entrepreneurial foundation,” his contract letter says.

Otis Putnam: Republican

otisputnam@bellsouth.net

Otis Putnam, 35, is from Brunswick, Ga., where he lives with his wife, Julie, and two children. Putnam has been an employee of Wal-Mart for the past 13 years and has never held an elected office. Putnam served as the second vice chair of the Glynn County Republican Party in 2006, and claims lineage to the Revolutionary War general Israel Putnam, whom Putnam County is named after.

“I was led by the Lord to run for governor,” he said, “There are half-a-million people out of work and thousands who have lost their homes. I want to help these people, and I want to help Georgia become prosperous again.”

Putnam is running on a platform of job creation and education reform, as well as resolving budget problems and transportation problems in the state – though he would also like to sign legislation to restore prayer in Georgia schools. “We must have [health care] reform in the free market,” he said, “[And] transportation will be solved when Georgia has better long-term planning; water issues will be solved by winning complete control over Lake Lanier and the ACF river basin.”

Randal Mangham: Democrat

repmangham@gmail.com

Randal Mangham, 55, served Dekalb and Rockdale Counties in the Georgia State House of Representatives for the past 10 years. He served on the Children and Youth Committee, as well as the Judiciary Non-Civil and Public Utilities Committee and Telecommunications Committee. The Georgia native has two children with his wife, Andrea Bowen. Mangham received his Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law in Washington D.C.

DuBose Porter: Democrat

info@porterforgeorgia.com

Dubose Porter, 56, is a native of Dublin, Ga. He earned his law degree from Cumberland School of Law and began practicing in Dublin. He later owned a newspaper in the city before being elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives. He served as chair of the Education Committee and the Higher Education Committee and numerous other committees. He lives with his wife and Lieutenant Governor candidate, Carol Porter, and has four sons.

Porter is running on a platform of education, transportation and water reform.

“When I chaired the Education Committee in the Georgia House, a school in my district had some of the lowest reading scores in Georgia. Instead of blaming teachers, we asked them what they needed. [This] allowed Saxon Heights Elementary to transform from having some of the state’s lowest reading scores to achieving some of the highest in one year [...] When I am governor, we will do this statewide,” he said.

David Poythress: Democrat

david@poythressforgovernor.com

David Poythress, 66, is a resident of Macon, Ga. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served for one year as defense counsel and Chief of Military Justice at DaNang Air Base in Vietnam. Following his return, Poythress served as assistant attorney general for the state, deputy state revenue commissioner and secretary of state. His first bid for governor of the state took place in 1998. He was appointed adjutant general by Governor Roy Barnes and was reappointed by Governor Sonny Perdue. He lives with his wife, Elizabeth, in Macon and has three children and eight grandchildren.

Poythress’ platform has four points: economy, education, transportation and water.

“As your governor, I will provide the leadership and smart economic development incentives to recruit entire industries rather than one company at a time. I will get to work on immediate infrastructure projects that will improve Georgia’s quality of life and provide industry with the routes needed to bring jobs to our state. I will bring people together to find common-sense solutions to Georgia’s critical problems and turn vision into action,” he said.

Lieutenant Governor

Casey Cagle: Republican (Incumbent)

Casey Cagle, 44, is a seventh generation Hall County resident. He attended Gainesville College and Georgia Southern University and was elected to the state Senate in 1994. Following his 12 years on the Senate, Cagle was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2006. He serves as Vice Chair of the One Georgia Authority and Vice Chair of the Georgia State Finance and Investment Commission. Cagle lives with his wife, Nita, and three sons in Chestnut Mountain, Ga.

Cagle’s platform includes cutting wasteful spending in Georgia, easing traffic congestion in large cities, updating Georgia teaching methods to keep students engaged in classrooms, ensuring trauma access for all Georgians, and ensuring economic prosperity by making Georgia home to new and established companies.

“Let’s invest in our future by putting the right infrastructure and atmosphere in place to let companies around the world know Georgia is ready and open for business,” he said.

Tricia Carpenter McCracken: Democrat

Tricia McCracken, 65, is a democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. She could not be reached for comment.

Carol Porter: Democrat

carol@carolporter4ga.com

Carol Porter, 51, works as owner of the Courier Herald in Dublin, Ga., the same newspaper in which she began her career as a copywriter. She served as a Cub Scout Pack Leader and as a member of the Erin Garden Club and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in psychology. Along with her husband, candidate for governor Dubose Porter, she runs nine middle Georgia newspapers. She has four sons.

Among Porter’s platform points, she says her first goal is to stimulate economic growth.

“My number one goal is to put more Georgians into the workforce and to create an environment of upward financial mobility for those already there,” she said. She is also running behind education and transportation reform as well as water reform and increasing public safety and health.

Secretary of State

Gail Buckner: Democrat

gailbuckner@bellsouth.net

Gail Buckner, 59, has served on the Georgia General Assembly for 16 years. She attended Georgia State University for a degree in communications, and Clayton College and State University where she majored in education. She chaired the House Appropriations Human Service Committee and served on the Economic Development Budget Committee. She is a mother of three and a grandmother of four.

She is running on a platform of fair and protected elections as well as preventing identity theft and fraud and expediting the business licensing and records and using professional licensing fees to provide training and deliver services to citizens and professionals.

Gary Horlacher: Democrat

garyh@garyforsecretary.com

Gary Horlacher, 53, is an attorney from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He attended the University of Georgia where he competed on the track team and earned a degree in political science. He earned his law degree from Georgia State University. He began his career in politics when he served as Assistant Commissioner at the Georgia Department of Labor. Horlacher and his wife Teresa live in Peachtree City and have three children.

Horlacher’s platform focuses on stronger ethics in Georgia government. “Government has a responsibility to function openly, honestly, efficiently, and with integrity,” his Web site says. He outlines three steps for ethical reform-revising ethics law, pledging to achieve stronger ethics, and requiring public officials to take polygraph examinations. “I did my 159 county tour and it was stunning how consistent their anger and criticism of this office was. People are frustrated with bureaucracy. Ethics reform is the first step in rebuilding the bridge of trust between citizens and their government,” he said.

Brian Kemp (Incumbent)

brian@votebriankemp.com

Brian Kemp, 46, is a resident of Athens, Ga. He served in the Georgia State Senate from 2002-2006 where he “cut wasteful spending and streamline government, cut red tape and support[ed] small business growth, protect[ed] the HOPE Scholarship, preserve[d] our water resources and greenspace, and promote[d] early learning efforts,” according to his campaign Web site. He is also owner of Kemp Properties, a real estate management company, and a member of the board of St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens. He lives with his wife, Marty, in Athens with his three daughters.

His campaign platform is founded on his support of safe elections, cutting business costs, and assisting other government officials in creating new jobs for citizens of the state.

“My whole career in business and in public service has been about forgetting about the credit, getting my hands dirty, and doing whatever it takes to accomplish the goal,” he claims on his campaign site.

Doug MacGinnitie

campaign@macginnitie.org

Doug MacGinnitie, 43, is from Dunwoody, Ga. He graduated from Dartmouth, where he was named Ivy League Player of the Year for Men’s Soccer. He later attended the Emory School of Law and worked as a law clerk in Atlanta. He served on various boards and committees until his election to the Sandy Springs City Council. He remains in Sandy Springs with his wife, Missy, and three children.

MacGinnitie is running behind a platform of streamlining the business licensing process, protecting the military’s right to vote, and ensuring fair and honest elections. According to his campaign Web site, MacGinnitie is guided by principles, ethical leadership, lower taxes, less spending, limited government and individual freedom.

Michael Mills: Democrat

michael@michaelmills2010.com

Michael Mills, 36, is a former legislative aide to Secretary of State Lewis Massey, and served as press secretary on the 1998 lieutenant governor bid of Mark Taylor. After experiencing the issues small and medium sized businesses face in his own entrepreneurship, Mills decided to run for office to aid companies in doing business and creating jobs in Georgia.

Mills is running on a platform of “ensuring the security of the Georgia’s election system while limiting unnecessary barriers to voting for all eligible citizens; growing jobs and increasing state revenue by moving the Corporations Division into a 21st century business center; and protecting citizens against financial ruin and fraud through professional licensing and Securities Divisions.”

Angela Moore: Democrat

angela@mooreforgeorgia.com

Angela Moore, 47, is a graduate of the University of the District of Columbia, where she earned a degree in Science and Biology. Following her move to Georgia, she attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and studied business. According to her Web site, she established her own business, which specializes in staff placements for the medical profession. She ran for Dekalb Couny’s 5th District Commission seat in 2004 though she did not win.

Moore’s platform rests on improving Georgia’s election process by establishing a state-owned software for the electronic voting machines; advocating initiatives to reduce residual nutrients in Georgia water by 10 percent; ensuring stronger thresholds to the Securities Division; building interstate cooperation for professional business license holders, instituting an official state museum; and attracting entertainment events to the state.

Georganna Sinkfield: Democrat

Georganna Sinkfield, 67, received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Tennessee State University and attended Emory University School of Law. In 1982, she was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives for Fulton County and she chaired the committee on Children and Youth for 14 years. She also served as chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Development. She served on the Department of Education’s Task Force on violence in schools and the governor’s state policy council for children and families.

“As your next Secretary of State, I will work hard for all Georgians to guarantee open and fair elections, to end fraud and abuse, and to grow new businesses by cutting red tape,” she writes on her Web site.