Questionaire Allowed Candidates to Address Voters

Editor’s Note: The Harris County Journal provided the candidates in the Nov. 3 General and Special Election the opportunity to address voters by way of a questionnaire. It gave every candidate the opportunity to answer the same questions to make sure all candidates were provided the same opportunity and to answer the same questions. Below are the answers to the questionnaire from the candidates who responded. If a candidate is not listed, it means he or she did not ask for a questionnaire or did not return a questionnaire.

In an attempt to educate voters about the candidates, this newspaper requested candidates to completed a questionnaire. The following are the responses given by the candidates who requested and responded to the questionnaire.

Maria Copeland District 2 Commission Candidate

What is your experience?

Response: More than a decade leading complex technology and program initiatives, including leadership of large teams and major projects.

What would you like to say to the voters?

Response: I am running to put Harris County first. I believe every voice deserves to be heard, every citizen deserves respect, and strong leadership begins with listening. Together we can keep Harris County moving.

Why should voters cast a vote in your favor?

Response: My commitment is simple: to listen before I lead and to “whistle while I work: alongside out citizens, because serving our community should be done with both dedication and optimism.

What are the most important issues to be addressed if elected?

Response: Responsible growth, work with citizens to shape the future of the county. Ensure tax dollars are spend wisely, transparently and with accountability.

Vance Smith Candidate for State Representative, District 138

What is your experience?

Response: I served on the Harris County Commission from 1987 to 1990, including two years as chairman. First elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1992, I served for 17 years, including five years as chairman of the House Transportation Committee. From 2009 to 2011, I served as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation. I returned to the House following the 2018 election and represent District 138, which includes portions of Harris, Muscogee and Troup counties. These roles have given me extensive experience in local and state government, transportation, budgeting and constituent service.

What would you like to say to the voters?

Response: I encourage everyone to vote and exercise your right to choose your elected officials. It has been an honor to serve the people of Harris, Muscogee and Troup counties, and I’m asking for your vote so I can continue working for you. Please continue to call me with your questions and concerns. Hearing directly from you helps me represent your interests and understand the challenges you face. I appreciate your trust and the opportunity to serve you.

Why should voters cast a vote in your favor?

Response: My commitment is simple: to listen before I lead and to “whistle while I work: alongside out citizens, because serving our community should be done with both dedication and optimism.

What are the most important issues to be addressed if elected?

Response: I bring extensive experience in local and state government and a commitment to being accessible and responsive to the people I represent. My service as a county commissioner, legislator and commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation has given me the knowledge and relationships to help constituents resolve problems and get answers.
I receive numerous calls from citizens seeking assistance with state departments, and I am always willing to reach out and voice their concerns. I support legislation that benefits our citizens and oppose measures that could harm them. I would appreciate your vote so I can continue putting that experience to work for you.

What are the most important issues to be addressed if elected?

Response: The state budget is one of the most important issues we address each year. It is funded with your tax dollars, and I want to ensure that money is spent wisely and responsibly to meet the needs of our citizens. Equally important is constituent service—helping individuals and families with matters involving state government. These may include business licensing, health care, food assistance, right-of-way acquisition and other concerns. I will continue working to help citizens navigate state departments, find answers and resolve problems. Being available to listen and act on your behalf will remain a priority.

Carmen Rice Candidate for State Representative, District 139

What is your experience?

Response: I have served as State Representative for House District 139 since 2024, where I am Vice Chair of the House Education Committee, Secretary of the Special Committee on Resource Management, and a member of the Judiciary (Juvenile) and Transportation Committees. I authored the Excellent Teacher Preparation Act, which passed both chambers unanimously and is now law, and I co-sponsored the Georgia CHIPS Act to bring advanced-technology jobs to our state. My career includes 11 years in education and 10 years as an administrative director managing payroll, benefits and accounting for 16 small businesses, and I currently serve on the boards of Micah’s Promise and the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy.

What would you like to say to the voters?

Response: Serving District 139 has been the honor of my life, and every day I go to work for the people of Harris County and Columbus: keeping costs down, keeping our neighborhoods safe, strengthening our schools, and standing up for our seniors, children, and military families who make this district home.

Why should voters cast a vote in your favor?

Response: I have a record of getting things done: I’ve sponsored or co-sponsored over 20 bills on behalf of District 139, and several bills I authored passed the House with near-unanimous, bipartisan support. Speaker Jon Burns has appointed me to study committees on education performance and on access to medical care in underserved areas. I’ve voted to return surplus dollars to Georgia taxpayers through income-tax refunds, and I’ve supported tax relief for military retirees, families of disabled veterans and local homeowners. I bring real-world business experience, strong working relationships in the House, and a proven commitment to children and working families.

What are the most important issues to be addressed if elected?

Response: My top priorities are affordability, public safety, education, and protecting our most vulnerable neighbors. That means continued property-tax relief for families and seniors, safe communities, and strong schools, including fully implementing the Georgia Early Literacy Act and recruiting and keeping great teachers. I will keep advocating for our seniors and our young people, from stronger online protections for children to a better foster care system.

Congressman Brian Jack United States House of Representatives, Georgia’s 3^rd Congressional District

Republican Incumbent Brian Jack is being opposed by Democratic candidate Maura Keller in his bid for re-election to the U.S. House of Representative for Georgia’s 3^rd Congressional District.

What is your experience?

Response: I am honored to serve as your Representative to the 119th United States Congress. Shortly after you elected me, my freshman class chose me as its leader in Congress. The Speaker of the House Mike Johnson appointed me as the only freshman on the Rules Committee, the committee through which all legislation flows. And, I was given the chairmanship of a committee, a rare honor for a freshman. I serve as the Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development, and I was proud to bring a Member of President Trump’s Cabinet, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, to Hamilton for a Small Business Tour earlier this month. As your Congressman, I passed the largest tax cut in American history, I delivered the most secure border in the history of our Country, and I have never traded stocks or missed a Congressional vote. Prior to my election, I worked closely with President Trump for nearly a decade, serving as the White House Political Director during his first term, and as his chief liaison to Congress during his post-presidency. I am a sixth-generation Georgian, raised in Fayette County, and I spent my summers in college at Peachtree City Hall, where I helped make my hometown better for all of its residents.

What would you like to say to the voters?

Response: I seek re-election because I want to continue making life better for the incredible people of Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District. Our record of accomplishment is clear: in less than two years in Congress, with your support, we have passed the largest tax cut in American history, we have delivered the most secure border in the history of our country, and we have enacted common-sense legislation – like keeping men out of girls’ sports – that ends the Radical Left’s assault on our values and our faith.

Why should voters cast a vote in your favor?

Response: In 2024, I was honored to receive 66.3% of the vote in our Congressional District, and a clear directive and mandate from the people to legislate in support of America First policies. On immigration, I promised throughout my campaign to secure the border, and I kept that promise by delivering the most secure border in American history. I voted to codify and fully fund President Trump’s historic border security agenda, and I voted to end Joe Biden’s disastrous catch-and-release policies. As a result, there have been 0 border releases of illegal immigrants for 15 straight months. The first bill I passed and co-sponsored was the Laken Riley Act, which prioritizes the deportation of illegal immigrants who commit crimes against American citizens. And, as a testament to this record, I am consistently rated 100% by organizations who advocate for stronger border security policies and immigration enforcement. On the economy, I promised throughout my campaign to extend the Trump Tax Cuts that were set to expire at the end of 2025. I kept that promise by passing the largest tax cut in American history, which enacted No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, and a New $6,600 Tax Deduction for our senior citizens. And, for the next generation of Georgians, I voted to increase the Child Tax Credit and establish Trump Accounts for newborn children. Throughout my campaign, I promised to bring America’s leaders to our communities, and I am honored to have already hosted 10 visits by Members of President Trump’s Cabinet during my first term – an all-time record for any Member of Congress in Georgia’s history. Of note, I was proud to bring Vice President JD Vance to my hometown of Peachtree City, to discuss the incredible success of our Working Families Tax Cut. And, earlier this month, I brought the Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler to Hamilton for a Small Business Tour. To protect our Georgia values, I voted to Keep Men out of Girls’ Sports, and I support a complete ban on men participating in girls’ sports — at all levels. I voted to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse across our federal government, including the elimination of

$9 billion of funding for Joe Biden’s woke USAID foreign programs, which included millions of taxpayers’ dollars for transgender surgeries in Guatemala. Integrity matters, and I strive to set an example for how Members of Congress should govern. As your Congressman, I have never traded a stock. I am one of only 9 (out of 535) Members of Congress to have never missed a Congressional vote. And, I am one of the only Members of Congress to support the No Budget, No Pay Act, which prohibits me – and other Congressmen – from receiving pay, if we can’t pass a budget. I approach every vote with the perspective of all of my constituents in mind, and I am proud of my record in support of our principles. I hope to earn your vote for re-election.

What are the most important issues to be addressed if elected?

Response: We must build upon our success to make life more affordable for all Americans by growing our economy, accelerating American energy development, and continuing to cut needless and burdensome government regulations. We must also pass the SAVE America Act, which requires Voter ID when voting, and proof of citizenship while voting. I have proudly voted for the SAVE America Act 5 times, and I urge all readers to call our Democrat Senators and demand they vote for this legislation so broadly supported by the American people.

For Georgia’s 3^rd Congressional District

Maura Keller

Maura Keller is opposing Congressman Brian Jack for the 3^rd Congressional District Seat. Her responses follow.

What is your experience?

Response: Her experience is as follows:

• 26 Year veteran of the US Army
• Retired Lt. Colonel
• General Douglas MacArthur Award for Leadership
• Nuclear Medicine Technologist
• Worked in the Piedmont, Emory, and, most recently, Atlanta VA Health systems.

What would you like to say to the voters?

Response: I am running for Congress because the people of Georgia’s 3rd District deserve a representative who will put them first — not a party line or a political machine. After 26 years in the Army and inside knowledge of the VA system, I have seen what happens when leaders stop listening and systems fail the people they are supposed to serve. In our district, pay has not kept pace with the rising cost of healthcare, food, gas, rent, and other basics. Families are struggling to stay afloat. Veterans and working families need someone who will fight to protect what they have earned and demand real accountability. I am running to be that person: transparent, accessible, focused on practical results, and willing to work with anyone who will put the common good of this district ahead of partisan games.

Why should voters cast a vote in your favor?

Response: Our current Congress has proven to be irresponsible in a multitude of ways–the Iran War has spiralled out-of-control and now leaves our economy in shambles while our national security suffers. Harmful tariffs have crippled small businesses and farmers while driving up prices for everyone to pay more both at the pump and at the grocery store. Our healthcare has been cut by the largest margin in American history, and our deficit now sits at a record $2 trillion. As I said, irresponsible. I’m asking for your vote to immediately improve your lives in a few simple ways:

1. End our support for the Iran War to stop insane gas + diesel surges.

2. Remove the most harmful tariffs that keep increasing our prices.

3. Restore ACA and Medicaid subsidies that have skyrocketed our premiums.

I have a lot of priorities for when I get to Congress, but those three are my day one solutions.

What are the most important issues to be addressed if elected?

Response: My three most important issues are:

1. The cost of living, including grocery, gas, housing, and healthcare prices.

2. Social Security Reform

3. Data Center overexpansion

Ending the Iran War, reducing harmful tariffs, and restoring healthcare subsidies will directly reduce the cost of living, but Congress needs to act fast in more areas. In addition to enshrining voting rights and raising the minimum wage, I will sit down and work across party lines to make sure we address social security. It will enter insolvency in 2032, and I will not let that happen.

On Data Centers, I have been fighting with local community activists for over a year to bring attention to controversial projects, of which there are over 30 either planned or projected in Georgia’s 3rd District. Unfortunately, I have to declare that I have not and will not take money from Data Center developers or Pro-AI PACs.

My opponent has taken money from owners, executives, and lobbyists associated with QTS, Prologis (Project Sail), and Vantage Data Centers. He then passed a big rural development tax break in the OBBBA that AI firms are exploiting for speculative Data Center expansion all over Georgia. One of his pro-AI Super Pac donors Fairshake recently listed Jack in their slate of “the largest pro-crypto caucus in American history” (Source: The Hill, 10/5/26). Fairshake is actively spending on mailers for Brian Jack inside of Georgia’s 3rd District’s 2026 Early Voting period.

My stance: We need a moratorium on new development until we fully understand the long-term effects of building Data Centers in or near residential and conservation-zoned areas.

For State Senate District 29

Randy Robertson

What is your experience?

Response: I have served as the Georgia State Senator for District 29 for the last eight years, and I currently serve as Senate Majority Whip. Before the Senate, I spent 31.5 years in law enforcement, including leadership in the Georgia Fraternal Order of Police, where I served as both Lodge President and State President. In the Senate, I serve on Appropriations, Rules, Ethics, Insurance, Government Oversight, State and Local Governmental Operations, Health, and Redistricting. In the interim, I serve as Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability. Additionally, I serve as the chair of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence.

What would you like to say to the voters?

Response: I ran for this office to serve the people of District 29 the same way I served in uniform — show up, tell the truth, and do the job. We have sent millions in tax dollars back to Georgia families, strengthened support for law enforcement and educators, provided for those with disabilities, restored God-given rights to Georgia-born adoptees, and worked to improve healthcare for all Georgians. I’m asking for your vote to keep doing that work.

Why should voters cast a vote in your favor?

Response: Because I keep my word. When I say I’ll take on an issue — public safety, mental-health capacity, or the barriers facing foster and adoptive families — I stay with it until it’s done. My record is open for anyone to check.

What are the most important issues to be addressed if elected?

Response: Most important issues to be addressed if elected: The issues that matter most to me are the ones that matter to the citizens of District 29. You are the only special interest I serve. I am committed to public safety and to backing the officers who keep our communities safe; to expanding mental-health treatment capacity in West Central
Georgia; to fixing the adoption and foster-care process so children reach permanent homes faster; and to holding the line on the everyday costs Georgia families face.