Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr discusses governor campaign priorities

You can view Attorney General Carr’s full interview with WTOC above.

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr outlined his priorities as a Republican governor candidate, emphasizing his public safety record and plans for property tax relief and education reform.

Carr said his decade as attorney general has prepared him for the role by expanding the office’s criminal practice to include domestic terrorism, human trafficking, gangs and organized retail theft.

“The one thing government is supposed to do is keep people safe,” Carr said. “I don’t care your race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, where you live or where you’re from, you deserve to be safe in this state.”

Public safety expansion

Carr said his office announced an indictment of three individuals for an Antifa-related case involving the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. Carr said he office has also rescued and assisted over 200 victims of human trafficking and established a gang prosecution unit in Chatham County.

“We now have domestic terrorism authority, human trafficking, gangs, and organized retail theft, all of which are statewide in scope,” Carr said.

As governor, Carr said he would have authority over state agencies including State Patrol and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, as well as budget control, which is currently out of his scope as attorney general.

Property tax relief

Carr said property taxes are a concern across the state, with residents seeing increases of 50% to 150% over five to seven years.

“That’s pricing them out of their home,” Carr said. “And it really hits lower income, first-time homeowners, fixed income. That isn’t fair.”

Carr said he supports a balanced approach that provides certainty for homeowners while addressing public education and services. He said communities need transparency and flexibility, with different counties potentially requiring different options.

Data centers and development

On data centers, Carr said communities should not have them “crammed down” if they don’t want them, but the state should help communities that do.

“AI is here. We can either lead or we can get run over. And I choose to lead,” Carr said.

Carr said the private sector has shown willingness to participate in addressing energy and water usage concerns. He said several projects could generate enough revenue to eliminate property taxes in some counties.

Education priorities

Carr said addressing literacy from birth to age five is critical, calling it “an abomination” that only one in three third graders read at grade level.

“You have to learn to read by the third grade before you can read to learn,” Carr said.

Carr said Georgia should have the best public education system in the country while also providing parents and children with options including public school, private school, home and charter schools. He said families need access to state funds for true educational options.

Carr also emphasized the technical college system, saying society did a “great disservice” when it suggested students who want to work with their hands are less intelligent than those pursuing college.

“The millionaire of the future is going to be in our technical college system,” Carr said.

Campaign approach

Carr said he is running as a “Kemp Republican” and praised current Governor Brian Kemp’s leadership through challenges including the pandemic, economic crisis, and social justice unrest.

Carr said voters are tired of negative campaign ads and want an option.

“This primary has to be about winning in November,” Carr said. “And we are not going to win in November if we just have a candidate that raises his or her hand and says, I got a lot of money and I got one endorsement.”

Wildfire response

Carr said his office is monitoring price gouging and scams related to wildfires across the state. Govenor Kemp issued a state of emergency for 91 counties, activating the price gouging law.

“This is not the time to take advantage of fellow Georgians,” Carr said. “We will go after people that are price gouging.”

Carr warned residents about scams during the rebuilding period, advising against paying cash up front for services.

Carr said his experience as Chief of Staff to a U.S. senator, attorney general and Commissioner of Economic Development has prepared him to coordinate wildfire relief efforts.

“I’m not going to need a directory to go figure out which agency,” Carr said. “You’ve got to deal with FEMA. You’ve got to deal with Congress, what committees to go to.”

Carr said the state will need to help communities rebuild and prepare with equipment and training. He praised Kemp’s handling of previous natural disasters in the state.

Residents who believe they are being price gouged or scammed can file complaints at consumer.ga.gov.