Editor’s Note: Early voting in Georgia’s August 11 runoff starts July 20. Stacy Hall is running against Bo Hatchett for the GOP nomination in the District 50 State Senate runoff. Following the June 9 primary, Now Habersham sent a list of questions to the candidates regarding their campaigns and viewpoints. Here’s how Stacy Hall responded:
What is your reaction to the outcome of the June 9 GOP primary vote?
This was an incredibly talented and capable field of candidates. I’m very excited and honored to have received the most votes and secure a spot in the runoff with such a strong showing across the district. Thank you to everyone for their support. We are moving forward. I have served Habersham for years in various roles. This is my home. When in leadership you must tackle difficult items. I am confident that citizens see that decisions are always made through research, community input, prayer, and always done so in their best interest. Residents know, consistently and without hesitation, I stepped forward and served. I am looking forward to the runoff. I have worked hard to gain the experience needed to serve our district in a positive and strong way. Experience anchors you. It teaches, refines, sharpens, and equips. With 29 years of professional experience, I am battle-tested and ready to serve Day 1.
What do you think it was about you as a candidate or your campaign in general that appealed to voters?
I believe experience matters to voters. They know I have consistently worked to serve my community through elected and volunteer roles.
- Voters know my commitment to the 2nd Amendment and that I championed Habersham becoming the first county in Georgia to pass 2nd Amendment initiatives. In addition, they see I am endorsed by Georgia Carry and have received the highest rating from the NRA.
- Voters know rural healthcare is under attack with over 100 rural hospitals across the country closing in the last 10 years. Though Habersham still faces many challenges, they see I served, understand the issues, and have worked diligently to keep our Habersham hospital open for our community.
- Voters know I am Pro-Business. I have both small business and national experience and have been vetted and endorsed by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. My priority is to get folks back to work quickly.
- Voters know I have an extensive background in education, both in administration and the classroom. This one line item represents over 50% of our state budget.
- Voters know I support our Farmers.
- Voters know I am for Lawsuit Reform (Tort Reform). Georgia ranks 41st out of 50 states for the poorest environment around lawsuits. The result is runaway lawsuits that cost families over $3,613 annually in increased costs. I have been endorsed by Georgians for Lawsuit Reform because of my position and intent to work for change for Georgia families.
- Voters know as a Believer, I am Pro-Life. I am certified Pro-Life by Georgia Life Alliance.
- Voters know that my views are simple. They know I believe in the Bible and the Constitution. Nothing more, nothing less. This guides every decision I make.
I have 29 years of professional experience covering education, business, local government, and rural healthcare. My hope is that voters see my passion to serve and my desire to use my experience to help our district.
What was the most challenging part of the primary campaign?
The unprecedented pandemic crises created serious issues for many families. It affected all of us on a personal level. Though the effects on the campaign were small in comparison to what so many families faced, it did prove to be a significant hurdle in sharing ideas and connecting with voters. In addition, I vowed to fulfill my role as Chairman of the Habersham County Commission and though a challenge, I worked extra hard to serve Habersham first and then secondly, run the campaign. It was important for me to honor my commitment to Habersham residents. Though the challenges were great, we saw so many innovative ideas come out of this time. Groups stepped forward and provided online opportunities to connect and share. What we learned will stay with us.
How do you intend to approach your runoff campaign?
I plan to approach this phase of the campaign with enthusiasm. Things are beginning to open up and we are able to speak to groups of folks which I love to do. During the regular primary, I missed the energy of interacting with individuals and groups. I enjoy listening to their concerns and discussing the issues. We are a community, and everything is better when we are able to be together.
5. Campaigning is full-time work in and of itself and demands a lot, not just from the candidate but from their families as well. How are your families coping with life in this political arena?
My family is very much involved with my campaign. I’m fortunate that my wife and kids have a heart for service and are politically minded. Many times, they come with me to events or help with various campaign projects. Ivy has been a true asset. She is exceptionally talented and works incredibly hard. She believes in me and encourages me daily. As parents, Ivy and I believe it’s our responsibility to involve our kids. We both work to teach our kids the honor of serving and the responsibility of voting. The dinner table is a lively place!
If elected, how will you juggle the demands of representing your district with your personal and professional lives?
Ivy and I have worked to create a work environment that allows us to serve. We own a small family business based here in Habersham and have worked extremely hard to put the business in a position that I’m able to step away and serve the community when needed. This has allowed me to serve as County Commissioner for the past several years and has been good for us as a family. That said, family is especially important to me. I am diligent in how I schedule so I don’t miss things with the kids. They are older and these years are bitter-sweet knowing they will soon leave home. In addition, we have great support in that our extended family is local. My wife’s parents, Larry & Barbara Copeland are always willing to jump in and assist if needed.
What do you view as the top three most pressing issues facing the 50th District and how do you intend to address those issues if elected?
GETTING FOLKS BACK TO WORK. We were all thrown a curveball with the pandemic. As Commissioner we constantly were balancing the health and well-being of the citizens with the financial needs of its families. We are over the hump and are getting back to work but so many businesses were deeply impacted. As State Senator, I will use my 29 years of professional experience to work with businesses to help get them ramped back up quickly. I believe the best is yet to come.
HB 545. Senate District 50 is made up of 8 counties. Four of these eight counties are in the top 10 in the state of Georgia for highest farm gate value. We are a farming community and we need a Senator that represents and protects our farmers. As State Senator, I will listen to our farmers and represent their issues. I wholeheartedly support the Georgia Right to Farm Act.
NORTHEAST GEORGIA VALUES. Make no mistake about it, each year Atlanta moves a little closer to the Northeast Georgia mountains. We see the surge in Atlanta threaten our conservative values and Northeast Georgia way of life. For example, Governor Kemp only beat Stacy Abrams by 1.4% of the vote and The Heartbeat Bill only narrowly passed. Our legislature is changing, and we need a Senator that will stand firm for our conservative beliefs, defend our constitutional rights, and protect the sanctity of life.
What do you view as the top three most pressing issues facing Georgia and how do you intend to address those issues if elected?
TORT REFORM. Frivolous lawsuits are out of control in Georgia and cost families thousands of dollars each year in increased costs of goods and services. Auto insurance alone has increased 54% between 2011 and 2017 due to frivolous lawsuits compared to the national average of 22%. I support common sense reform that balances the scales of our civil justice system.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING. As a former educator, I am passionate about education and as a business owner, I clearly see the need for more skilled workers. I support increased vocational training in our high schools and would like to see more mentorship, co-op, and internship opportunities with local businesses.
RURAL HEALTHCARE. Rural healthcare is under siege in America today. With a significant rise in indigent care and bad debt costs along with diminishing reimbursements for Medicare and Medicaid, it’s getting harder and harder for rural hospitals to keep their doors open. As a State Senator, I plan to use my experience as Chairman of our local hospital to work with our local hospitals and state legislators to craft legislation that can help provide stability for these critical healthcare providers.
Which social issues facing Georgians, and specifically District 50 constituents, are you most concerned about, and how will you address those issues if elected?
One of the biggest socioeconomic concerns I hear throughout the district is the need to educate young people about the difference between free market capitalism and socialism. Most young folks today cannot even define this. Even more alarming is that a growing number of people support socialism and are not familiar with the destruction it has had on so many countries. I will advocate for more civics education in our schools especially at younger ages. We live in the greatest country in the world and need to teach the next generation the importance of personal responsibility, hard work, and competition.
What are your views on racism and police brutality and, if elected, how will you address those issues?
I believe that God created each of us in His own image. We are commanded to love God first and to love others. Period. We are not commanded to only love those who look, think, or act like us. Throughout my life, I have always treated everyone with the same degree of respect and dignity. Discrimination should not be tolerated and those that do discriminate should be held accountable. If elected, all decisions made will be made from a place of equality.
Do you support calls to repeal Georgia’s longstanding citizens’ arrest law? If so, why? If not, why not?
In Georgia, neighbors help each other and look out for each other. No, I will not support calls to repeal this law. However, I do not support citizen’s breaking the law or putting others at risk in order to impose a citizens’ arrest.
Should Americans look to our elected leaders as a moral compass on social issues? Why or why not?
Elected leaders should be a representation of the values held by voters. They should also be held accountable to serve with honor and integrity while representing those values. I personally only look to one man as a moral compass and that’s Jesus Christ. Because I look to him, it impacts how I serve.
Why do you want to be the 50th District State Senator?
I deeply believe we all have a responsibility to serve. There are many ways to do this but simply put, I feel called to serve Northeast Georgia in an elected capacity. This is my community. My kids are growing up here. I have a business here. I worship here and so many of my family and friends live here. It is home and I feel called to protect it. That said, I understand that to serve effectively and responsibly, I must be prepared. I recognize a heart to serve and being equipped to do so are different. As part of my commitment to Northeast Georgia, I have diligently worked to gain the experience required to be an effective Senator. No doubt I have a heart to serve District 50 but equally, I have invested in experiences that have equipped me to do it well.
Why are you the best person for the job?
Let me start by saying, I genuinely like my opponent. He is a good man and I have the greatest respect for him and his family. We agree on many things in that we are both Pro-Life, Pro-gun, Pro-Trump, and Pro-Ag. That said, we are different in many ways too. We bring different strengths to the table for the voters to decide.
I am a Businessman. I have 29 years of professional experience and have been in the trenches serving. My opponent is a young lawyer, a few years out of law school. I hold nothing against lawyers, but our legislature has a significant amount of lawyers currently in office. I hear often, we need more men and women with broad business experiences serving in the legislature. We have seen the positives of putting a businessman in the White House, no doubt, more businessmen at the state level will yield positive results too. Because of my business background, I will work for Tort Reform (frivolous lawsuit reform). It is the right thing for Georgia, will save Georgia families money and needs to be addressed.
I have deep Professional, Elected and Volunteer Experiences. I have extensive experience in education, business, local government, and rural healthcare. I spent over twelve years teaching at every level of education, 13 years with a national company as a sales and marketing executive and another 5 years as an owner and operator of a small family business in Habersham. As the Chairman of the Habersham County Commission and the past Chairman of the Hospital Authority, I have tackled some very difficult issues facing our community. I have not shied away from these issues. I dealt with them head on in order to serve my community. Collectively, these experiences have shaped my understanding and knowledge of the challenges we face at the state level. Additionally, as Chairman of the Habersham County Commission, I fully understand how laws passed at the state level, impact the local level. This is incredibly important and is value I will bring in serving District 50.
I believe in the Bible and the Constitution. Simply put, my faith and our Constitution are the drivers behind every decision I make. Because I know our Northeast Georgia Values rest on these same things, this should give voters confidence in how I will serve as their State Senator.
I have been fully vetted. With the endorsement over 60 local leaders throughout the district, the exclusive endorsement from highly respected groups like Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Carry and Georgians for Lawsuit Reform, the highest rating from the NRA and a Pro-Life Certification from Georgia Life Alliance, this should give voters confidence in who I am and most importantly how I will serve.
Candidate contact information
Web: Vote-StacyHall.com
FB: @VoteStacyHall
Cell: 706.244.8481
Email: [email protected]
