Georgia Senate Dist. 1: Ben Watson, Corey Foreman

Watson

I think the budget is always the most important issue. The good news is that we have, under the direction of Governor Kemp, governed conservatively. We have fully funded our rainy-day fund to the maximum allowed under state law, which is 15 percent of the state’s revenue funds. We also have a surplus.

As chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and chair of the Appropriation Committee’s Health and Human Development Subcommittee, I can say that Georgia is in a good spot from a healthcare standpoint. There’s really no reason for anyone in the state of Georgia not to be insured unless you’re here illegally, thanks to the waivers that Gov. Kemp proposed eight years ago and that have been implemented over the past couple of years. We want to see that to fruition.

Foreman

My top priority is ensuring Georgia’s economic success translates into a better quality of life for the people who call it home.

Georgia has become a national leader in attracting businesses and investment, but too many families are struggling with rising housing costs, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to healthcare. Economic growth should strengthen our communities, not place additional financial burdens on the residents who already live there.

I believe growth should pay for growth. That means holding developers and corporations accountable for the demands they place on our roads, schools, utilities, and public services while ensuring local residents have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their communities.

I also support expanding Medicaid, improving public education, and protecting homeowners from being priced out of their communities.

Georgia can remain number one for business while becoming number one for the people who call it home. Achieving both requires responsible planning, transparency, and a state government that puts its residents first.

Watson

I’ve felt a very strong urge to give back to our community. I think that Savannah has been a great place to live, grow, work, and raise a family. Being a physician is a public service and one form of giving back — you’re taking care of patients. That translates to politics.

I’ve always said that I’d like to continue to serve in office as long as I’m making a difference. I think I’m making a difference in a substantial way — not only in health care, but in the Republican caucus and in the General Assembly’s Republican leadership.

Foreman

My motivation for public service comes from a simple belief: leadership is about showing up, listening, and taking responsibility for the people you serve.

My time serving in the U.S. Army taught me that leadership isn’t about rank or recognition. It’s about accountability, making difficult decisions, and putting the needs of others ahead of your own. As a small business owner, I’ve also experienced firsthand the challenges working families and local businesses face.

I’m running because I believe Georgia can do better for its residents. Too often, decisions affecting our communities are made without meaningful public input, and the people bearing the consequences feel unheard.

I don’t believe good ideas belong exclusively to either political party. I believe in listening to people, understanding their concerns, and finding practical solutions that improve their lives.

Public office should never be about the individual holding it. It should be about the people who entrusted that individual to represent them. That’s the responsibility I want to uphold.

Watson

I always liked Zell Miller. I never met him, but I admired him from a distance. He was a professor and an entrepreneur, but we knew him mostly as lieutenant governor then as governor. He had very strong convictions when it came to students going from high school to college. Most of the brightest students were leaving the state of Georgia. His proposal for Hope Scholarship and the lottery reversed that. That’s been a big, really positive influence on our university system and for the citizens of the state of Georgia. I admired him and respected him.

Miller was an old-school Southern Democrat, but when he got to the U.S. Senate, he aligned himself mostly with Republicans. He was a person that could work across the aisle, and a person who got things done. He persevered, and I think that perseverance is a great example in all walks of life. When you persevere in the United States of America and in our region, you can accomplish a lot.

Foreman

Two Georgia leaders I admire are two former governors, George Busbee and Roy Barnes. Busbee’s philosophy of being “a workhorse, not a show horse” reflects my belief that public service is about results, not recognition. Barnes demonstrated a willingness to tackle difficult issues, particularly education and responsible growth.

I don’t agree with every decision Busbee and Barnes made. Nor do I believe any one politician should define my principles. I believe good leadership means learning from those who came before us while maintaining the independence to put the needs of Georgia residents first, even when doing so isn’t politically convenient.