by Ty Tagami | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – A second candidate has raised his hand to become Georgia’s next attorney general, as incumbent Chris Carr campaigns for the governor’s office.
Both of the candidates who have filed paperwork to raise funds to campaign for attorney general are Republican state senators.
Sen. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, a lawyer who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, registered with the Georgia Ethics Commissions’ campaign finance system in late March. Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, a lawyer who chairs the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, registered Wednesday.
Neither reported collecting any money yet.
Strickland, who chaired a study committee on the affordability of child care last year, was the chief co-sponsor of legislation that sought tax credits for parents of young children. The legislation did not pass. Lawmakers instead sent a general tax credit of between $250 and $500 to Gov. Brian Kemp, who signed that measure last week.
Cowsert, who chairs a committee that has been investigating Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, was recently granted authority by the Senate to expand his scope to include groups founded by former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Cowsert also sponsored Senate Bill 255, which seeks to give his committee subpoena powers. It passed the Senate and the House of Representatives after bitter partisan debate, with one leading Democrat labeling it “authoritarianism.” It awaits Kemp’s signature.
