Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > June > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USState Rep. Mike Jacobs, the new Republican, picks up his first opponent
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two days after he switched to the Republican party, state Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Atlanta) has picked up his first announced Democratic opponent.
Keith Gross, who describes himself as a small business owner and real estate agent, announced Thursday afternoon that he was ready to challenge the newly minted Republican incumbent for ownership of House District 80 in north DeKalb County.
Gross, 23, says he’s owned a chocolate company in California, a steakhouse in Washington D.C., and is in the process of starting a sports equipment company in Atlanta devoted to something called kite-boarding. (We’re old and frail. What do we know?)
“Mike Jacobs has lied to us. He’s became a court jester at the Gold Dome, trading his honor in exchange for proximity to power,” Gross said in a press release.
Democratic party spokesman Martin Matheny said Gross had contacted Democratic officials weeks before Jacobs made his switch, to discuss challenging Jacobs in next year’s primary.
But Matheny also said that Gross is “one of a handful” of Democrats who have expressed interest in the race.
Another Democrat higher in the food chain told us that Gross hasn’t been one of the party’s recruiting targets — which were identified to us as a pair of older, more experienced possibilities.
We know not who, but some enterprising soul has established a web site, Democrat for District 80, collecting contact information for anyone willing to volunteer time or money to whoever emerges as the Democratic nominee.
Services »
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Former Jacobs Supporter
June 21, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
Would someone please post this candidate’s address? I would like to send him a check with a comma in it. Any opponent of Mike Jacobs is my favorite cause from now on.
By Enuff
June 21, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
Mike Jacobs is just awful. Awful, and a liar.
Keith Gross is already my favorite candidate for 08.
Gutsy.
Good for you, Keith. Go get ‘em.
By Keith For House
June 21, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this
Here ya go with the address:
Committee to Elect Keith Gross PO Box 191421 Atlanta, GA 30326
By sm
June 21, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
This is great. Lets all make sure this district stays democratic and donate now.
We have to take that snake Jacobs down.
My check is in the mail.
By I'm Your Huckleberry
June 21, 2007 9:22 PM | Link to this
Keith,
Quite an opportunist you present yourself as.
I hope you have filed the proper paperwork with the State in order to legally raise funds. If not, you should clearly face an ethics complaint for soliciting funds without filing the legal documentation, like everyone else has to do.
By I'm Your Huckleberry
June 21, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this
Keith,
Quite an opportunist you present yourself as.
I hope you have filed the proper paperwork with the State in order to legally raise funds. If not, you should clearly face an ethics complaint for soliciting funds without filing the legal documentation, like everyone else has to do.
By Carismar
June 21, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this
No kidding.
By sct
June 21, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this
“Quite an opportunist”????? Keith?????
Are you kidding me? I can’t stop laughing! You just described that fraud Mike Jacobs!
Good luck Keith.
By Mark
June 21, 2007 11:01 PM | Link to this
Democrats trying to take down a Jew? Sounds familiar for those Nazi Democrats.
By Carismar
June 21, 2007 11:47 PM | Link to this
It’s a bad thing when blacks in the 10th CD and Jews in North Dekalb start to jump off the ship. Bring on Hillary!
By greg
June 22, 2007 12:47 AM | Link to this
U remember shyam reddy who ran for secretary of state and should have been the nominee. i hear his younger brother sai reddy is considering the race. i remember meeting him on the trail and see him as articulate, smart, and a great candidate to beat up on jacobs. his brother also raised a ton of money which most likely gives sai instant access to big money. anyone heard about this? Keith and Sai should talk and get to know each other and get the best candidate in there.
By Carismar
June 22, 2007 1:02 AM | Link to this
Bring ‘em on! HA!
By Voting for Keith
June 22, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
Love it.
The folks posting haven’t even met Keith and they’re already knocking him. Welcome to the Big Leagues, Mr. Gross! Here we throw rocks first and ask questions later.
Of course he filed paperwork first. Sheesh. Grow up, people. It would have been easy enough for you to check that before posting a snarky blog, unless the point was JUST to throw bombs.
Great day to be a Democrat!
By HaHa!
June 22, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
I also know Shyam Reddy’s brother is no Shyam Reddy. And I remember Shyam’s election results, too….
Wouldn’t it be nice NOT to be known as “someone’s brother.” Ick.
By Focus on Jacobs
June 22, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
This is awesome that people are already stepping forward to take on the far-right’s newest boy… Mike Jacobs. However, we must all unify behind one, hopefully the strongest, candidate. Stay focused on Jacobs.
This switcher is very different than those of the past. He worked hard to steal our votes and traveled street by street under our party’s name to betray his constituents.
Let’s see if he switches to become an evangelical now. Anything is possible when you have no core convictions!
By Mildred
June 22, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
I see there is an address where I can donate to Keith’s campaign.
Is there an address for Mr Jacobs? I would like to request my donation from the last campaign be refunded.
Mr Jacobs is the one with the ethics problem.
By HaHa!
June 22, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this
Contact Rep. Mike Jacobs at: 401 LOB Atlanta, GA 30334
georgiamike@comcast.net
By JacobsStinks
June 22, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this
Funny to see Mike Jacobs has gotten quiet now that he has an opponent.
Too bad he didn’t get quiet BEFORE he started blasting the DeKalb delegation when they were working on the Dunwoody issue. Or before he traded his soul for a cozy place under Sonny’s wing.
What a sell-out.
By P:aul from Jefferson
June 22, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this
I’ll bet that none of you folks reviling Mike Jacobs ever made a peep when Senator Jeffords jumped ship and handed control of the U.S. Senate to the Democrats. Jacobs should follow the Phil Gramm precedent: resign and then run as a Republican for the seat in the special election. Didn’t Kathy Ashe pull this same sort of stunt after she was elected to the Georgia House, but she went from Republican to Democrat?