♪♪ >>> HELLO.

I'M VERONICA WATERS, ANCHOR AND REPORTER IN ATLANTA.

WELCOME TO THE THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB LOUDERMILK-YOUNG DEBATE SERIES FROM THE STUDIOS OF GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

THIS IS THE GENERAL ELECTION DEBATE AMONG CANDIDATES FOR LABOR COMMISSIONER.

LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR THIS DEBATE.

THEY ARE EMILY ANDERSON, A LIBERTARIAN, WORKS FOR A LOCAL PUBLISHING COMPANY.

WILLIAM BODDIE, A DEMOCRAT, SERVED IN THE GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR DISTRICT 62.

BRUCE THOMASON, A REPUBLICAN, SERVED IN THE GEORGIA STATE SENATE FOR DISTRICT 14.

AND NOW LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS.

ZACHARY HANSON IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORTER FOR "THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION," AND CHRISTY SCHWARTZ IS A UTILITY AND ENERGY REPORTER FOR ENE NEWS.

FOR COMPLETE RULES ON TODAY'S DEBATE, PLEASE VISIT THE THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB'S WEBSITE, ATLANTAPRESSCLUB.ORG/DEBATE.

TO START THE DEBATE, EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE ASKED ONE QUESTION.

CANDIDATES HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION.

CHRISTY SCHWARTZ, YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION TO BRUCE THOMPSON.

>> HELLO, MR. THOMPSON.

THERE'S WIDE-RANGING SPECULATION FROM ECONOMICIS THAT THE U.S. WILL OFFICIALLY ENTER A RECESSION WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

GEORGIA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS BEEN LOW, BUT CERTAINLY SHOULD WE ENTER AN EXTREME ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, THE LABOR DEPARTMENT WILL BE THE FIRST PLACE THOSE OUT-OF-WORK GEORGIANS WILL GO.

AS LABOR COMMISSIONER, THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST BIG TEST FOR YOU AND YOUR OFFICE.

YOU'VE CRITICIZED THE DEPARTMENT FOR ITS PERFORMANCE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO WHAT CAN VOTERS EXPECT IF THE AGENCY IS UNDER YOUR HELM?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION.

IT'S CLEAR THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS HAD SOME CHALLENGES.

FIRST THING WE'LL DO IS CULTIVATE AN ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT AGENCY IS RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE FISCALLY AS WELL AS WITH THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA.

WE NEED TO MODERNIZE THAT AGENCY TO MAKE SURE THAT, LISTEN, CRISIS MANAGEMENT IS NOT TO WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE IN A CRISIS, IT'S TO MANAGE IT PRIOR.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO IN AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE EFFICIENT AT WHAT WE DO AND THAT WHEN PEOPLE DO HAVE CLAIMS THEY'RE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY RESPONDED TO.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HANDLE THEM WITH RESPECT.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CALL IN OR REACH INTO THE AGENCY, HOWEVER THEY CONTACT US, THAT THEY DO GET SOMEONE AND THAT WE ARE VERY QUICK TO RESPOND AND GET THEIR NEEDS MET.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FOLLOW-UP FOR THEM.

LISTEN, WE'LL MAKE SURE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS READY FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE THAT'S FACING US.

>> THANK YOU.

ZACHARY HANSON, IT'S YOUR TURN TO ASK A QUESTION TO WILLIAM BODDIE.

>> MR. BODDIE, I'M GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION.

WHAT CAN GEORGIANS EXPECT IF YOU ARE TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IF UNEMPLOYMENT IS TO INCREASE?

>> THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION.

WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM MY ADMINISTRATION IS AN ADMINISTRATION THAT'S GOING TO BE ACCESSIBLE.

AS A STATE LEGISLATURE I TOOK THOSE PHONE CALLS FROM CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA THAT COULD NOT GET ANYONE ON THE PHONE AT THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

WE HAD CITIZENS, NOT SENIORS, CONTEMPLATING HOW THEY WOULD PAY FOR THEIR PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION OR HOW THEY WERE GOING TO PAY FOR THEIR LIFE.

WE HAD CITIZENS THAT WERE CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW THEY WERE GOING TO PAY THEIR BILLS ON FRIDAY.

AS THE NEXT GEORGIA LABOR COMMISSIONER, I'M GOING TO BE REACTIVE AND NOT PROACTIVE.

AND SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING PROACTIVE IN TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT LIE -- BY MAKING SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS FULLY STAFFED.

RIGHT NOW THIS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS ONLY 1,100 EMPLOYEES.

I WOULD HAVE THAT UP TO 4,000 EMPLOYEES LIKE IT WAS BEFORE WHEN MICHAEL WAS LABOR COMMISSIONER.

>> THANK YOU.

CHRISTY, YOUR QUESTION FOR EMILY ANDERSON.

>> MS. ANDERSON, THE SAME THING, HOW ARE YOU PREPARED TO LEAD THIS AGENCY AND ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE ROLE OF LABOR COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN ELEVATED SINCE THE PANDEMIC?

>> THERE IS NOT MUCH MORE I CAN ADD CONSIDERING IT'S THE SAME THING, ADDING THE PERSONNEL THAT'S NEEDED.

I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, AND IT'S REALLY JUST TRYING TO GET SOMEONE ON THAT PHONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU AREN'T ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO ON THE WEBSITE, WHICH YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO.

SO, ADDING THAT PERSONNEL, WORKING WITH THOSE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, IF I HAVE TO GET MY HANDS DIRTY, I WILL GET MY HANDS DIRTY, GET DOWN INTO THAT NITTY-GRITTY AND HELP OUT AND ANSWER PHONES MYSELF.

AS FAR AS GETTING THAT PERSONNEL, THERE IS NO REASON WE SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HIRE ANYONE WHETHER THEY ANSWER PHONES AT THEIR HOUSE OR COME INTO ONE OF THE CAREER TRAINING CENTERS.

AND REALLY SO LONG AS THEY LIVE WITHIN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> THANK YOU, MISS ANDERSON.

THAT CONCLUDES THE FIRST ROUND OF THE DEBATE.

THE CANDIDATES WILL NOW ASK A QUESTION TO AN OPPONENT OF THEIR CHOICE.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 30 SECONDS TO ASK THE QUESTION, 60 SECONDS TO RESPOND, AND THE CANDIDATE WHO ASKS THE QUESTION HAS 30 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL.

BY RANDOM SELECTION, EMILY ANDERSON, YOU MAY ASK THE FIRST QUESTION.

>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION.

>>> YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR EITHER OPPONENT?

>> I DO NOT, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> OKAY.

THAT HAS GOT TO BE A FIRST.

BRUCE THOMPSON, YOU GET THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> WELL, THAN YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

MY QUESTION IS MY FRIEND, WILLIAM BODDIE, OVER HERE, WITH THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY, GEORGIANS SUFFERING UNDER THE PRESSURE OF HIGH INFLATION, GAS PRICES, THE COST OF LIVING, AND RENT SOARING, DO YOU STILL STAND BY THE JOE BIDEN AND STACEY ABRAMS ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR AGENDA, AND WOULD YOU SUPPORT THEM IF THEY RUN IN 2024?

>> THANKS FOR QUESTION.

I WOULD SAY THAT I WILL SUPPORT ANYONE THAT'S ELECTED INTO OFFICE AT THE STATE LEVEL, AS GOVERNOR, AND AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL.

AND I WOULD SAY THIS, AND I KNOW WHAT MY OPPONENT IS TRYING TO DO, I WOULD MAKE SURE WE HAVE PAYING JOBS FOR ALL GEORGIA CITIZENS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FROM JOB ONE TO JOB TWO TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

A FRIEND AT A TECHNICAL COLLEGE SAID, WHERE ARE YOU VOTING?

IF YOU CAN TRAIN A WORKER TO BUILD SOMETHING, TO FIX SOMETHING, OR TO MOVE SOMETHING, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE LIVABLE WAGE OPPORTUNITIES.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE THERE TO MEET WHATEVER ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THIS STATE MAY BE GOING THROUGH.

SO I WOULD SAY TO YOU, BRUCE THOMPSON, I WOULD BE PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO MADE SURE LIVABLE WAGE JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE SO WE CAN GET THROUGH ANY TIME OF INFLATION BACK ONTO ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.

>> NOW YOUR REBUTTAL.

>> WELL, YOUR LACK OF RESPONSE, MR. BODDIE, I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT MEANS YOU'LL SUPPORT THE HIGH PRESSURE AND OUT-OF-CONTROL INFLATION THAT ALL GEORGIANS AND FRANKLY ALL AMERICANS ARE SUFFERING UNDER.

INSTEAD, I WOULD RATHER WE SAY THAT WE WANT TO BE GEORGIA, AND GEORGIA IS A NUMBER ONE PLACE IN THE COUNTRY TO DO BUSINESS WITH LOW TAXES.

WE DON'T WANT TO BE CALIFORNIA OR NEW YORK OR DELAWARE.

AS A GEORGIAN, I'LL FIGHT EACH AND EVERY DAY AS THE NEXT LABOR COMMISSIONER TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE IF A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE STATE.

>> THANK YOU.

WILLIAM BODDIE, YOU GET THE FINAL QUESTION.

>> SO, THOMASON, YOU WERE EXPOSED TO COVID-19 BUT CAME TO THE STATE CAPITOL.

AFTER TESTING POSITIVE YOU DROVE TO YOUR BEACH FRONT HOUSE IN FLORIDA.

THE SHERIFF ORDERED YOU TO LEAVE THE STATE.

THEN THEY HAD TO SUSPEND LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON MARCH THE 12th.

DO YOU THINK YOUR RECKLESS AND DANGEROUS ACTIONS HARMED THE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES IN GEORGIA AND FLORIDA?

>> SO, I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION AND OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR THE RECORD.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE CORRECT, I DID HAVE COVID AND IT WAS BEFORE OUR STATE WAS SHUT DOWN AND I DID NOT COME DOWN TO THE CAPITOL.

I WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL AND, LIKE MANY OTHER FAMILIES, SUFFERED.

I HAD AN OXYGEN LEVEL OF 41 AND NEARLY DENIED.

YOU WERE RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL -- OR I WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL AFTER COVID HAD CLEARED.

TWO DOCTORS ASKED ME AND ACTUALLY ADVISED ME TO GO DOWN TO SALT AIR BECAUSE I HAD ASTHMA TO MY VACATION HOME AND CONFINE IN 14 DAYS JUST LIKE THE LAW REQUIRES.

CONSTITUTIONALLY, I CAN GO TO MY HOME.

THE SCIENCE SAYS THAT'S WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN AND I DID THAT.

THE SHERIFF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT RESPONDED WAS, UNDER AN FBI INVESTIGATION AT THE TIME AND COINCIDENTALLY IS NOW RENTING THE HOMES WE HAVE.

SO THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS I FOLLOWED THE SCIENCE, I DID NOT COME TO THE CAPITOL WITH COVID.

THAT WAS ANOTHER SENATOR.

AND I FOLLOWED ALL THE GUIDELINES THAT I WAS GIVEN.

>> THE FACT REMAINS THAT YOU WERE ORDERED TO LEAVE YOUR BEACH FRONT PROPERTY, WHICH MOST GEORGIANS DON'T HAVE A BEACH-FRONT HOME, NINE DAYS INTO A 14-DAY COVID-19 TIME FRAME WHERE YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN QUARANTINED.

THE FACT REMAINS, MR. BRUCE THOMPSON, THAT YOU CAME TO THE CAPITOL AND ACTUALLY WERE ON THE VOTER ROLLS FOUR DAYS WHEN YOU KNEW YOU HAD COVID AND YOU SPOKE TO ONE OF YOUR SENATE COLLEAGUES THAT TOLD YOU TO GO HOME ON MARCH THE 10th BECAUSE YOU LOOKED VISIBLY SICK.

>> YOU HAD YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.

IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT UP, WE CAN AS WE GO FORWARD.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR SECOND ROUND.

FOR THOSE JUST JOINING US, THIS IS THE TO GENERAL ELECTION DEBATE BETWEEN CANDIDATES FOR LABOR COMMISSIONER.

WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO THE PANEL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE UNTIL WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

AS A POINT OF MODERATOR PRIVILEGE, I MAY ALSO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES.

I WILL DETERMINE WHEN A REBUTTAL IS APPROPRIATE.

ZACHARY HANSON, YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION IN THIS ROUND.

>> MY QUESTION WILL BE FOR REPRESENTATIVE BODDIE.

AMONG THE LABOR DEPARTMENT'S POSSIBILITIES IS OPERATING CAREER CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> YES.

>> YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO OPEN UP MORE CAREER CENTERS?

>> YES.

>> HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BALANCE THAT RESPONSIBILITY WITH BOLSTERING THE STATE'S PROGRAM?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO MODERNIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, BUT ALSO I WANT TO STUFF UP THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

AS I SAID BEFORE, WE ONLY HAVE 1,100 EMPLOYEES.

I WANT TO GET IT BACK UP TO 4,000 LIKE IT WAS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF MICHAEL THURMAN.

ALSO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CAREER CENTER IN ANY COUNTY THAT HAS 25,000 RESIDENTS OR MORE.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ABOUT 42 CAREER CENTERS, WE HAD 83 UNDER MICHAEL THURMAN.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO THOSE LEVELS BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO GET THROUGH AN ECONOMIC RECESSION BACK IN 2008, 2009 BECAUSE WE HAD THE STAFFING AND BECAUSE WE HAD THE CAREER CENTERS.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CAREER CENTERS ARE TWOFOLD.

ONE, THEY WILL PROVIDE LIVING WAGE PAYING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS WITHIN THAT COUNTY, BUT ALSO ANYTHING JOB CREATING IN AND OF ITSELF.

THE CAREER CENTER IS GOING TO PROVIDE JOBS TO LOCAL RESIDENTS WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR COUNTY.

SO I KNOW I CAN BALANCE THE CAREER CENTERS AND EXPAND THEM AND ALSO PROVIDE LIVING WAGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GEORGIANS IN THAT COUNTY AND -- >> THAT IS TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. BODDIE.

CHRISTY, NEXT QUESTION TO YOU.

>> SENATOR, SIR, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW CHALLENGED MORALE IS AT THE LABOR DEPARTMENT AFTER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

YOU TALKED ABOUT IN YOUR PLATFORM YOU WANT TO TAKE MORE OF A BUSINESSLIKE APPROACH, SOMETHING THAT THE LABOR DEPARTMENT NEED.

HOW WILL YOU IMPROVE THE CULTURE AT THE AGENCY AND BOOST MORALE AMONG ITS EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT YOU KNOW THERE WILL BE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AHEAD?

>> AGAIN, THAN YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I'M THE ONLY ONE ON THE PANEL I UNDERSTAND HAS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE WITH MANAGING COMPANIES OR TAKING THEM AND TURNING THEM AROUND.

YOU DO DUE DILIGENCE.

THERE ARE SOME GOOD PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THAT HAVE LIVED AND CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH SOME VERY DIFFICULT TIMES.

THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP AT THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

SO SOME OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU WOULD WANT TO DO IS GO IN AND LISTEN TO THE EMPLOYEES.

YOU WANT TO LISTEN AND FIND OUT WHO WANTS TO BE A PART OF AN AGENCY THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF BEING RESPONSIVE.

WHO WANTS TO BE A PART OF AN AGENCY THAT WANTS TO CHANGE AND ACTUALLY CULTIVATE YOUNG PEOPLE COMING IN AND BEING FOSTERED THROUGH MAYBE A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

WHO WANTS TO BE A PART OF AN AGENCY THAT WILL BE HIGHLIGHT BUILD THE MEDIA FOR BEING RESPONSIVE AND PREPARED FOR THE NEXT TEAM?

THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

YOU WANT TO GO IN AND LISTEN TO THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION OF ALL THREE CANDIDATES IF I COULD, IF WE CAN MAKE GET 30 SECONDS TO ANSWER.

SENATOR, I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ISSUE YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO ADDRESS A MOMENT AGO.

DID YOU GET YOUR WRIST SLAPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT COVID-19 INFECTION?

WERE YOU SANCTIONED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE?

AND THEN I'D ALSO LIKE FOR THE OTHER CANDIDATES TO TELL ME IF YOU COULD GIVE A GRADE ON HOW WELL THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DID HANDLING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CHALLENGES.

>> SO, I DID NOT GET SANCTIONED FROM THAT.

OUR GOVERNOR, IT WAS ON A THURSDAY, WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THAT I HAD A FEVER, IT WENT TO 99.

I DECIDED TO STAY HOME FOR FRIDAY.

IT WAS THAT FRIDAY THAT THE GOVERNOR SAID IF ANYONE IS RUNNING A FEVER OR NOTICES THEY HAVE COVID, THEY'RE TO STAY HOME.

MY OPPONENT THAT IS TRYING TO CHARACTERIZE ME AS SOMEONE WHO IS NOT RESPONSIVE AND RECKLESS, IS RECKLESS IN HIS ACTIONS AND ACCUSATIONS.

WE ALL KNOW THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER.

THE MATHER IS COVID WAS SOMETHING WE DIDN'T KNOW.

I FOLLOWED THE GUIDANCE OF OUR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL STAFF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS TIME.

MR. BODDIE.

>> YES.

I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND.

MY OPPONENT'S RECKLESS.

EVEN THE SHERIFF SAID HE WAS IRRESPONSIBLE BY COMING TO HIS BEACH-FRONT HOME IN FLORIDA WHEN HE KNEW HE HAD COVID.

ALSO, I WANT TO GIVE THE LABOR COMMISSIONER AN "F." THE CURRENT LABOR COMMISSIONER DID NOT DO HIS JOB.

THE EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY LONG HOURS, VERY HARD, AND DOING MORE WITH LESS.

SO I APPLAUD THE EMPLOYEES WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BECAUSE THEY'RE TELLING ME, WE NEED TO GET YOU ELECTED BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU WOULD RAISE MORALE WITHIN THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

>> MISS ANDERSON, YOUR GRADE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ADDRESSING THE COVID-19 CHALLENGES.

>> NOT GOOD.

ONLY FROM HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT MYSELF.

I KNOW WITH MY HUSBAND, HE WAS EMPLOYEED, HE WAS NOT GETTING THE HOURS HE WAS SUPPOSED TO SO THE EMPLOYER FILED ON BEHALF OF HIM.

THEY DID THAT WITHIN HIS FIRST PAYCHECK.

MY SISTER, ALL THIS IS ANECDOTAL, MY SISTER, IT TOOK HER MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO CASH IN ON THOSE BENEFIT, AND HER ENTIRE INDUSTRY WAS ACTUALLY SHUT DOWN BY COVID WITH WHAT SHE DOES.

AND EVEN STILL I HAVE A BETTER FRIEND WHO ENDED UP GETTING OVERPAID AND THEY WANTED MONEY BACK.

THEY DEFINITELY DROPPED THE BALL.

>> THANK YOU, MISS ANDERSON.

THAT IS TIME.

SENATOR, I DID OTTAWA HEAR YOUR GRADE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

COULD YOU ADDRESS THAT QUICKLY?

>> C-MINUS.

I AM AN ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACK, BUT THE LEADERSHIP FAILED MISERABLY, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF STAFF THAT WERE WORKING HARD AND WORKED OVERTIME TO MAKE SURE THEY COULD DO WHAT THEY COULD WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE AGENCY AND THE LEADERSHIP.

>> ZACK HANSON?

>> A FOLLOW-UP, REPRESENTATIVE BODDIE, ON THE CAREER CENTERS.

THEY'VE TAKEN OVER RESPONSIBILITIES LEADING TO THE BUDGET BEING REDUCE BUILD NEARLY 5 %.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO WORK WITH A SMALL YOU ARE BUDGET AND A MORE NARROW SET OF RESPONSIBILITIES?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I WOULD SAY THAT I WOULD FOCUS MY TIME AND EFFORTS ON PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICES WE CAN WITH THE BUDGET WE HAVE.

ALSO, THIS CURRENT LABOR COMMISSION HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ASK THEM FOR MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET.

SO I WOULD ALSO ADVOCATE THAT WE HAVE MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET SO THAT WE COULD DO THE JOB OF ADEQUATELY PROCESSING THOSE CLAIMS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

ALSO, I WANT MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET SO I CAN STAFF A CALL CENTER SO WHEN YOU CALL THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR YOU GET A LIVE HUMAN BEING ON THE TELEPHONE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE STAFF AGAIN BECAUSE WITHOUT STAFF, YOU CANNOT PROCESS THE CLAIMS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

SO BY GOING THROUGH THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I HAVE A LOT OF, OF COURSE, EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE I'M A STATE LEGISLATOR NOW, I BELIEVE I CAN GET MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO GET THE STAFFING LEVELS AND THE TECHNOLOGY MODERNIZED AND THE CAREER CENTERS EXPANDED TO DO THE JOB OF REPRESENTING THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE AS LABOR COMMISSIONER.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES TO GO UNTIL CLOSING ARGUMENTS.

KRILS TI SCHWARTZ, THE NEXT QUESTION IS TO YOU.

KEEP THE TIME IN MIND.

>> MS. ANDERSON, AS LABOR COMMISSIONER, THIS WOULD BE YOUR FIRST FORAY INTO WORKING IN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.

AND YOU'RE WELL AWARE THAT YOUR OPPONENTS HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS AS MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

SO, WHY DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE SET YOU APART FROM THEM?

AND WHAT KIND OF -- WHAT SETS YOU APART, YOU KNOW, FROM YOUR CANDIDATES -- FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

>> ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I THINK IS I SAID I AM WORKING CLASS.

I WORK AS AN AID PRINTER CURRENTLY.

I WORK IN RETAIL.

BUT I ALSO WORK WITH PROGRAM WHERE WE ACTUALLY TEACH THIS PROCESS TO RISING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS OF ALL PEOPLE, WHERE WE TEACH THEM THAT LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, NOT ONLY WHAT LAWS HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO BECOME LAWS, BUT WE ALSO TEACH THEM THE NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS PROCESS THROUGH A MOCK STATE THAT WE SET UP FOR THEM.

AND THEY DO LEARN FROM CITY ALL THE WAY UP TO STATE LEVELS SO FAR AS HOW THESE PROCESSES WORK AND HOW THEY GO, INCLUDING ALL THE STATE OFFICES, INCLUDING THIS ONE, IN WHICH WE GO OVER HERE'S HOW IT IS IN OUR PROGRAM, BUT HERE'S WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF YOU ACTUALLY RAN FOR THAT POSITION.

SO, I'M WELL VERSED, THOUGH NOT EXPERIENCED SO FAR AS IN THE REAL WORLD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ZACK HANSON.

>> SENATOR, YOU'VE ARGUED THE LABOR DEPARTMENT NEEDS AN AGGRESSIVED BY-STYLE EMPHASIS ON PERFORMANCE.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO EVALUATE PERFORMANCE OF THE LABOR DEPARTMENT STAFF AND WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR CURRENT EMPLOYEES?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

UNLIKE MY OPPONENT, WHO WANTS TO THROW MONEY AT A PROBLEM INSTEAD OF GOING IN AND EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY LIKE ALL SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE TO DO AND WORK WITHIN THE CONFINE OF A BUDGET, MY OPPONENT WANTS TO TURN AROUND AND JUST BALLOON THAT DEPARTMENT, A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS NOT BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE WITH THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY.

I PLAN TO GO IN, AS I SAID BEFORE, AND IMMEDIATELY START DOING A LISTENING SESSION.

LET'S EVALUATE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM THE EFFECTIVENESS AND MOVE TO TECHNOLOGY AND MODERNIZE LIKE MANY OTHER STATES.

THEN LET'S MOVE TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO WHILE THEN REDUCE THE COST OF IT?

WHEN YOU BRING TECHNOLOGY IN, YOU DON'T NEED TO BALLOON THIS STAFF.

THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF BRINGING IN TECHNOLOGY IS BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE EFFECTIVE, AND EVERY BUSINESS PERSON OUT HERE THAT HEARS THIS KNOWS THAT'S HOW YOU BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE AND BRING MONEY TO THE BOTTOM LINE.

IN THIS CASE, LET'S BE MORE EFFICIENT.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE REPRESENTATIVE BODDIE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REBUT TAL.

>> AGAIN, MY OPPONENT HAS POLITICAL RHETORIC AND NOT ANY RESULTS OR RESOLUTIONS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FISCAL BUDGET FOR 2023 WAS CUT FROM $117 MILLION TO ABOUT $52 MILLION.

MY OPPONENT WANTS TO CUT THAT EVEN MORE.

HOW MUCH MORE CAN WE CUT FROM THE BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR?

HOW CAN YOU ADEQUATELY SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE WITH A SKELETON BUNLET?

THAT'S WHAT I'LL ASK MY OPPONENT, SENATOR BRUCE THOMPSON.

>> AND ZACK HANSON -- >> RESPONSE?

>> WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION.

>> MISS ANDERSON, YOU BELIEVE THE LABOR DEPARTMENT IS UNDERSTAFFED AND YOU WANT TO CUT RED TAPE.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS?

>> FIRST OFF WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE PROCESSES THAT ARE USED, ESSENTIALLY IN ORDER TO RUN THE DEPARTMENT.

WHERE ARE WE REPEATING STEPS THAT AREN'T NECESSARY.

GET RID OF THOSE.

I MENTIONED BEFORE IN ANOTHER FORUM I WAS DOING THAT FOR THINGS LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN FILING FOR IT SHOULD BE A LITTLE CHECK MARK OF YOU EITHER BEING THE EMPLOYER FILING ON BEHALF OF THE EMPLOYEE OR THE EMPLOYEE FILING ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES.

IT ESSENTIALLY STREAMLINED THE PROCESS AS WELL.

AGAIN, GETTING RID OF THAT EXTRA FAT WITH EXTRA STEPS, MAKING SURE IT'S ESSENTIALLY AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE TO GO THROUGH AND WORK WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT IS ALL OF THE TIME THAT WE HAVE FOR QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL NOW HAVE 60 SECONDS FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

WILLIAM BODDIE, YOU GET THE FIRST CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> AS YOUR NEXT LABOR COMMISSIONER, I'M GOING TO RESTORE TRUST IN THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

BUSINESS OWNERS, EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES, AND TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA TO, TRUST ME, EVEN THE LAST GREAT LABOR COMMISSIONER, MICHAEL THURMAN TRUSTS ME.

AS LABOR COMMISSIONER I'M GOING TO RESTORE THE TRUST OF GEORGIA WORKING FAMILIES BY MAKING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MORE ACCESSIBLE.

I'M GOING TO CREATE A CALL CENTER SO WHEN YOU CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR YOU TALK TO A LIVE HUMAN BEING.

I'M GOING TO MODERN SIZE THE DEPARTMENT.

I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR WOMEN ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA TO HAVE EQUAL PAY.

AND I'M GOING TO PARTNER WITH ORGANIZED LABOR UNIONS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND TECH CALGARY COLLEGES TO MAKE SURE ALL OF US HAVE LIVING WAGE OPPORTUNITIES.

THE REALITY IS GEORGIA, YOU NEED A DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THAT WORKINGS FOR YOU.

MY FRIEND ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT A PERSON WHEN YOU NEED THEM IN YOUR TIME OF NEED, HOW THEY REALLY FEEL ABOUT YOU IN THAT TIME OF NEED.

GEORGIA, I PROMISE YOU THIS, AS YOUR NEXT LABOR COMMISSIONER, I WILL BE THERE FOR YOU IN YOUR TIME OF NEED.

>> THANK YOU, MR. BODDIE.

EMILY ANDERSON, YOUR TURN FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> WELL, I KNOW I DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF MY OPPONENTS HERE.

IT'S, AGAIN, ONE THING WHERE I'M GOING TO CALL THE EXPERIENCE OF ACTUALLY BEING IN THAT WORKFORCE AS WELL AS RUNNING A HOUSEHOLD.

I WORK FULL-TIME, I RUN A HOUSEHOLD WITH AN 8-YEAR-OLD, A DOG, AND A FERRET, WHICH IS COMPLETE CHAOS.

AND ESSENTIALLY I DO THE BEST THAT I CAN DO.

I'M A VERY QUICK LEARNER.

I LIKE TO GET MY HANDS DIRTY AS I'VE ALREADY STATED.

AND I AM WILLING TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO HELP OUT THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY STAFFING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, FINDING OUT WHAT THEY NEED, BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW ON THE SURFACE WHAT THE DEPARTMENT IS, BUT FINDING OUT WHAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT NEED, FINDING WAYS OF GETTING IT EVEN WITH A STRIPPED-DOWN BUDGET, SEEING WHERE WE CAN MAYBE PARTNER WITH A PRIVATE ENTITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS ANDERSON.

BRUCE THOMPSON, THE FINAL CLOSING STATEMENT IS YOURS.

>> WE CAN ALL AGREE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR NEEDS TO DRASTICALLY CHANGE.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT KIND OF CHANGE.

MY OPPONENT, WHO WAS ENDORSED BY STACEY ABRAMS AND SUBSCRIBES TO THE BIDEN BIG-GOVERNMENT MIND-SET, SUGGESTS WE NEED TO EXPAND THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT, IN ESSENCE, PUT IT ON THE BACK OF TAXPAYERS BY CHARGING MORE MONEY.

AS A BUSINESS OWNER AND FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, I TAKE A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

THE AGENCY MUST WORK TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, MORE RESPONSIVE, AND MORE EFFECTIVE.

BEFORE ASKING FOR MORE FROM OTHERS, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MUST TRANSFORM TO TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSITION TO BECOME AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY CULTIVATING, FOSTERING, AND FACILITATING EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL GEORGIANS.

ONE OF MY PRIORITIES IS TO CREATE A FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG TALENT THAT, WHILE WORKING FOR AGENCY, WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE MENTORED TOWARD MASTERING THEIR SOFT AND HARD SKILLS.

I'M BRUCE THOMPSON, AND I'D BE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR VOTE TO BECOME YOUR NEXT LABOR COMMISSIONER.

>> THANK YOU, MR. THOMSON.

ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th, AND EARLY VOTING HAS ALREADY BEGUN.

THANKS TO THE CANDIDATES AND OUR PANELISTS OF JOURNAL I WASES.

WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB FOR ARRANGING TODAY'S DEBATE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, THEY WILL HOST THIS ELECTION SEASON, VISIT ATLANTAPRESSCLUB.ORG/DEBATE.

I'M VERONICA WATERS.

THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB LOUDERMILK-YOUNG DEBATE SERIES.