Elections 2020: Meet U.S. Representative 7th District Candidates

FORSYTH COUNTY, GA — In addition to voting for president and vice president of the United States in the Nov. 3 general election, voters in Forsyth and Gwinnett counties will choose other candidates to represent them, including the seat for U.S. Representative 7th District.

Carolyn Bourdeaux will be running against Rich McCormick to represent the 7th District, which encompasses portions of Gwinnett and Forsyth counties.

As part of its coverage of the 2020 election, Patch has invited the candidates in contested races to participate in our election profile series. We will continue to update the profiles with links to responses to our questionnaire.

Candidate

Carolyn Bourdeaux

Age (as of Election Day)

50

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

My husband, Jeff and I live in Suwanee with our 8-year-old son.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelors in history and economics from Yale University, Masters in public administration from the University of Southern California, Ph.D. in public administration with a focus on public finance from Syracuse University

Occupation

Professor at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University

Campaign website

www.carolyn4congress.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I’m a champion for quality, affordable health care — it’s why I got into this race, and now we’re seeing that it’s more important than ever. I saw this tragic health care reality shared by too many Americans firsthand as my parents struggled to pay for my father’s medications. For ten years, my father suffered from a debilitating illness and my mother cared for him. They drained their bank accounts to pay for dad’s prescription medications. I will fight for the millions of Georgians who are either uninsured, under insured, or struggle with the costs of insurance and prescription drugs.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

The deaths of George Floyd and the violent shooting of Jacob Blake were horrible tragedies and the result of systemic discrimination and racism Black Americans face. I'm committed to building a country where every mother and father, regardless of skin color or background, wakes up in the morning unafraid and excited about the future for their children. We need to restore the trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. In Congress, I will work to pass the Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act, which amends existing law and bans the use of chokeholds, and to establish a National Registry of Police Misconduct so the federal government can track police violence with reliable data.

What are your thoughts on the campaign to "defund" the police?

I don't support defunding the police. But we absolutely must restore the trust between law enforcement and our communities. There is no denying that our Black and brown communities disproportionately face unnecessary, violent force at the hands of police. Our criminal justice system is supposed to keep us safe while ensuring that everyone is treated equally under the law — the current system isn’t doing either.
There are several policies that I would support in Congress to address this important issue:
-Establish a system of data collection on cases of police violence, establish a National Registry of Police Misconduct
-Pass legislation that ends the transfer of military weaponry to local offices, bans racial and religious profiling, and establishes federal use of force standards for police
-Pass the Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act of 2019

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

The consequences of the lack of leadership on COVID-19 both in Washington and in Georgia have been devastating. My opponent Rich McCormick has spread misinformation about COVID-19, repeatedly downplaying it as no worse than the flu, and rushing to defend President Trump’s unprepared response.
I strongly support following the guidance of our public health experts, scientists, and researchers, many of which work right out of the Georgia-based CDC. Masks work, and after Governor Brian Kemp opened Georgia way too early, cases in our state skyrocketed and people died. In Congress, I will fight for a COVID-19 response based on science and facts, not dangerous wishful thinking.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Rich McCormick is dangerous and extreme, and his views on coronavirus and health care are wrong for Georgia. Whether it’s flirting with QAnon or pledging to ban all abortions even when the mother’s life is at risk, McCormick's views are extreme and Georgians need a leader who will bring down their health care costs, not generate embarrassing headlines.
My opponent used his credentials as a doctor to defend the failed Washington response to the coronavirus and contradicted experts. McCormick also supports the Washington Republican health care repeal bill that would eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions, including coronavirus. And the plan he supports would drive up health care costs and impose an age tax on Americans over 50.
My opponent would be dangerous for Georgia women. He signed a pledge to make it illegal for a woman to have an abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. McCormick believes abortion should be a crime even if the mother’s life is in jeopardy.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Quality, affordable health care, getting us through the COVID-19 crisis, economic recovery, racial justice, education, environment, gun safety, immigration, transit, women’s issues

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Started career as an aide to Senator Ron Wyden, working on health care, education, women’s issues, social issues, and transportation
Worked on an innovative program to better connect transportation with land use planning and design — precursor to the Livable Communities Project that has revitalized many downtown communities in GA-07
Worked on legislation that helped expand access to the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and access to Federally Qualified Health Centers
Professor at the Andrew Young School of Public Policy since 2003, took a leave of absence from 2007–2010 to be Director of Georgia’s Senate Budget and Evaluation Office
Honored by the Senate for significant service to the state of Georgia with Senate Resolution 1598, then returned to the Andrew Young School and founded the Center for State and Local Finance

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

When I graduated from college, my dad told me, “Carolyn, this country has invested in you and gave you a world-class education. And with that comes responsibility to give back to your community.” Those words have guided me ever since.
In Congress, I'll work to get the pandemic under control, our children back in school and our economy back on its feet. We also need to make sure that everyone has access to quality affordable health care and invest in infrastructure and transit to address gridlock as well as start to address the climate crisis. I'll know I've been successful if I can deliver real change for the people of Georgia's 7th District.

Why should voters trust you?

Georgians don't need a politician who is beholden to any party, special interest group, or donor — they need an advocate who is fighting for them. As Director of the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office, I worked with both parties to balance the state budget during the Great Recession, and I was honored for this work with a special resolution for significant service to the state of Georgia.
In 2018, I challenged a 4-term Republican incumbent who had never gotten below 60% of the vote. My message of fighting for quality affordable health care, economic opportunity for our working families and small businesses, and stepping up to do what is right for Georgia inspired record-breaking voter turnout in Georgia's 7th in 2018. Now I'm back to finish the job.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

My background is in public policy and public finance. I helped balance the state budget during the Great Recession when our state was in economic crisis. I know the value of a dollar, and I believe strongly we should have accountability and transparency for every dime of taxpayer money spent.
One of the reasons I’m running for office is to build a fair tax system that benefits working people and deals with inefficiencies in our federal government that largely benefit huge corporate interests. Three years ago, Congress took a mighty swipe of our national credit card to hand out tax breaks to huge corporations and the wealthiest Americans. Now, those same members of Congress are wringing their hands about passing a bill to support small businesses and families during one of the worst health and economic crises this country has ever seen.
There’s a reason Congress is willing to spend $2 trillion on billionaires but not on supporting small businesses and families. And it’s because special interest groups like Club for Growth buy politicians like my opponent. I'll fight for fair fiscal policy in Congress.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The key to success in life is competence - following up and doing a job thoroughly and well.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I believe that our government should work for all people, not just the wealthy and well-connected. Our leaders have lost their line of sight to the people of this country and what we need. It is time for the people of Georgia's 7th Congressional District to finally have a representative who will be their advocate in Congress and fight tenaciously for the issues we care about.
I want my son to grow up in a country where we care for one another. In Congress, I'll work towards a world where we provide working families with fundamental supports like health care and paid family medical leave, where we provide all of our children a world-class education that opens the door to opportunity, where we invest in the infrastructure for the green economy of the 21st Century, and where we beat back the structural inequalities created by racism to build a community that is diverse, inclusive and global.

*Rich McCormick did not reply to Patch's email with the questionaire.