Georgia Candidates Gather at Chamber Luncheon to Discuss Business, Data Centers

ATHENS, Ga.—On Wednesday, a host of political candidates attended the Chamber of Commerce Congressional Luncheon to discuss initiatives, make pledges, and more.

Attendees included U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Mike Collins, gubernatorial candidates Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

Collins, the Republican running against incumbent Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff, spoke toward the beginning of the event.

“We need more businesspeople in Washington who know how to get things done,” he told the audience gathered in the main auditorium.

Collins touted his record of “getting two pieces of legislation signed into law by two different presidents from two different parties, and in a bipartisan fashion,” making reference to the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act and the Laken Riley Act.

The next to follow Collins in the main auditorium was Bottoms, who got to speak about her record as Atlanta’s former mayor.

“We redeveloped Centennial Yards, what was then called The Gulch, now the largest public-private property that is happening in the country right now,” she said, referencing the $5 billion mixed-use urban revitalization project in downtown Atlanta, which features residences, hotels, retail, and entertainment.

Bottoms added, “We were able to carve out some affordable housing and [an] affordable housing trust fund.”

Toward the end of the program, Jackson spoke, discussing his plans for the state if elected governor. Drawing upon his successes as a health care CEO and businessman, he noted that he would be the “main negotiator talking to the CEOs,” emphasizing the importance of business growth and investment across the state.

“We need to have enough capitalists only investing in our businesses here, especially small businesses,” he said.

On the issue of affordability, he talked of fixing supply chain issues in the state. “If we [address] our supply chain issues and hurdles that we have in Georgia, our food costs will go down, our main costs will go down, and things will be a lot better.”

“I’m not in this to help people that are rich; I’m in this to help people that need it,” he also said, expressing why he is running to become the state’s next governor.

Kemp on Jackson

Later, in a meeting of reporters, Kemp stood alongside Jackson and gave strong support for the fellow Republican.

“One of the reasons I think Rick Jackson’s the best candidate for being our 84th governor is because he has really come up through some very tough times and knows what it’s like to be struggling,” Kemp said.

On affordability, the governor said leaders still must tame “high inflation that was caused by Joe Biden, a 40-year high inflation.”

Jackson jumped in and said affordability needs solutions. He pledged to “keep cutting taxes and property taxes … and continue the [focus on] jobs.” He also stated that he has a “very good plan that will reduce our health care costs.”

Candidates Speak on Data Centers

Later in the afternoon, Collins and Bottoms separately got to speak on the issue of data centers, which are raising concerns due to their massive use of land, energy, and water resources.

When asked about the role that data centers should play in the state, Collins said data centers are needed because “we are in an AI race with China … and there are communities that want data centers.”

“These data centers need to bring in their own power and make sure, at the end of the day, that they don’t hurt infrastructure on the local communities,” he added.

When reporters asked Bottoms about data centers and the concerns many have about them, she replied, “They’re also concerned about the rising cost of utility bills. But I also talk with some leaders, especially in our own communities, who are saying that having data centers there helps them balance their budget.”

She added, “We don’t have enough facts on data centers to make an important decision on how we move forward.”

Kemp on Georgia’s Business Successes

During the governor’s “fireside chat” segment of the event, Kemp spoke about the accomplishments of his administration over the years. “We created just under 220,000 new jobs,” he said.

“We’ve announced some projects that we’ve worked with, almost $120 billion in investment—75% of the investment has gone outside the 12 metro Atlanta counties, 63% of the jobs have gone out.”

He added, “Today, in Georgia, we have the most people working in our state than we’ve ever had, and we broke last month’s record.”