By Dave Williams Staff Writer, Atlanta Business Chronicle
After choosing to stay on the sidelines in this year’s campaigns for statewide elective offices that do not feature incumbents, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Thursday endorsed nine candidates for open legislative seats.
All six of the candidates for vacant seats in the Georgia House of Representatives supported by the chamber are Republicans, as are the three state Senate candidates picking up chamber endorsements in open races.
The list includes Matt Bentley in House District 40, Alex Kaufman in House District 51, Ken Wright in House District 79, Bonnie Rich in House District 97, Donna Sheldon in House District 105 and Noel Williams in House District 148.
Of the six, only Sheldon has served in the General Assembly before. She spent a decade in the Georgia House representing a district in eastern Gwinnett County, including a stint as majority caucus chair,
before leaving the legislature five years ago in an unsuccessful bid for Congress.
On the Senate side, the chamber endorsed Greg Dolezai in District 27, Randy Robertson in District 29 and Matt Reeves in District 48.
“As the advocacy arm for businesses statewide, the chamber is committed to electing strong, pro-business candidates for office who are dedicated to improving the quality of life and business climate,”
said Chris Clark, the chamber’s president and CEO. “We look forward to working with each candidate, if elected, to build on Georgia’s legacy as the best state for business.”
At the chamber’s annual Congressional Luncheon in Macon, Ga., last week, Clark announced the organization would not be endorsing candidates for open statewide offices, including the governor’s race.
