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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 20, 2006
Contact: Gail
Buckner, 770-473-9093 or gailbuckner@bellsouth.net
Steve Anthony,
678-237-9556 or scanthony@mindspring.com
Linton Johnson, 404-285-2453 or linton.johnson@wordexpress.info
Gail Buckner
launches bid for Secretary of State
Democratic candidate has experience,
platform to win in November
ATLANTA – With a
16-year record of success both as a candidate and legislator, state
Rep. Gail Buckner (D-Jonesboro) announced Thursday she will run
for the office of Georgia Secretary of State being vacated by Cathy
Cox.
“After much prayer
and deliberation, I have decided to continue my dedication to public
service by asking the citizens of Georgia to elect me as their next
Secretary of State,” Buckner said during a news conference at the
State Capitol. “As the candidate in the Democratic primary with
the strongest record of serving the citizens in state government
and in winning elections, I have the best chance to meet the challenge
from the Republican nominee in November.”
In Buckner’s last
contested race, she received almost 91 percent of the vote in the
General Election as the voters recognized her record of dedicated
service.
First elected to
the House of Representatives in 1990, Buckner has sponsored and
passed legislation and served on committees related to the duties
of the Secretary of State. She served on the Occupational and Professional
Licensing Boards Subcommittee, the House Governmental Affairs Committee
and chaired the House Oversight Committee for the building of the
State Archives. Friends of the Archives presented her with their
Legislator of the Year Award.
Buckner successfully
amended the 2006 Voter Paper Ballot Pilot Project legislation with
several common-sense provisions, including state funding for the
program and a requirement that public hearings on the program be
held prior to next year’s legislative session.
“Someone once said,
‘If you want to know what a person will do, then look at what they
have done,’” Buckner said. “I am the only candidate in this race
with a record of accomplishment on the priorities of the Secretary
of State’s office.”
As Secretary of
State, Buckner pledges to protect the interests of all Georgians
by:
n
Administering elections with common sense, justice and
fairness to all. She will
add a verifiable paper ballot to the electronic voting machines,
recruit and train more citizens as poll workers and rally more citizens’
groups to help provide education about photos for identification
for citizen protection in everyday life, not just voting. Buckner
will work to expand the list of reasonable identifications that
can be used by eligible citizens to vote.
n
Preventing fraud and identity theft. Buckner will bring together a team of law enforcement
officers, bankers, retailers, state officials and others who can
work together to prevent identity theft. She will also establish
an Investment Fraud Prevention Board to protect seniors and other
vulnerable Georgians from fraudulent investment predators.
n
Strengthening professional licensing. She will work to give professionals more input into
the state appropriations needed to improve the licensing procedures
in order to deliver safe and effective services to the public.
n
Expanding services to corporations. Buckner will work to provide more training for Georgia
business owners and those wishing to incorporate. She will work
to expand access to services and information.
n
Preserving state records and history. She will increase protection of existing state records
and work to establish History Museums as a vehicle to share Georgia’s
rich history and promote tourism and historic preservation around
the state.
Buckner’s work as
a legislator has earned her the Friend of Children Award from the
Georgia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Clayton County
Citizen of the Year award; NAACP Community Service Award; Legislator
of the Year award from the University
of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Science and the Friend
of 4-H Award; Legislator of the Year by the Public Health Officials
of Georgia; the Congress of Democratic Women Maxine Goldstein Award;
and Alumni of the Year award from Clayton State University.
Her lifelong devotion
to community service continues through her current position as chair
of the Clayton County Boys & Girls Foundation Inc.; co-founder
of Rainbow House, an emergency shelter for children; co-founder
of Prevention PLUS, a non-profit that reaches at-risk youth; Partner-in-Education
with 14 schools; board member of the National Museum of Commercial
Aviation; and board member of Youth Leadership.
Buckner and her
husband of 39 years, Charles, have three grown children and four
grandchildren. A 15-year-old guardian child has lived with them
for the past eight years. She is a member of Jonesboro First Baptist
Church.
“I look forward
to traveling all over our great state, listening to citizens from
all walks of life and sharing my vision for the office of Secretary
of State,” Buckner said. “I enthusiastically ask for your vote and
support so that together we can protect the interests of all Georgians.”
Buckner will officially
qualify as a candidate for re-election when the filing period begins
April 24. For more information, visit the campaign’s official web
site at www.gailbuckner.com.
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