Ron Slotin to Seek Price’s Seat
A Jewish candidate has joined the list of candidates preparing to run for Congress in the special election that will be held if Rep. Tom Price is confirmed as Donald Trump’s secretary of health and human services.
Ron Slotin, who served in the state Senate in the 1990s and lost a bid for Congress in 1996 against Cynthia McKinney, announced Wednesday, Dec. 7, a progressive campaign to win the 6th District for the Democrats. He also revived his “Votin’ for Slotin” campaign slogan and established www.votinforslotin.com as his campaign website.
“On the national front, we need a progressive voice in Washington who will fight to protect the progress we have made on many issues, including a woman’s right to choose, affordable health care coverage including covering pre-existing conditions, protection of Social Security and care for our growing number of senior citizens, and marriage equality,” said Slotin, who also promoted his support for MARTA rail expansion, public schools and environmental protections.
“I will work to bring people together,” Slotin said.
Price won re-election last month with almost 62 percent of the vote against Democrat Rodney Stooksbury. The district stretches across the North Metro suburbs from Marietta to Johns Creek and from Milton to Sandy Springs and Chamblee.
A Democrat without Slotin’s legislative experience, Josh McLaurin of East Cobb, also has declared that he will run in the special election that is expected in the spring. McLaurin is a lawyer and a 2010 graduate of the University of Georgia who wants to bring back an America “where we can celebrate difference with a light heart and open arms rather than cynical mistrust and hatred.”
Only one Republican has officially declared his intention to run in a district held by the GOP since the days of Newt Gingrich: state Sen. Judson Hill of Marietta, who has been a leading pro-Israel voice in the General Assembly, including introducing and pushing through anti-BDS legislation this year. He will have to resign to run for Congress.
A Dunwoody resident, Alexander Hernandez, an independent with progressive views, announced Monday, Dec. 12, that he has formed an exploratory committee to prepare for a possible 6th District run.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution says former Secretary of State Karen Handel, former state Sen. Dan Moody and state Rep. Chuck Martin are Republicans expected to run, and Sen. Johnny Isakson’s son, John Jr., is exploring a run. Other Republicans mentioned include state Sen. Brandon Beach and John Albers, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, and state Rep. Betty Price, the congressman’s wife.
Under the Georgia Constitution, any elected official would have to resign as soon as he or she qualified for the ballot in the congressional special election.
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