Preview of Georgia's secretary of state race

By April Hunt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia’s secretary of state race features an incumbent with nine months on the job challenged by a longtime Democratic lawmaker and a Libertarian activist.

Republican Brian Kemp, state Rep. Georganna Sinkfield and businessman David Chastain will face off next month to become the state’s top election official, a post that also involves monitoring businesses and overseeing professional licensing.

Kemp said his work to cut $2.9 million from the office budget and to create more online access for department services demonstrates his successes since he was appointed to the post in January.

He would like to continue that effort, from putting more license applications online to outsourcing state exams so that would-be professionals can take the tests in their area or online.

"We want them focused on running their businesses and creating jobs, not dealing with government red tape," Kemp said.

He also claims victory in getting the U.S. Justice Department in August to sign off on the state’s system to verify voters’ citizenship and identity. Kemp’s office had sued the federal government for earlier rejecting the system.

“I have had a detailed plan from the beginning, to make our office easier to use and to cut red tape to encourage business,” Kemp said. “I have delivered what I said I would do.”

Sinkfield long opposed the federal lawsuit, arguing the state’s requirements unfairly put up barriers to voting, especially to racial minorities, the poor and the elderly. The election issue the office should focus on, she said, is how to eventually create a paper trail for the state’s electronic voting machines.

"We're making voting a wedge issue when we should be firm in saying we want all citizens to vote and know their vote is counted," Sinkfield said.

She also wants the office to focus on more consumer issues, such as preventing fraud and improving state licensing standards. Examining best practices from other states should offer insight on how the office can help create businesses and jobs, a task that Sinkfield said her 28 years in the state Legislature prepared her to tackle.

“We are really here to protect the citizens, help them maneuver through jobs and start businesses,” Sinkfield said. “This office has gotten too political, and we need to get back to that service.”

As the third-party candidate, Chastain argues that he is the one who can bring that fresh focus.

Chastain, who lost a run for state school superintendent in 2006, wants an evaluation of all agencies and boards that the office oversees as well as an examination of the voting machines.

He said that would allow him to push to eliminate licensing for jobs that do not affect public safety and health, freeing up resources to investigate complaints while also cutting the size of government. He said reviewing the voting machines would show the need for more security, adding that absentee ballots also need better security.

"I want to be an umpire and not build another empire," Chastain said. "The processes and procedures of this state should not be subject to partisan behavior."

On Sept. 30, the last filing deadline, Kemp had about $89,000 on hand, while Sinkfield and Chastain lagged behind with $7,551 and about $3,200, respectively.

Secretary of state

The secretary of state is best known for overseeing elections in Georgia, but the job also involves monitoring businesses, overseeing professional licensing, registering corporations and charities, overseeing securities firms and handling the state's archives.

Brian Kemp

Republican incumbent

Age: 46

Education: Bachelor of science in agriculture, University of Georgia

Profession: Secretary of state since January 2010; owns Kemp Properties, private business specializing in real estate investments and property management.

Political experience: Served in Georgia Senate, 2003-2006; lost 2006 GOP primary for state agriculture commissioner.

Military experience: None

Civic experience: Member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Athens

Family status: Married to Marty Kemp; three daughters

Georganna Sinkfield

Democratic challenger

Age: 67

Education: Bachelor's degree, biology, Tennessee State University; attended Emory University School of Law

Profession: State representative, Georgia House of Representatives, since 1982; real estate services

Political experience: State representative for 28 years; chair of Committee on Children and Youth for 14 years; chair, House subcommittee of appropriations on human development; now serves on Children and Youth, Insurance and Banks and Banking committees; authored legislation creating the Office of the Child Advocate, co-sponsored legislation to end predatory lending, and had a legislative focus on programs for marginalized students. Was the first female president of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.

Military experience: None

Civic experience: Served on the Education Review Commission, which laid the groundwork for the Quality Basic Education Act, the State Chapter 2 Advisory Committee, and the State Task Force on Homelessness; served on the State Task Force Turning Points, Preparing Our Youth for the 21st Century, and Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education; awarded the Drum Major for Justice Award and legislative awards from AARP, GCAPP and others.

Family status: Husband, Richard; two children and five grandchildren

David Chastain

Libertarian challenger

Age: 53

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration with major in real estate and urban economics, University of Georgia

Profession: Logistics management analyst with defense contractor

Political experience: Served on facilities and technology committee of Cobb County school district; ran as Libertarian candidate for state school superintendent in 2006; issue activism in Cobb in 2003.

Military experience: None

Civic experience: Member, First Baptist Church of Marietta; served in Libertarian Party of Cobb, former chair and secretary. Executive director of state party in 2007 and served on executive committee.

Family status: Wife, Lori; three children