Endorsements

To send your own thoughts and endorsement of General Poythress,
e-mail endorsements@poythressforgovernor.com

General David Poythress has served his country, and the great state of Georgia, throughout his distinguished career.  Our state constitution challenges us to provide quality education to all of Georgia’s children.  Georgia Education Alliance believes that General Poythress has proven his dedication to educational priorities that will serve students, parents, teachers, and our local communities in their shared pursuit of educational excellence.

Georgia Education Alliance

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"Georgia is in desperate need of a proven leader, and we think David Poythress is the best of the Democrats’ lot. He has a record of success in a variety of jobs in the private sector, the public sector and the military."

Thomasville Times-Enterprise

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"Poythress has laid out solid plans for the economy, transportation, education, and clean energy. He has demonstrated his understanding of many of the issues and shown that he will draw on his extensive executive-branch experience to turn Georgia around."

Atlanta Progressive News

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"Poythress has the kind of appeal that will be needed if democrats want to re-take the governor's mansion, but most of all win the hearts & minds of rural Georgians who voices have been ignored. He has made a commitment to Rural Georgia by his visits to places democrats haven't campaigned in years, if not decades."

Keith McCants, Peanut Politics

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“General Poythress, a Macon native, understands the breadth and diversity of our great state, he has campaigned in rural Georgia for more than a year and has made himself available to all of the members of our Grassroots volunteer coalition, Team Rural. During those many conversations, he’s been an active listener who hears and understands our concerns, and we have determined that he has the leadership skills to develop initiatives addressing the challenges and opportunities in rural Georgia.”

Team Rural

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"(David Poythress) has also been the single Governor candidate most visible in Southwest Georgia, and that means quite a bit to us as well. He is a true man of honor and integrity in our dealings with him, and we look forward to seeing more from him."

SWGAPolitics.com

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"He has the experience needed to effectively govern our state. As the former labor commissioner, secretary of state and Commander of the Georgia Army and Air National guard, General Poythress brings to the table the level of executive experience this state needs during these most difficult times."

Rep. Bob Bryant (D-Garden City)

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"As our next Governor, David Poythress will be a dependable and reliable leader for all Georgians, especially veterans. For too long, young African Americans have been told who we should support. It is time that we take the lead and support a candidate who will listen and address our issues and concerns."

Al Tillman
President of the Macon/Bibb NAACP
Chairman, Red Cross Advisory Board
Founder of UNITY-N-Community

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"David has the vision and the appeal that we should expect from our next governor. David is sensible, practical and has the desire to be a Governor for all of Georgia. Most importantly, he will be the Governor who will transform public education."

Attorney John Clark
Elberton, GA

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"David is a leader among leaders. I have known him and watched his work for over twenty years, and David has always been concerned about issues facing the little people. Through all the years and rise in ranks, David hasn't changed!"

Rev. Bennie Michell
Connors Temple Baptist Church
Savannah, GA

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"David Poythress is aware that we have to have a qualified work force and the only way to have a qualified work force is to provide them with a quality education. David Poythress is committed to ensuring that Georgians are given a quality education. When he was Secretary of State and when he was Commissioner of Labor he would always show an interest in the issues facing educators and I know as Governor he'd make education a top priority."

Tom Upchurch
President Emeritus of the non-partisan Georgia Partnership
for Excellence in Education

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"David Poythress can connect with people, listen to their concerns, and come up with an appropriate plan of action to address the problems. David Poythress is insightful, he listens, he measures and evaluates the issues, and then he puts together solutions."

Harold Barnett
former School Superintendent of the Marietta city schools

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"Listening to David Poythress list his three areas on which to focus when he is governor felt as though he read our minds to find out our most urgent concerns for Georgia. Reliable water sources, improved transportation, and most importantly, education that produces positive results for Georgia's children are at the top of his agenda. With David as Governor, we feel the state can reach these goals."

Dr. and Mrs. Allan Wasserman
Decatur, GA

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"I have great confidence in the General's message and ability, once elected, to take action on the issues of most importance to all Georgians."

Rev. James Nelson
Savannah, GA

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"General Poythress' positions on education, transportation and local control are best for our state. I believe that Georgians will agree with me and support his campaign because General Poythress is the right person to lead, at the right time."

Commissioner Doug Lowry
Athens-Clarke County

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"Most impressive to me about the General, beyond his executive talents, are his passion and vision for transforming public education. I am confident that he will truly be the 'education governor' of our time."

Board Member Ovita Thornton
Clarke County Board of Education

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"David Poythress can give us the fresh, new leadership that Georgia deserves."

Maceo Mahoney
Washington-Wilkes City Council
Assistant Director, Georgia Municipal Black Caucus

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"David Poythress is the right man for Georgia right now."

Nathaniel Cullars, Sr.
Washington-Wilkes City Council

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"General Poythress has the experience and concern for the citizens that is needed in Georgia, especially after the neglect and lack of leadership of the current administration."

M. V. Booker
Attorney, Washington-Wilkes

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"David Poythress is the strongest candidate in the field."

Stephanie Woods Miller
2008 DNC Delegate

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"General Poythress will ensure that ordinary Georgians have a seat at the table."

Johnny C. Smith
Barrow County Personnel Review Board
Former Barrow County Commissoner
Former Superintendent of Public Works, City of Gainesville
U.S. Army, Retired

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"David Poythress has a common sense approach that will bring stakeholders together to take thoughtful actions to create solutions to Georgia's pressing problems."

Commissioner John B. Hubbard
Elbert County, GA

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"I trust him and believe he has the best welfare of the state in his heart and is working for that as his goal."


Mayor Robert E. Greene
U.S. Navy, Retired
Blue Ridge, GA

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"I've been a witness to David's leadership for a long time, and he has the wisdom and strength of character to move Georgia forward."

Mayor Richard Barr
Adel, GA

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"David brings much needed executive experience to the office of Governor at a time when Georgia needs it most. In addition, he is man of honesty and the highest integrity."

Councilman Virlyn Slaton, Brig. Gen. (Ret.)
Morrow, GA

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"I support General Poythress because he is genuine and an active and sincere listener - qualities you find in effective leaders."

Mayor Pro Tem Scott M. Taylor
Chamblee, GA

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"David will be fair to educators and honest with them at all times. Poythress knows that educators are the solution, not the problem in our public schools."

Councilman Lewis Sims
Jackson, GA

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"After having a lengthy conversation with him about our state's important issues, I am very impressed with Gen. Poythress' vision, and I am confident he's the leader we need."

Councilman Tommy C. Bateman
Ashburn, GA

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"I support the General because I share his views on many issues, and I know his strong leadership will help us solve our critical problems."

City Councilman and City Clerk Harold Silcox
United States Marine Corps, Retired
Fort Oglethorpe, GA

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"Mr.Poythress' views are similar to mine, and I believe he will lead the state of Georgia with a steady hand. He has a genuine interest for communities outside of Atlanta."

Mayor Ronnie Maxwell
Nicholson, GA

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"The General has my support because he brings a fresh perspective, and I feel like it won't be politics as usual."

Mayor Pro Tem Paul M. Cartledge
United States Army, Retired
Nicholson, GA

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"I think we need a change and for someone to help the people, not big business."

Councilwoman Faye Seagraves
Nicholson, GA

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"I'm supporting David because of his past experience in positions held in our state. I am impressed with his vision statement for Georgia. He will have a "strategic plan of attack" to improve Georgia's education and transportation."

Councilwoman Marie Beiser
Lawrenceville, GA

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"I know David to be an honorable man who I think can help our state. All of our previous governors have come from the main stream of politics, and I think we need David because of his background."

Councilman Mike Cranford
Macon, GA

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"David realizes that our state faces many problems that must be addressed immediately, including: improving education, securing adequate water resources, providing for and improving the state's infrastructure, and creating jobs for our citizens. We must have a governor who has the ability to reach across party lines to achieve any progress toward moving this state forward. In my opinion, David is the only candidate who has the experience and ability to move our state into the position of prominence."

Councilman Billy Wilson
Tallapoosa, GA

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"David knows that our transportation problems must be solved for our economy to move forward, and he has the proven ability to turn plans into action."

Commissioner Al Smith
Coweta County, GA

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"I think General Poythress is the best in the field. I am very impressed with the General's track record as Labor Commissioner and as Adjutant General for the Georgia Nation Guard for the last two Governors. I think his kind of fresh, independent leadership is what Georgia needs now."

Former Commissioner Robert L. Wood
Coweta County, GA

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"I have known David for many years, and he is man of great integrity, proven leadership and will be able to bring Georgia together," says Sheriff Shirley.

Sheriff Randy Shirley
Stephens County, GA

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"I know that I am more than just a number to General Poythress. I have experienced, benefited, and seen first-hand how his leadership, decision making and empathy for people have made a difference. He is a military man with the respect, decency, discipline and structure that is so necessary in fundamental organizational management."

Master Sergeant Sparkle Adams
Forest Park, GA City Councilwoman

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"No other Democratic candidate has broad respect across Georgia as does David Poythress, for Democrats to win next November, we must support this man of integrity who also has the greatest ability to reach across the aisle."

Marshal Gregory Countryman
Muscogee County, GA

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"General Poythress is genuine, and I believe we can trust him to do the right thing for all Georgians."

Larry C. Fort,
co-founder of the original Athens Community Agenda
Athens, GA

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"David understands that it's the people who matter, and he will protect the interests of ordinary Georgians rather than being a pawn of the special interests."

Nathaniel Irvin, charter organizer of the Athens Community Agenda

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"General Poythress has a proven track record of leadership, and I don't think it will be politics as usual with him."

Archibald Killian, the first African American police officer to be hired in Athens and local civil rights leader
(Killian and his family stood with Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton E. Holmes during their successful effort to integrate the University of Georgia in 1961.)

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“I believe the General has the strategies and philosophies to bring good paying jobs and industries to the state of Georgia."

Alvin “Your Pal Al” Sheats
United States Navy, Retired
District 3, Athens-Clark County Commission (1995-2003)
Executive Director of the Hancock Community Development Corporation

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“General Poythress will be a smart and collaborative Governor who will work hard to make sure that the rural areas of our state share in future economic growth and prosperity.”

Councilman Herman Brown
Waynesboro, GA

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"In these uncertain times, we need a Governor with the experience and leadership skills to reach non-partisan solutions. David Poythress has the most well-rounded experience of any of the candidates, leading our military as Commander of the Georgia National Guard, our State's elections, corporations and securities administration as Secretary of State, and our work force as State Labor Commissioner."

Councilman Bill Thrash
Kennesaw, GA

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"I support General Poythress because he is a visionary leader, has integrity and knows how to lead."

Commissioner Jon Howard
Albany, GA

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"The General has shown a willingness to embrace new ideas and innovative approaches to addressing Georgia's critical issues, and his pledge not to accept a salary as Governor until he brings the unemployment rate down is most impressive."

Commissioner Christopher Pike
Albany, GA

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"I support General Poythress because of his sincerity and his ability to think 'outside of the box,' which is very refreshing.  He invites innovation, and I truly believe that he will not accept the status quo."

Miriam Paris
City Council President
Macon, GA

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"The General is a man of faith, and that's enough for me."

Rev. Dr. H.L. McCall
Columbus, GA

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"General Poythress has the right ideas and attitude about transforming our schools; David is our 'Moses' when it comes to public education."

Rev Albert Sanders
Columbus, GA

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"God gives us a leader when we really in the need for one."

Bishop Frank Ray
Macon, GA

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"David will always join me in standing up for veterans."

Commissioner Sammy Robinson
Haralson County

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"The General has the needed experience to revive Georgia.  A credible, reliable, and approachable public servant, General Poythress has a platform that won't just benefit the wealthy or metro Atlalnta residents, but ALL of Georgia."

Alvin Williams
Calhoun County Board of Education
Shellman, GA

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"I like the fact that General Poythress is concerned about Tybee Island and its' citizens and won't treat us like red-headed step children as we have been treated in the past."

Councilman Frank Schuman
Tybee Island, GA

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"David Poythress is the most trustworthy and most qualified candidate to offer for the high office of Governor of Georgia in years."

Charles Evans Simmons
County Commission Chair
Randolph County, GA