Former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond/ Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice The 13th Congressional Federation of Democratic Women, in partnership with New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, hosted a nonpartisan gubernatorial debate on Wednesday evening. Held two months before the primary el ections for Georgia’s gubernatorial race, the organization arranged the debate to give voters a chance to hear directly from those running to be Georgia’s next governor, providing a space centered on civic engagement and transparency.  Democratic candidates who attended the debate included former Georgia State Sen. Jason Esteves, State Rep. Derrick Jackson, former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and former pastor Olu Brown. The organization said it invited candidates from all political affiliations to attend.  Georgia State Rep. Derrick Jackson. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice Over 200 people poured into the church’s sanctuary to watch as the candidates touched on a range of issues, from public safety vs. police funding, criminal justice reform, and ICE occupation to the mental health crisis and cost of living.  Political analyst Rashad Richey served as moderator, ensuring candidates had two minutes to answer questions, with one minute for rebuttal. The debate then opened up for questions from the audience at the end. Here is what the candidates expressed to voters during the debate:  According to recent polls by the New York Times, Lance-Bottoms is in the lead as the Democratic nominee as the former Atlanta mayor aims to “deliver for working families and bring steady leadership to Georgia in the midst of uncertainty and chaos coming from Washington,” according to her campaign website.  Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice “I woke up the day after the last presidential election, and after I said a few words that I cannot repeat in this church, I prayed about what I’d be called to do in this season. And for me, it was to get back in the ring and fight. Fight to expand Medicaid in this state. Fight to address the affordability issue. Fighting to make sure there’s a pathway for community and technical colleges in this state. Fighting to make sure that people like you can live in your communities with dignity, take care of your families, eliminating state income taxes for our teachers. It’s been said that every generation has an opportunity to make a difference. This is our defining moment,” Lance Bottoms said during the debate.  Brown, former pastor and founding leader of Impact church, is hoping to “build a citizen-powered vision for Georgia’s future.” Olu Brown. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice “I understand what the people of Georgia are facing. It’s time that we stop electing officials who can afford everything to represent a vast majority of people who can’t afford anything, and expect them to understand what you’re going through,” Brown said. “One of my favorite poets and poems is Langston Hughes, ‘Mother to Sun.’ And guess what? For so many of you here and watching online, life has not been a crystal stair. For folks suffering with mental illness, for people who are trying to pay their bills, for folks who want to send their kids to a great school and trust that they’re going to have a quality education. Under my administration, you won’t have to explain struggle to me.” Former Lt. Gov. Duncan entered the race as a Republican-turned-Democrat after siding with Kemp in certifying Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. His website emphasizes that Georgians “deserve leaders with the courage to take on Donald Trump and do what’s right.” “When we launched this campaign a little over six months ago, there were a lot of skeptics who thought, well, how is a former Republican going to win this race as a Democrat?” Duncan said. “I’m building a coalition big enough to win, Democrats, independents and even disgusted Republicans, to show up and not just vote for me in the primary, but so we can all win the general election. I’m staying laser focused on the three issues that most Georgians wake up worried about: the affordability crisis, the health care crisis, and, of course, the Donald Trump crisis, even Republicans are worried about.” Former State Senator Jason Esteves. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice Former Georgia State Sen. Esteves is focused on making Georgia “the number one place to work, start a business, and raise a family — no matter who you are or where you live,” according to his campaign website.  “We are in crisis, and in times of crisis, I’ve always run towards the fight, and that’s what I’m going to do as governor of this state,” Esteves said. “You can always count on me to stand tall and to fight back against the chaos and destruction coming out of Washington, DC. I will never stay silent, like my Republican opponents, and I won’t quit when the going gets tough, like some of my democratic opponents have. I will focus each and every day that I’m in that office, lowering the cost of living, expanding access to health care, fighting for our democracy, and investing in our children.” State Rep. Jackson has run on a platform of being a family man, a decorated military veteran, a public servant, and a community leader. “After 10 years of being in corporate America, I  went on a sabbatical leave because my first wife, Michelle, had breast cancer in 2014. During those 18 months, her final years, I walked each and every step with her,” Jackson shared. “You have to have a governor that not only sees you and hears you, but you have to know who we are. And this goes beyond talking points… What I witnessed in terms of the healthcare system, as it relates to Black women not being heard and taken care of, motivated me to run for office. I started this journey in 2016, and tonight, you hear my heart. You hear the authenticity and the genuineness. That’s the reason why I’m running to become the 84th governor.” Former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice Thurmond has served as the CEO of one of Georgia’s largest counties and as the superintendent for DeKalb County. At a time of rising costs and declining trust, “he hopes to help the state grow faster, stronger, safer and more equitable,” according to his campaign website.  “I come here to tell you not to give up, not to give out, and not to give in. We are at a critical moment in the history of the state, in the history of our nation. As your next governor, I am ready for this fight,” Thurmond said. “A government that does not have a heart is no government at all. The time has come for us to have a new vision, a new direction. With new leadership, we will inspire and lift up our communities and do what’s right for all of our citizens as your next governor.” Voting registration for the General Primary Election ends on April 20. Election day is on May 19, with early voting open from April 27 to May 15.  The post Georgia Dems leading candidates for governor share their visions appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less