A small town Georgia mayor has some big-time political aspirations.
Carl Camon, the mayor of Ray City, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor next year. Camon, who is pushing the economy, education, families, law enforcement and transportation, made a campaign stop in Winder recently.
“I’m from a small city near Valdosta,” Camon told those gathered at the Barrow County Democratic Party meeting Monday night. “It’s a small town which is still connected to the morals of our state foundation. We have to return the voice of the people back to the highest level of state government.”
Camon said if elected governor he would do things somewhat different than previous holders of the office.
“Some people think you have to look a certain way, be from a large city or be a millionaire to be governor,” Camon said. “Who made you think that way? The people who belong to those groups.”
A military veteran, Camon has 15 years of experience in the education field and said he is “in touch with local people.”
He believes teachers should be able to retire after 25 years of service.
“We have to have a governor who cares about education again,” Camon said during his local stop. “That will help our state in the present as well in the future.”
The Democratic hopeful said he would also push being economically fiscal.
“It’s tough asking citizens to be fiscally responsible when you aren’t at the state level,” Camon said. “I will make sure we do everything possible to be responsible. Government has to be transparent at all levels. The citizens of Georgia are too important to waste money on issues that aren’t important.”
Concerning transportation, Camon said he would take a closer look at the way MARTA is operated and whether the state should take it over.
“We have to have a mass transit system for our state,” he said. “If we want to spur economic growth, we have to have it. Why can’t you live in Barrow County and take a train to work in Atlanta?”
Camon said the family has also been forgotten about today by statewide politicians.
“Real people with real concerns would be important for me,” he said. “When people get to office they forget about the people left behind. We don’t need a governor who hobnobs in tall buildings in Atlanta.”
Emphasizing how we would stay in touch with Georgians, Camon said he would teach a class in every county of the state during his first term as governor.
“I want to see what’s really going on,” he said. “I want to talk with the teachers without the principal hovering around. I want to talk with the principal without the superintendent hovering around.”
Having one Georgia would be a goal of a Camon governorship.
“I’m not here with any bells and whistles,” he said. “I will represent all of Georgia from Democrats, Republicans, independents to Libertarians. We’ve been divided too long. I’m not too far gone that I still don’t understand people.”
For more information on his campaign, visitwww.camonforgovernor.com.
