Switch to Congressional race was about ‘making a difference’

Steven Stubbs/Reporter CNHI

TIFTON —Austin Scott, former gubernatorial candidate and newly announced candidate for the 8th Congressional District, came home to Tifton Wednesday to speak to the Tifton Rotary Club. Scott spoke briefly on his recent political activity and beliefs and then opened the floor to questions from Rotary members.

Scott’s April 29 move from the governor’s race to a hopeful spot in the 8th Congressional District aroused questions and concern from many supporters from across the state. Scott assured Rotary members that his decision to remove his name from the gubernatorial ballot was what he thought to be the best move for the country.

“The most important change that needs to be made is in Washington,” Scott said. “My family can survive whatever governor is elected to lead Georgia, whether Republican or Democrat, but I’m not sure my family or yours can survive another two years with the way things are in Washington. In the end it was a decision between proving a point and making a difference. I chose to make a difference.”

Before dropping from the governor’s race Scott spread word of his name by embarking on a 1,068-mile walk across the state of Georgia for 64 days beginning last June. He began in Chickamauaga, then walked down through Columbus, Valdosta, Savannah, up to Augusta, Athens, Clayton and many small rural communities before ending his walk on the steps of the Capitol.

Scott went on to tell the Rotarians that he believed a Republican-controlled house could balance the budget together with a Democratic president.

“This is the most expensive country in the world to live in and we have to reduce the cost of living,” Scott said. “I think we stand a good chance of balancing the budget with a Democratic president and a Republican House.”

Scott covered many issues, including gun rights, state and national budgets and the cost of insurance, but noted healthcare reform as the biggest issue facing America at present.

“It’s not insurance that is the problem in this country, but rather the cost of healthcare,” Scott said. “We have passed a lot of healthcare bills and a lot of them have to be repealed.”

Scott assured Rotary members that the right to bear arms is still among his long list of priorities.

“I am a lifetime member of the NRA and I own over 40 firearms myself,” Scott said. “I am an advocate of making sure that our citizens have somewhere to hunt, fish and enjoy outside recreation.”

Near the conclusion of the Rotary meeting, Scott expressed his appreciation for the support of all during his political career, and asked that everyone continue to support him as he makes his bid for a Congressional seat.

“I want to thank everyone who has supported me during my career and in the governor’s race,” Scott said. “I now ask for your continued support during the Congressional race.”

Scott will be challenging Jim Marshall (D-Macon) who was first elected to office in 2002.

Help Austin with his campaign, sign up, donate, volunteer!

Georgia state Rep. Austin Scott has dropped his campaign for governor and launch a challenge to Democratic Rep. Jim Marshall in the state’s 8th Congressional District, a Republican source told POLITICO.

Scott, who was first elected to the Georgia Legislature at 26 and has served there since 1997, has failed to gain traction in a gubernatorial primary that includes multiple statewide Republican officials, but he’s regarded as an up-and-comer in his party.

“He’s got a base in the district,” the Republican source said. “He brings to the table the financial resources to give Marshall a tough fight. And he’s hungry.”

Marshall won reelection against retired Gen. Rick Goddard by over 14 points in 2008, but his district broke for Sen. John McCain on the presidential level by a double-digit margin. Expect Scott’s announcement soon: Georgia’s filing deadline is Friday.

Deal at Press Conference

On April 3,  Georgia gubernatorial candidate Nathan Deal spoke at the Douglas County GOP Breakfast. In front of about 50 people Deal blamed his ethic woes on Nancy Pelosi and the AJC.  Appearing angry and agitated, Deal attempted to explain away the ethic charges concerning his north Georgia auto salvage business and contracts with the state of Georgia.

The AJC broke the story with details about the contracts and meetings Deal had with state officials.

Read the AJC reports here>>>

We have had a tremendous response so far to my statement on protecting 4-H and the agricultural extension. It is rare for our campaign to send two emails in a week, but this issue is just that important. The University System of Georgia’s recommendation to eliminate 4-H is unacceptable and reflects a lack of leadership at the highest level.

4-H: A lifetime of character

At its core, 4-H is a character building organization for young people. Thousands of young Georgians from across the state participate in its learning programs in schools, at 4-H camps like Rock Eagle, in environmental education, and in agricultural and other education programs.

Georgia 4-H students have a high school graduation rate of 92%. In a state where only 78% of all students graduate high school, the loss of 4-H would have detrimental effects on Georgia for years to come. Georgia 4-H students come from all backgrounds, social classes, and ethnicities. They come from urban and rural communities. In 4-H, they develop leadership skills and build character to become the kind of citizens Georgia needs.

But what about the cost? According to Georgia4H.org, state funds supporting 4-H equate to less than $53 per student. This is a small price to pay for a true bright spot in Georgia education. I don’t have many regrets, but I do wish I had joined 4-H when I had the chance. I hope that my son Wells won’t let the opportunity pass him by.

What else can we do?

In the Georgia General Assembly, I have consistently advocated cutting irresponsible spending in our state’s budget. I recently proposed selling unnecessary airplanes the state owns and maintains for its executives. I proposed salary reductions for highly compensated state employees, much like those being made in the private sector. Soon, I will be rolling out plans to eliminate an entire government agency that does very little for Georgia taxpayers. There are cuts that make sense, but if we cut vital programs like 4-H, Georgia will feel the effects for years to come. Stand with me today to show your support for 4-H in Georgia. Visit ScottForGA.com to find out how to get involved.

I was reminded of a quote from Ronald Reagan:

“I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” -during a 1984 presidential debate with Walter Mondale

Austin has both youth and experience. He has served in the Georgia Legislature for 14 years.

Austin Scott has served in the Georgia General Assembly since he was first elected at age 26. After graduating from the University of Georgia’s business school, Austin opened an independent insurance brokerage in Tifton, Georgia, which he continues to operate today.  He serves as Chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee, where he has earned a reputation for being fair and solutions oriented.  Representative Scott’s seniority in the House, along with his work ethic and integrity, allowed him to secure additional appointments to the Appropriations Committee, the Rules Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee.  At the age of 32, Georgia TrendGeorgia’s Brightest Stars under Age 40.

Austin pushes lower taxes
Rep. Austin Scott” Georgia needs jobs. Austin continues to press for two tax reform measures in the Georgia House aimed at immediately bringing more jobs to the state. HB 1029 proposes to eliminate the corporate income tax in Georgia, and HB 1037 will cut the long-term capital gains tax in half. If passed, these two measures will move Georgia to the top of the list for many companies evaluating their relocation options.

5:57 pm February 12, 2010, by Maureen Downey

Candidates for Georgia governor share their views on education

Candidates for Georgia governor share their views on education

All the candidates for governor are being invited to share their education views with Get Schooled readers. As each piece comes in and is published here, it will be added to a category called Governor 2010. I urge you to read all the pieces.

Here is what GOP candidate Austin Scott submitted:

By Austin Scott

In my vision of public education in Georgia, graduated means educated and educated means ready to go to work. Quality education for our children creates a quality workforce, and in turn, a vibrant economy.

I am passionate about improving our education system in this state. You see, my mother is a teacher, and so is my sister. My son Wells is a student in Tift County Public Schools. I am in Georgia’s public schools more than most or maybe all other candidates in the race to be Georgia’s next Governor. It is personal for me. It should be for you too, because the economic and professional opportunities available to our children and our state as a whole depend on quality education being equally available to all.

Unfortunately, most conversations about education today seem to focus on venture capital, vouchers, and “pay-for-performance”. In contrast to some of the other GOP candidates for governor, I do not support placing teacher retirement funds in the hands of venture capital firms. More importantly, I do not know a single educator who is in favor of their money being invested in venture capital. I do not believe in taking unnecessary risk with teacher funds—especially after considering some of the losses that have been sustained by similar funds during this economic downturn. Vouchers and “pay-for-performance” are of equal concern to me, as I do not think either one addresses the fundamental problems in our education system.

The concerns we all have as parents, educators, and administrators are not uniform throughout the state. Needs differ from system to
GOP candidate Austin Scott

Republican candidate for governor Austin Scott

system. Some areas have better schools than other areas. Often these distinctions can be drawn on economic lines, but not always. Our best choice for improving performance statewide is to look at defining the characteristics that separate “outperforming” schools from “underperforming” ones with similar demographics, and apply those methods across systems.

As Dr. Douglas Reeves of the Center for Performance Assessment shows in his article High Performance in High Poverty Schools: 90-90-90 and Beyond, demographic characteristics do not affect academic performance. “90-90-90 Schools” are those where 90% or more of the students are eligible for free and reduced lunch, 90% of more of the students are members of ethnic minority groups, and 90% or more of the students meet the district or state academic standards in reading or another area. What are they doing differently? He identifies five characteristics common to these schools: a “laser-like” focus on academic achievement, clear curriculum choices, frequent assessment of student progress with multiple opportunities for improvement, an emphasis on nonfiction writing, and collaborative scoring of student work.

My proposal, which I call ‘Bridges Beyond’, will pair the leadership of the “90-90-90 Schools” in Georgia with demographically similar underperforming schools and reward both schools for the improvements. I believe that allowing educators to share best practices beyond system borders will address some of the underperformance we’ve experienced up to now.

Also, I am currently proposing legislation that will allow school systems to use SPLOST funds for general operations. Existing Georgia law restricts the use of education SPLOST funds to use for capital projects alone. I do not believe that it makes sense in 2010 to force school systems to continue to build capital projects they may not need when that money could be used to enhance the quality of education delivered within our existing buildings.

Like former governor Zell Miller, I will appoint members of both parties to serve on the state Board of Education. Those leaders will have to be committed to working together in a nonpartisan manner with a focus on doing simply what’s best for Georgia’s children. They will have to be committed to continual improvement even though our resources will be more limited than in the recent past. I believe it is time to leave partisanship outside the boardroom.

The quality of education in our state is directly tied to the attitude of the leadership in the system, the classroom, and at the capitol.

Imagine what we can accomplish with a governor who represents a new generation of ideas and a new attitude towards education. As an elected official, and more importantly as the son of a teacher, and the brother of a teacher, whose own son attends public schools, I listen to those with experience. In a Scott administration, education is personal—very personal.

If you elect me your governor, you will have someone ready to go to work to improve education in Georgia with a clear vision and concrete programs to get us on the path to excellence , where “graduated means educated and educated means ready to go to work.” I know I can do this, with your support.

These are some of my ideas. Please visit ScottForGA.com to share yours.