Negative GA governor's race helping Libertarian

Libertarian offers alternative to veteran politicians in Georgia governor's race | Online Athens:

"The barrage of negative advertisements about Republican Nathan Deal and Democrat Jason Carter is helping Libertarian Andrew Hunt make his case for a third alternative in the governor’s race.

"'It’s a very, very night-and-day choice here. I am very different,' Hunt said in his only televised debate with the other two. 'I am a small businessman, PhD in engineering. I have about 50 patents, and I want to put all that to work for you. ... I have 1 percent or less of the money they do. You’re going to be seeing lots of ads run by them. We have the news of who they’re being supported by, the special interests that paid for these tens of millions (of dollars) in ads. You have to, if you want to support me, talk to other people.'

"Like Carter, he supports Medicaid expansion, but like Deal, he favors so-called tort
reform that limits malpractice payouts. He agrees with Carter on ending the ban on same-sex marriage, but is in sync with Deal on wanting to adhere to the original interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. He’s an advocate of school choice and educational savings accounts for tuition like Deal, and he joins Carter in attacking the incumbent’s ethics."

"The central plank on Hunt’s platform is job creation through a unique proposal to have the state cover the payroll-related taxes for full-time jobs paying more than $11 per hour.... He argues that will create incentives to hire because the costs will be lower for employers.

"As a result of skilled workers getting those new jobs, he predicts that unskilled workers will also find more opportunities."

Read more: http://onlineathens.com/election/2014-10-25/libertarian-offers-alternative-veteran-politicians-georgia-governors-race
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Dalton GA mayor endorses Libertarian for governor

Former GOP governor candidate backs Libertarian | Georgia News - Kathleen Foody,  Associated Press:

October 3, 2014 - "A former Republican candidate for governor is backing the Libertarian candidate on the Nov. 4 ballot.

"Dalton Mayor David Pennington lost a long-shot bid to replace Gov. Nathan Deal as the party's nominee in May, earning about 17 percent of the primary vote. He attacked the governor's fiscal policy during the campaign, appealing to conservative voters.

"Libertarian candidates could play a role in both the race for governor and Georgia's open U.S. Senate seat....

"On Friday, Pennington endorsed Andrew Hunt and says voting for a third-party candidate isn't a waste. Pennington says he won't tell anyone else who to support and expects people to vote their conscience."

Read more: http://www.news4jax.com/news/georgia-news/former-gop-governor-candidate-backs-libertarian/28394208
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LP candidate for governor hopes to force runoff

Libertarian candidate trying to force runoff in governor’s race | www.wsbtv.com:

August 6, 2014 = "The libertarian candidate in the Georgia governor's race is trying to force a runoff that could delay the outcome until December.

"Newcomer Andrew Hunt spoke to Channel 2’s Lori Geary about his background and reasons for running for governor.

"'I have a PhD in material sciences and engineering from Georgia Tech.  I immediately started up a nontechnology company,' Hunt said....

"It's his first run for political office.

"'The reason I did, the majority of the people who are polled say they're dissatisfied with both parties,' he said....

"Hunt said he knows he has an uphill climb but wants to force a runoff in Georgia’s governor's race.
The two leading candidates, Republican incumbent Gov. Nathan Deal and democrat Jason Carter are fighting it out on the airwaves and in interviews.

"Hunt said his main issue is wasteful spending and points to the massive overhaul of the Interstate 285/Georgia 400 interchange. 'That’s going to be $1 billion that's going to tie up traffic for years, rather than putting it into light sequencing systems which alleviate traffic much quicker and smoother,' Hunt said.

Read more: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/libertarian-candidate-trying-force-run-governors-r/ngw57/
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Georgia LP nominee offers different approach as governor

Georgia Libertarian nominee offers a different approach as governor | Online Athens - Walter C. Jones, Morris News Service:

June 14, 2014 - "Andrew Hunt is as experienced in working wonders with small things as anyone.

"He earned 50 patents and two decades ago founded a 20-person nano-technology company that provides films, powders and other products for manufacturers. This newspaper page is 100,000 nanometers thick, and he’s accustomed to producing films only 10 nanometers thick. So, he may feel right at home in a campaign for governor that appears just as small.

"He’s up against the sitting governor, Republican Nathan Deal, who has already raised more than $8 million ...  and Jason Carter, the grandson of a U.S. president who’s already garnered more than $1 million.... Hunt hopes to raise $300,000, which would be more than 10 times what the last Libertarian raised....

"Hunt has some innovative proposals. He wants to save money on prisons by no longer locking up people convicted of “victimless crimes” like possession of marijuana. He would also effectively do away with the Department of Economic Development because he feels it’s wrong to give more attention, tax breaks, employee training or other benefits to any one company over another.

"Instead, to boost job creation he proposes having the state reimburse all employers for the employment taxes they pay because of federal laws, such as social security and unemployment insurance.... He stops short at picking up their penalty for not providing health insurance even though he acknowledges the Supreme Court ruled it was a tax."

Read more: http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2014-06-14/georgia-libertarian-nominee-offers-different-approach-governor

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Libertarians shaking up 3 southern U.S. races

Southern-Fried Freedom Lovers Propel Libertarian Candidates - The Daily Beast - Patricia Murphy:

June 5, 2014 - "Drawing surprisingly high support, a trio of Libertarian candidates has the potential to disrupt already tight races in the Deep South, where Democrats and Republicans are waging epic battles for Florida governor, Georgia governor, and one of North Carolina’s seats in the U.S. Senate.

"In Georgia, nanotechnologist Andrew Hunt is polling at 9 percent in the governor’s race, which is otherwise a dead heat between incumbent Republican Nathan Deal and Democratic state Sen. Jason Carter. In North Carolina, the headlines have focused on the Thom Tillis-Sen. Kay Hagan face-off in November, but quietly amassing 11 percent in the contest is Sean Haugh, the Libertarian candidate running on an anti-war agenda. And in Florida, Adrian Wyllie will be on the November ballot with Gov. Rick Scott and former governor Charlie Crist. Although Wyllie is polling at 4 percent, he’s at 10 percent with Florida’s all-important independent voters and will be on the same November ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana....

"'I think it’s more of a positive identification with Libertarian ideas more than just a willingness to try something different,' Haugh said of his race this time around. 'The word is not new anymore. They know it’s out there and they know what it means.'

"All three Libertarian campaigns said they see the rest of the country coming around to longtime Libertarian positions on federal spending, gay marriage, the war on drugs, privacy, and ending wars overseas. But it is the disgust with both major parties that seems to be animating many of their new voters."

Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/05/southern-fried-freedom-lovers-propel-libertarian-candidates.html
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