Karen Handel
Occupation: Business Strategy Consultant
Previous experience holding elected office: Georgia secretary of state; chair of Fulton County Board of Commissioners
Other community service: Previous: Board member, Republican State Leadership Committee; Board member, North Fulton Chamber of Commerce; Board member, SafeHouse Ministries.
Why should the voters choose you for this position?
There has been too much talk for far too long in Washington, and the people of the 6th District deserve a representative that they can trust to actually deliver results. As secretary of state, I successfully implemented photo ID for voting to prevent illegals from voting. As Fulton County Commission chairman, I stopped the Democrats’ proposal for a massive property tax increase and still balanced the budget. And, as CEO of the North Fulton Chamber, I led the organization out of near bankruptcy while also helping to create jobs right here in our community.
What is the biggest issue facing the district and how will you address it?
Domestic security. To have real homeland security, we must secure our borders, so I will work to ensure follow-through on the border wall, revamp our visa process to stop those who overstay their time, and empower our border agents to actually do their jobs. True homeland security also means economic prosperity – job growth, tax relief and finally balancing the federal budget and reducing the crippling $20 trillion debt.
Tom Price, former 6th District Congressman, was a strong critic of the Affordable Care Act and is now in the Trump Administration working to replace it. What is your position on ACA and will you work with or against Price to replace it?
Obamacare is a disaster for families and business, and it must be repealed and then replaced in a systematic way with workable health solutions that protect the patient-physician relationship and foster access, while driving market-based reforms that begin to address the soaring costs of healthcare. I will work diligently and in partnership with my friend Secretary Price in his efforts.