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Movers & Shapers 2014 We Are Clayton Magazine
Politics
A
LO
OK
AT
TH
RE
E S
TA
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CA
ND
IDA
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S.
WH
O W
ILL
YO
U V
OT
E F
OR
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Jaso
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p. 6
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M
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Na
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firstbaptistjonesboro
Georgia State Senator Jason Carter,
the strong Democratic contender in
this year’s gubernatorial race against
incumbent Governor Deal (R), afforded me
a welcomed opportunity of a one-on-one
discussion about his family, experiences
that have shaped him as a leader, his
political priorities, and his love for Georgia.
Georgia is Always on
Jason Carter’s Mind,
60
Movers & Shapers 2014 We Are Clayton Magazine
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We Are Clayton Magazine • www.weareclayton.com • O
CT | NOV 2014
WORDS DOT TOLERSON
and because Clayton County is in Georgia,
We Are Always on M
r. Carter’s M
ind Too!
Carter was born at Emory University Hospital,
upon graduating from high school he obtained
his undergraduate degree at Duke University
and earned his law degree from the University
of Georgia School of Law. Although an attorney
by occupation, he is a humanitarian in spirit. He
credits a rich lineage of community-involved
family members, specifically his great-grand-
mother Lillian Carter, who “saw an [advertise-
ment] for the Peace Corps on television and
decided to join.” Some thirty years later, Car-
ter found himself continuing his great-grand-
mother’s legacy as a Peace Corps volunteer
stationed in South Africa. He lived in Lochiel, a
village without electricity or running water and
homes built of sticks. He immersed himself
in the culture and learned to speak Zulu and
Siswati while working to bridge racial barriers,
socio-economic inequality, and educational dis-
parity in the rural underserved areas. He was
deeply influenced, perhaps even mentored, by
a local matriarch named GoGo – a Zulu term
for grandmother. He de-
scribed GoGo as an incredi-
ble woman who triumphed
through apartheid and al-
though not formally edu-
cated, her unwavering work
ethic made her a leader in
the village. “I realized what
a remarkable opportunity
we have in this country and what it is that drives
people.”
Although he would not have known it at the
time, the sum of his experiences in South Africa
would serve as a catalyst for his success in de-
veloping collegial partnerships with his peers in
the Georgia senate in spite of party affiliation.
Carter went on to have a meaningful career
in law and formally involved himself in cham-
pioning issues that were important to Georgia
citizens. In 2010 he was elected to the state
senate, where he demonstrated that he was
serious about his oath to positively impact the
community. Although there is a pervasive no-
tion that politics in Washington is disparaging,
his tenure in state government has been quite
the opposite. “My experience in the state sen-
ate has been a positive one. I have made a huge
number of really good friends,” he said thought-
fully. His well documented political career
demonstrates that he possesses a leadership
style committed to the needs of Georgia res-
idents; on occasion making difficult decisions
that may have been unpopular within the walls
of state government, but that supported his
constituents. He has been lauded for taking a
strategic and well-informed approach to deci-
sion-making and taking responsibility for im-
proving situations within his authority. All lead-
ership traits that supporters believe will answer
the call of creating a better Georgia.
Clearly taking a cue from the missteps of oth-
er elected officials who have professed over-
reaching election year promises, the Senator
has opted for a manageable gubernatorial cam-
paign focused on three important areas: stabi-
lizing our local economy to benefit the working
class, education enrichment, and a commit-
ment to restoring ethics across the continuum
of Georgia’s government under his leadership.
As Governor he will continue to advocate for
small businesses to receive the same benefits
as large companies. He will address low wages
and the deteriorated unemployment rate. He
voted to protect the HOPE Scholarship for our
children and vows to continue to stand up for
public education as our state leader. According
to the Public Education Finance Report updated
May 2014, Georgia ranks in the bottom quartile
in education spending in a national comparison.
He and Kate, an award winning journalist who is
currently an educator in the Atlanta school sys-
tem, are dynamic partners driving the message
for the need of both dedicated curriculum fund-
ing as well as support for educators as part of
the formula to transform education. He consid-
ers education as being transformed when “ev-
ery single child in the state has an opportunity
to have the very best education in the state . . .
from the best possible, well supported teacher
workforce.” With both of their children enrolled
in the public school system, this issue is per-
sonal for the Carters as parents. “This matters
for our sons’ future as Georgians.” He has also
been a tireless proponent for stronger ethics
laws to ensure that Georgia has a transparent
government. As governor he plans to lead his
team through a life cycle assessment of gov-
ernment spending, restoring a sense of trust
and integrity.
Optimism does not elude Carter as it per-
tains to the revitalization of Clayton County.
He agrees that the challenges in the education
system and an out-of-sync job growth rate and
unemployment rate are known areas of op-
portunity. He promises that the county will see
education become the state’s first priority. Fur-
thermore, he believes that Clayton County has
much to gain from a “good governor” and that
we stand to benefit from a smart, fresh leader
who is focused on creating
more prosperous oppor-
tunities for residents; the
hope is that the communi-
ty will rise to the occasion
with a strong presence on
Election Day. His message
is clear: Georgia cannot wait
another four years “to start
getting things right.”
In recent years the fraction of me that is cyn-
ical has generalized political interviews as be-
nign conversations that idle in neutral and are
highly scripted. The key ingredients are often a
dash of cringeworthy hyperbole; a subtle un-
dertone of mudslinging with a sprinkle of eva-
siveness – none of which made an appearance
during my interview with Senator Carter. He has
run this race as an every day Georgian, repeat-
edly saying that he will give his all as Governor
and that he won’t leave the public feeling that
he did not do his best. His words were more
than campaign sound bites, they resonated,
and his acts of service for the community have
made him a legitimate contender to be the next
Governor of Georgia.
“After two weeks of coordination, the time
for the interview finally arrived. It began as any
other; we exchanged initial greetings, custom-
ary pleasantries, and I set my expectations and
vision for the interview. As I took position to dive
into my questions something happened that I
was not prepared for, “Well, wait,” Carter politely
interrupted, “Tell me a little bit about you first.” I
am fairly certain that I disguised how stunned I
was that this busy politician would care to know
anything about me. Admittedly, his inquiry came
as a welcome aberration. I gladly obliged, giving
us an unexpected opportunity to unearth our
life parallels which included discussion about
our children’s thoughts of the work that we do
for a living (we both have eight year olds), and
the serendipitous discovery that I lived in the
Netherlands for eighteen years, a country that
colonized South Africa where Carter once lived.
His questions about the path that brought me
to Georgia left me feeling that he had a genuine
interest in the people that make up this great
state. Even though the interview continued on
as a friendly discussion, I prepared myself for
the certainty of an abrupt shift to mudslinging
and sharp political jabs; what I was met with
was a measure of authenticity where the Sen-
ator repeatedly gave me food for thought as
I silently contemplated Georgia’s options for
Governor in the midterm elections on Novem-
ber 4, 2014.
Carter’s rich history is well known through-
out the United States and around the world.
He is a ninth generation Georgian, son of Jack
Carter and Juliet Langford, and the eldest of
former President Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s
grandchildren. Carter and his wife of nineteen
years, Kate, live in DeKalb County with their
sons, Henry (8) and Thomas (5). On any given
day you might find he and his wife out at their
children’s sporting events, riding bikes, fishing,
or just playing in the neighborhood; and if you
were to ask Carter he would say his family is no
different from so many other families. Intrigued
by his family tree, I was curious to know how
he deals with his family’s prominence and po-
litical legacy. An undeniably grounded Carter
responded, “My family has never thought [the
prominence] was a big deal. I have very good
friends who have always treated me like a reg-
ular person.”
Jaso
n’s
mes
sage
is c
lear
: G
eorg
ia c
anno
t w
ait an
othe
r fo
ur ye
ars
“to
star
t ge
ttin
g th
ings
rig
ht.”
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Movers & Shapers 2014 We Are Clayton Magazine