Gubernatorial candidates discuss affordability, education at DeKalb forum

Seven of the 14 candidates running to become a nominee for governor took to the stage on April 21 to answer questions about affordability, education, and other issues impacting Georgians in a forum hosted by Leadership DeKalb.

The event drew in around 200 in-person attendees and 350 people watching via live stream. All candidates were invited to the forum, which took place at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center. The participating candidates included six Democrats – Impact Church Lead Pastor Olu Brown, former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, former State Senator Jason Esteves, State Rep. Derrick Jackson, and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond – and Republican newcomers Clark Dean and Kenneth Yasger.

Each candidate answered questions posed by political journalist and Spelman College alum Maya Prabhu that covered each candidate’s experience, policies they would champion as governor, and how they would tackle issues like rising costs.

All candidates will be on their respective party’s ballot this spring to become one of the two nominees for governor in November. Early voting begins April 27, and Election Day is May 19. Polling information can be found on the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.

Candidates address affordability

Prabhu directed three questions to every candidate, two of which concerned affordability. When asked which rising cost they would address if they could only tackle one, all of the candidates spoke about health care. Esteves, Jackson, and Brown specifically spoke about maternal mortality rates among Black women. According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, Black women in Georgia are 3.3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women.

Related story: Abortion ban sparks debate among Georgia Democrats in governor’s race

Jackson spoke about his wife, who died in childbirth, and the high medical bills he had to face after her death, which topped $100,000. Brown echoed this sentiment, saying his family pays more each month in health insurance than their mortgage.

While Esteves, Jackson, and Duncan specifically mentioned expanding Medicaid, Yasger said he did not support expanding Medicaid, as he did not want to “expand the government’s control,” and instead focused on giving people more options for better care. He said his affordability focus would be on housing, specifically for renters.

The candidates were then asked who would pay the price if their approach to affordability was proven to be wrong during their tenure.

“I want to make sure that we take the special interests that are getting billions of dollars in tax giveaways and put that money in your pockets where it belongs,” Esteves said. “If any of those issues wind up hurting anyone, I think it’s going to hurt the billionaires and special interests that have been benefitting from it for the last two decades.”

Duncan and Brown shared similar sentiments about their belief that spending money to support working class Georgians could never be wrong, with Brown quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “If we’re wrong, then God Almighty is wrong.”

Thurmond and Yasger said they would constantly monitor programs and pivot if approaches were proven to be detrimental.

Education funding

The third question addressed to every candidate concerned education funding. Prabhu asked the candidates if the issue with Georgia’s public education was funding or how the money was being used.

Brown, Thurmond, Duncan, and Esteves said they would reform the Quality Basic Education formula, which determines the amount of state funding that’s allocated to local school districts. The formula has not undergone a major update since it was enacted in 1985.  

“The biggest issue is that the formula does not weight for poverty,” Thurmond said. “Children with disabilities, as they should, get additional funding. Children who speak English as a second language get additional funding. A child who comes from an impoverished home gets nothing.”

Dean said that while there should be more funding, the money needs to be spent wisely, and Yasger said that money should be rerouted from administrators to teachers. Jackson had to leave in the middle of the forum for another commitment and did not get the opportunity to answer the question.

Candidates discuss personal backgrounds

Along with general questions, each candidate was asked a question relating to his or her personal backgrounds.

Duncan, who previously served as Lieutenant Governor as a Republican, was asked about an issue he got wrong and how he changed his mind.

“The abortion issue is an issue that I got wrong as lieutenant governor,” he said. “I was the president of the Senate. I oversaw that body, and I was wrong to think that a room full of state senators knew better than millions of women… I apologize to anybody that this [six-week abortion ban] has negatively affected – and it has – it has taken the lives of individuals, and that weight is heavy on my shoulders. I look forward to getting it right.”

Thurmond, who was formerly the superintendent of the DeKalb County School District as well as the county’s CEO, was asked a similar question. He said he wished he had started and finished construction on schools, “particularly in certain ZIP codes… particularly in our Title 1 schools.”

Thurmond was also asked another question by a student in the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County Leadership Academy about how he would support students seeking higher education. He said he would expand needs-based scholarship programs and create jobs specifically for young people.

In response to a question about a policy that didn’t pass while he was a state senator, Esteves said he would work as governor to pass a bill that allows Georgia to supplement the Affordable Care Act subsidies if the federal government does not do it.

When asked what issue both parties get wrong, Clark said there was a “crisis of division” in the U.S. and that both Republicans and Democrats “manufactured crises.” Yasger said his approach to affordability is different from the other candidates’ because he is currently a renter and “living” the affordability crisis.

Jackson said he learned from his failed campaign for lieutenant governor in 2022 to “meet people where they are” and “make sure the voice of the people is part of this process.” While he lacks political experience, Brown said his experience leading and expanding Impact Church has prepared him to be governor.

Hot button topics

To close out the forum, Prabhu asked the candidates rapid fire questions which they answered with signs indicating “yes” and “no.” Since Jackson left the forum early, he did not participate.

Should the state step in if local governments block new housing?

Yes: Brown, Dean, Esteves, Thurmond, Yasger

No: Duncan

Should Georgia expand legal protections for LGBTQ+ residents?

All candidates answered yes.

Should the state place stricter regulations on hospital systems to control costs?

All candidates answered yes.

Should Georgia raise the minimum wage?

Yes: Brown, Duncan, Esteves, Thurmond, Yasger

No: Dean  

Did Georgia get the 2020 election right?

All candidates answered yes.

Would you use your executive office to protect Georgians from ICE, including deputizing the National Guard?

Yes: Brown, Duncan, Esteves, Thurmond

No: Dean, Yasger

Would you veto legislation that curtails Georgians’ right to protest?

All candidates answered yes.