After a hot campaign season, it's down to Karen Handel and Nathan Deal in the hunt for the GOP nomination for Georgia's next governor; an August 10th primary will decide who's name gets on the ballot. Before you cast your next vote, make sure you are informed of where these candidates stand on issues important to our community - technology!
We posed a number of questions to both candidates - see how they responded, then make your choice! Once the runoff is over, check back for a comparison of the GOP candidate and Roy Barnes, then make your decision on who you think Georgia's next governor should be.
Please share significant experiences you’ve had working with Georgia’s technology community.
Deal
The technology industry in Georgia is a significant contributor to the economic development of our state. Having served at both the state and federal levels in elected office, I have had the opportunity to meet with numerous businesses, organizations and educational institutions that seek to grow the technology industry in Georgia. As a U.S. Congressman, my first committee assignment after having taken office was to serve on the House Committee on Science and Technology. I later served as the Chairman and then Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Health within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. This subcommittee held jurisdiction over several technology-related fields, including medical devices and biotechnology. I concurrently served on the subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet which has jurisdiction over technology-rich industries in communications.
Handel
As CEO of the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, I worked closely with a number of technology companies in the recruitment of companies to the emerging North Fulton technology corridor and as an advocate of the companies already in North Fulton. As Chairman of the Fulton County Commission and later as Secretary of State, I continued to work closely with Georgia’s technology companies. Specifically, I led an overhaul of licensing in the Secretary of State’s office, utilizing web-based renewals and moving the agency closer to paperless processing. As a result of my experience, I have a unique understanding among candidates running for governor. I will aggressively pursue policies to leverage our enormous potential to create a state that is a national and international leader in creating 21st century jobs in emerging technologies and sciences.
Do you already have a position on the central issue raised by our group – that Georgia is losing ground as a technology center?
Deal
Georgia has been losing ground in an area that is going to be vital for Georgia to grow out of our financial hardship. Technology-based industries are a key part of my plan for Georgia rejuvenation. This not only means we recruit new businesses but also we must be committed to supporting and fostering new growth within. I believe, in addition to promoting venture capital in our state to fuel development in technology, we must take steps to improve education in our state to produce skilled workers to meet the needs of the industry. I believe Georgia’s technical schools serve a critical role in support of this mission and I will work as your next governor to encourage students to take advantage of available options to improve their education in technology.
Handel
Yes, the evidence that we are losing ground is incontrovertible. Despite Georgia’s many advantages (good transportation network, world class educational institutions, innovative technology incubators like Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center, an international airport and our standing as a logistics and transportation hub) we are losing jobs and businesses, especially those in technology and emerging sciences, to neighboring states. Georgia is currently behind our competition and our next Governor must move aggressively to make up the ground. We must create a better environment for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses through the development of a state “Jump Start” fund as well as the aggressive support for incentives such as Angel Investor Tax Credits. Just as importantly, Georgia must develop a real strategy, as part of the state’s economic development plan, for how we are going to support these businesses and the entrepreneurs who take the risks as well as those who invest in them.
What do you think of our group’s recommendations?
Deal
I think the group’s recommendations fall in line with my economic development plan, “Real Prosperity.” Details on this plan are available on my website at www.dealforgovernor.com or by clicking here.
Handel
I strongly support and subscribe to TAG’s recommendations. As governor I will work closely with TAG, as well as other organizations, that focus on attracting emerging science and technology companies to Georgia.
As Governor what will you do to create technology jobs in the state?
Deal
I will begin day one working to establish a favorable tax environment for small businesses to create jobs. I will work with groups such as yours to promote and grow the industry, both in terms of business development and education so we have skilled workers ready for jobs.
Handel
First and foremost, I will refine and redirect the focuses of Georgia’s approach to encouraging job creation and growth by concentrating on Georgia’s entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses. Georgia has done a very good job attracting existing businesses and creating opportunities for larger businesses to come to Georgia. But, we can do a better job with those businesses that are already here and those entrepreneurs who take the risks to start businesses.
How will you address this issue across Georgia and not just in the metro Atlanta area?
Deal
Georgia is uniquely suited to have clusters of different technology disciplines spread throughout the state. Whether it’s the aerospace, agribusiness, energy, medical, logistics, or manufacturing industries, we have the opportunity to create technology jobs in certain parts of Georgia through our structured “tier status” tax credits. The Centers of Innovation positioned throughout the state will ensure strategic industry sectors are given all opportunities to succeed in Georgia.
With the growth of the Georgia Tech campus in Savannah and their joint program with Georgia Southern University, we are preparing graduates in the technology and information technology arena with much greater numbers in a part of the state that has higher tax incentives for job-growth and investment. This can also be said for the promising future of the joint program with Georgia Tech and Emory that involves the development of medical devices just as the Wounded Warrior Program sets up shop at Fort Gordon and will create a need within Georgia for those graduates.
Handel
There are several initiatives that I will pursue as Governor. First, I will aggressively support the creation of a “Jump Start” Fund to provide Georgia’s start-ups and entrepreneurs better access to capital during the critical initial phases of a businesses life. Too many of Georgia’s start-ups are relocating to other states because they are forced to ‘follow’ their investors and investments. These start-ups can provide the best opportunity for job creation and growth, if they are able to stay in Georgia. Second, I am a strong believer in aggressive incentives, like Angel Investor Tax Credits, to encourage investment in Georgia businesses. Third, I will make it a priority to extend broadband connectivity to the entire state, we cannot expect to compete statewide for future technology jobs and even more troubling those areas of the state that are not connected will fall behind. Finally, I will also make education reform - focused on employing 21st Century technology to create a 21st Century workforce - a top priority for my administration. My vision includes on-line instruction available to students of all ages throughout the state.
How would you obtain resources to work on this issue?
Deal
I would seek the advice from all groups involved so as to have the most comprehensive strategy for developing and supporting one of Georgia’s key industries for future growth. I hope to build a cohesive working relationship among the groups working to build industry in Georgia so that our prospective strengths become our focus. As your next governor, I will implement zero-based budgeting which will ensure limited state resources are being spent as effectively as possible and supports the goals of job creation and growth in our state.
Handel
The State of Georgia is uniquely positioned to attract and retain a host of emerging high tech and life science ventures to our state in the coming decade. Georgia is home to a number of world-class research institutions including the internationally renowned Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, our state offers a highly skilled workforce, a first-class transportation and logistics system and an international airport that provides rapid global access for researchers and scientists. As governor, I will provide the strategic leadership to ensure the state government plays a constructive role in encouraging the growth of biotech and other technological research related industries in Georgia.
But if we are to become a national and even a global leader, we must provide strong incentives and support to existing businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs. I was the first candidate to propose the creation of an entrepreneurial or enterprise fund to provide much needed capital to the ‘risk-takers’ in our state. Nearly every other state has such a fund and the time has long passed for Georgia to develop such a program.
If we were to dedicate just one-half of one percent of our state pension fund, to this endeavor, we could raise as much as $200M in capital for Georgia businesses and entrepreneurs.
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Comments
She definitely has a better understanding of the issues related to the GA tech sector.
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