No Political Viewpoints Here

I’ve worked hard to avoid using the platforms that have entrusted me to inform and entertain their audiences to advance the cause of my client. That applies to this space as well. In 2022, I wrote back-to-back Georgia Trend columns stating the case for Gov. Brian Kemp’s re-election, emphasizing the economic development wins he secured and contrasting his decision to open the economy long before many other states with the disastrous decisions by many Democrat-led boards of education to keep schools closed way too long.

That’s why I’m not going to write here in this column that Keisha Lance Bottoms’ tenure as mayor of Atlanta should disqualify her from occupying the state’s most powerful office – one that holds tremendous sway over our business climate and quality of life.

During Bottoms’ time as mayor, the business community felt ignored by the city’s elected executive, crime soared and some Buckhead residents began a serious effort to secede. It’s no coincidence that these concerns settled down once Andre Dickens took over the office. It would look biased if I wrote that here, so you’re not going to see that from me. No sir.

It’s my firmly held belief even outside my role in the campaign that the death of 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in 2020 left a dark mark on the region and haunts our memories. It’s my personal view that is what happens anytime misguided leaders let lawless gangs run wild. In that case, the police were told to stay away from the so-called Autonomous Zone, and armed criminals filled the vacuum with fatal consequences. But because of my commitment to impartiality, I’m not going to state those opinions, even though this is an opinion column.

During a time of social unrest, Bottoms took a “blame police first” approach, stepping in to fire officers without due process to appease the mob. Those acts were so ill-conceived they were overturned on review. But you’re not going to see that kind of inflammatory rhetoric from me.

In fact, in my pursuit of balance, let me go out of my way to defend Bottoms here against a common criticism she faced even amongst her own fellow Democrats. Many fault Bottoms for “quitting” because she didn’t run for re-election as mayor. I reject this view. She ran for one term and completed it. She didn’t resign early – a move that annoys me because it forces a special election at taxpayer expense. I like to think she acted altruistically, knowing someone else could do the job better. Good on her, I say from the bottom of my heart.

Just as I refuse to use this space to paint an ominous vision of a Bottoms governorship, I will also not propagandize as it relates to Jackson.

Even though I could talk about his Atlanta-projects-to-foster-homes-to-billionaire biography, his American Dream story, his desire to give back to the state he loves, I won’t stoop to sleight of hand tactics.

Nor will I laud his plans to cut income taxes in half and freeze property tax rate increases that have far exceeded inflation. It would offend my senses to simply suggest that he could use his vast healthcare expertise to greatly expand access throughout the state.

I would rightly be accused of emotional manipulation for recounting how his philanthropy has changed the lives of thousands of foster kids – kids who’ve grown up with the same challenges he faced – and how he’d use that empathy to improve the tragic statistics of those who age out of foster care today.

Instead of talking about who you should vote for in November – I would never! – I’ll instead talk about all the cool Georgia restaurants I’ve gotten to sample on the campaign trail.

In Augusta, I introduced the campaign team to barbecue hash at Scon-yers. In Savannah, we feasted on to-die-for redneck nachos at Wiley’s Championship Barbecue. You must try the fried shrimp at Tubby’s Tank House in Thunderbolt. Charlie Joseph’s in LaGrange is a great setting for a hot dog. Gainesville’s Longstreet Café is an outstanding meat-and-three. The Varsity in Downtown Atlanta is where Jackson saw a color TV for the first time as a child, and he likes going back.

Oh, look, I’m already out of space. I hope you’ve enjoyed my totally nonpolitical look at restaurants from the campaign trail.