SWGA Politics

In our latest interview, I had the chance to talk to GOP Attorney General candidate Sam Olens last week. The audio is 17 minutes long, and because of its brevity I didn’t cut it up.

Download the .mp3

Among the highlights:

• Lawyer who has worked in the same firm for more than 2 decades, is now a partner there. Graduate of Emory School of Law.
• Started as a member of his local homeowner’s association board, rose through the ranks by various appointments and campaigns, has been an elected official for 12 years now.
• Likes the idea of statewide grand juries as part of an ethics reform package
• Likes the Attorney General job because “you get the best of both worlds” with law and public service
• Thinks more needs to be done through the AG’s office regarding water, Public Private Partnerships, and legal framework for deals to bring more jobs to GA
• “Transparency goes with accountability. You don’t have one without the other.”
• Believes fines for violations of open government laws should be raised from maximum of $100 per occurrence to $1,000
• Believes that state and local officials who violate the Statutory Code of Ethics should face penalties, possibly up to and including removal from office
• Believes all ballot referenda should be written in plain English so that the average voter know what he is voting on and which way a particular vote acts.
• Believes recommendations by the State Ethics Board to the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee should be made public, and that the State Ethics Board should have subpoena powers
• “You have to respect everyone’s religion, ['moral', from the quote at the end of his ethics press release] is not meant in that regard.”

It was a genuine pleasure to talk to Chairman Olens, and I look forward to seeing him in SWGA as the campaign progresses.