ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia’s down-ballot statewide candidates got their turn on the debate stage Tuesday, and two incumbents made a similar argument: much of what their agencies can do depends on what state lawmakers allow.
Republican Insurance Commissioner John King, asked about rising insurance premiums, said he learned soon after taking office that the insurance department’s authority to intervene in rates had been taken away. He said he will ask the Legislature to restore some of that power and is not giving up on it. King faces Democrat Keisha Waites.
Republican State School Superintendent Richard Woods took a similar approach when his Democratic opponent, Lydia Powell, pressed him on using public tax dollars for private schools, pointing to the decisions made by the Legislature.
The debates were part of the second day of the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series, taped Tuesday afternoon with Georgia Public Broadcasting. Along with the insurance and school races, Republican Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper debated Democrat Katherine Juhan-Arnold, and Republican Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes debated Democrat Nikki Porcher.
Viewers who missed them can watch Wednesday afternoon. The superintendent debate airs at 3 p.m., agriculture at 3:30 p.m., insurance at 4 p.m. and labor at 4:30 p.m. on GPB, and all of the debates remain available on demand on the press club’s YouTube debate channel.
In each debate, candidates introduce themselves, answer panel questions, question each other and give closing statements. Candidates who decline to take part are represented by an empty podium.
All of these offices are on the Nov. 3 ballot, along with the races for governor, U.S. Senate, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and two Public Service Commission seats.
