font-size: 1.25em; At this critical time in our history, we need an experienced conservative leader who understands how to run one of Georgias biggest agencies.. $ 25. } clearInterval(nTimer); Republican Mike Coan announced Friday that he will qualify this week for the Georgia Labor Commissioner - after current Commissioner Mark Butler announced that he will not be seeking re-election. display: block; Contact our sales team. He was deputy labor commissioner under Mark Butler and took a leave of absence to run for the job. Although credited with many business and political accolades over the years, Bruce's biggest accomplishments are raising his two children alongside his wife of 24 years, Becky. margin-right: 12px; } I am proud to have served our state at the pleasure of all three of Georgias Republican governors, said Coan. Click play on the audio above for the full interview. position: relative; Follow the AJC Georgia Politics team on Twitter (@ajcgapolitics) and @murphyajc. Those who responded were sharply critical of Butler and the departments performance during the pandemic. letter-spacing: .03em; font-weight: 200; .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;} display: inline-block; In this role, he saved the state over 400 million dollars by managing the Fund like a business, streamlining functions and cutting out waste. Incumbents are bolded and underlined. .votebox-results-cell--number { } } .race_header, .results_text, .results_table_container, .votebox_legend { margin: 0px 10px; } Coan said he is running to fix the problems we got, regarding the labor department. p.survey-response {white-space: pre-line;} Current Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black is not running to keep his seat, mounting a run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Raphael Warnockinstead. He served concurrently under Governors Perdue, Deal and Kemp. Coan serves on the Chairmans Advisory Council for Workers Compensation. He says he also volunteers with a charity that raises funds to send children, whose parent has been killed or catastrophically injured, to the technical school or college of their choosing. padding-bottom: 8px; Georgia Commissioner of Labor "Im hoping the voters will have a chance to see what kind of person he is," Tyler said. font-size: 12px; $('.showResponses').show(); .votebox-results-cell--number { 678-665-8480.

float:right;      } 	margin-top: 1px; } "The point of the Labor Commissioner is to make sure Georgians are employed, so you don't want someone who isn't honest with money, isn't honest in their own business," said Jones. 	}; The candidates were united in opposition to a proposal last year that would have created a chief labor officer to share some duties with the labor commissioner, reporting to the General Assembly. Mike Coan For Labor Commissioner. Keep it Clean. Boddie has been a member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the South Fulton and Douglas County Chamber of Commerce, the Douglas County Small Business Society, the City of Douglasville Housing Committee, and the Douglas County Democratic Party. } .inner_percentage.Green {  	background-color: #f9d334; Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. ul.key-messages {list-style-type: none; margin-left:10px; } Vote Counted County-By-County. 	width: 90%; Currently the State Senator for District 6, the Republican farmer from Ocilla says he is looking to keep liberal influence out of Georgia. 	margin-top: 16px;  Kartik Bhatt, Mike Coan and Bruce Thompson answered questions from the media and forum attendees. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. The department needs more decentralized outreach, with deputy commissioners assigned to various regions and career centers in all but the smallest counties, he said. 	padding-left: 0; Ballotpedia features 395,397 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Federal courts | .electionsectionheading { 	height: 50px; that is degrading to another person. 	width: 50px; State legislature | .results_row td:first-child { Thompson said the department is a broken agency, and hes running to fix it.     Savannah Thompson told people on Facebook he had a clean bill of health.     Gainesville } .race_footer { } The commissioner has done the very best he could with what he had to work with. .votebox_bp_logo { He is chief executive officer of Dukes, Edwards and Dukes, Inc., based in Albany, Georgia and an consultant in the food service and restaurant industries. William Boddie and Nicole Horn  advanced to a runoff. 	width: 50px; width: 250px; 	.race_header, .results_text, .results_table_container, .votebox_legend { 	max-width: 75px; If you get hungry enough, he said, youll get back to work..  On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. There were no incumbents in this race. } He will always put Georgia agriculture first and fight the overreach of Washington, D.C.. To read all of InsiderAdvantage Georgias daily news,SUBSCRIBE HERE. 	margin-bottom: 0; Mike Coan is running for Labor Commissioner, and needs your help. Georgia Commissioner of Labor - Google News, 148 Andrew Young Intl Blvd, NE 	} Thompson decided to come home and never answered the FOX 5 I-Teams questions about the incident. The results have been certified. | 	padding-left: 8px; .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { Mike Coan-Candidate for Labor Commissioner joins the Lori Duke Show to talk Campaign, Why Running, Challenges, Leadership, Labor Shortages, Unemployment Challenges and much more! } CANDIDATE DETAILS: Affiliation: Republican <- 2022-01-01 . Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. 	overflow-x: auto; Candidate for GA Labor Commissioner. King said he hopes to restore trust in the Department of Insurance, eliminate corruption, and advance policies that put consumers ahead of the special interests..      Terms & Privacy. } I am proud to have served our state at the pleasure of all three of Georgias Republican governors, said Coan. 	letter-spacing: 0.03em; State Sen. Bruce Thompson answers a question from the media. Mike Coan (Republican Party) was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 101.  The FOX. } Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? "For an office like labor commissioner, or any elected office, what people are looking for is someone who is going to abide by the law. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Subscribe Today. 			overflow-y: auto;      Middle Georgia .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { How to run for office | 	display: inline-block; State executives | He also wants to cut the states Hotel Occupancy Tax, which charges guests an extra $5 per night, no matter the rate of the hotel room. 625 likes. Mike Coan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey. 27, 2022 Labor Commissioner 99% Est. .top_disclaimer { .votebox-scroll-container { Mike currently serves as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Labor, having moved over to help the Department in December 2021. King served as the Doraville police chief for seventeen years. .inner_percentage.CrossFiled { .votebox_legend .non_result_row { 	.votebox { He served concurrently under Governors Perdue, Deal and Kemp. 	}); $('.hideResponses').show(); Along the way, Bruces business successes, entrepreneurial spirit, and relentless work ethic has resulted in numerous awards, and in invitations to speak at leadership conferences. Jones is an assistant professor of political science at Morehouse College. .inner_percentage.Green { 	padding-left: 10px; $(".expand-all").on('click', () => {       Smith, said he would post a deputy outside Thompsons beach house to keep him inside and protect the local community. Senator Thompson has received numerous awards over the years from the business community, and has been recognized by various lobbying groups as their Legislator of the Year, including: Despite his many accomplishments as a businessman and legislator, Bruce will quickly tell you that his greatest successes, and joy, comes from being a father to his two children, Faith (21) and Max (16), who he raised with his wonderful wife of 24 years, Becky.     Newnan The incumbent, King was appointed as the insurance commissioner in 2019, after Jim Beck was suspended from the position. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h3.votebox-header-office-name { PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. He said he will also reduce the time it takes for banks to decide whether a Small Business Administration or commercial loan is approved from 60 to 90 days to 30 to 45 days, and provide number one customer service through a 24/7 call center to handle claims and offer other assistance. Campaign themes 2022 Ballotpedia survey responses See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection 	font-weight: bold; Coan said workforce development needs to be under the governor, because workforce and economic development go hand in glove. He said, putting it all together thats what needs to happen., I dont know that I really have a say in that, Thompson said. 	padding-top: 8px; Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. (The labor department) needs a change. var nTimer = setInterval(function() { 	background-color: green; Bruce is also the founder and owner of Strong Tower Development, an investment and holding company which has built a funeral home, a center for small businesses, and in keeping with his passion for serving those in need, this company has built affordable rental homes for single moms and their children. Robinson ran for insurance commissioner in 2018, and lost with 47% of the vote.      I have no idea if they are properly staffed, because I have no idea what they do, he said. and provide assistance and expenses necessary for the operation of the department of each. 	background-color: #f4f4f4; .results_row td { 	background-color: green; I think everyone, regardless of party, wants to see the Labor Department succeed.. One evening in 1964, Bruces mother, who was a single mom, needed a ride home from her shift at the California bar where she worked. Coan is the second Republican to get into the race after state Sen. Bruce Thompson, Chairman of the Senate Economic Development Committee. The results have been certified. Metro Atlanta CEO is part of the Georgia CEO Network which includes newswires, newsletters, databases and local web sites in cities across Georgia:  Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, LaGrange, Middle Georgia, Newnan, Rome, Savannah, Tifton, and Valdosta. }) }     Tifton 	font-size: 2em; 678-665-8480. bottom of page . 	background-color: #6db24f; [11], In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $122,786, according to the Council of State Governments. } Hemingway ran for Georgia House District 104 in 2020, but lost. Completed ballots must be received at local election offices before polls close on election day May 24. 	font-style: italic; Georgia Labor Commissioner . Source1Source2. .widget-value {      	margin-right: 12px; ATLANTA - A Buford, Georgia woman has filed a campaign finance complaint accusing Republican Labor Commissioner candidate Bruce Thompson of violating Georgia campaign finance laws. Dukes has served as the representative for District 154 since 1997. or anything. 	vertical-align: top; If runoffs are required in those primaries, they will be held June 21. font-size: .9em; 	color: #888; Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the General Assembly shall [1] He was elected to the Georgia House in 1996, after defeating incumbent Vinson Wall,[2] and resigned in 2010 after Governor Sonny Perdue named him the administrator of the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund. Thompson said he has much better relations with legislators than Butler and would not face the same hostility over budgets. Baker is an insurance salesman and author who says he will advocate for reasonable insurance rates if elected. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. .race_header.green { 	} else { 	margin-bottom: 0px; [3] In 2022, Coan ran for the Republican nomination for Georgia Labor Commissioner. In 2002, she and her husband built a buisness that "helped colleges and universites develop programs to train and retrain the workforce." } .outer_percentage { 	font-weight: bold; 	if (window.jQuery) { Democrat Nadia Surrency said she has a much more diverse background than other candidates. 	height: 22px; 	background-color: #ccc; Current Labor Commissioner Mark Butler decided not to run for the position again this year, citing "new opportunities" and saying he wants to focus on his family. It has often been said that Bruce Thompson is not afraid of rolling up his sleeves and getting dirty. })       } of Agriculture regulates and monitors most food-related issues, from which pesticides are allowed for farming to acceptable practices in bottling and food processing plants. Bruces life as a businessman started at the tender age of 10, when he began selling fresh milk from his family farm to local school bus drivers. 	background-color: grey; Good morning friends! .indicate_scroll { 	padding-left: 10px; } State Rep. William Boddie of East Point and Nicole Horn, an Atlanta businesswoman and consultant . 	top: 0px; Thompson did not want to do an interview but sent FOX 5 a statement calling the complaint a "baseless, last minute attack by a desperate opponent who has led the most ethically challenged and scandal plagued agency in Georgia.". 	width: 50%; 	height: 100%; for 30 days. Ballotpedia features 395,397 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. There are no term limits for the office of labor commissioner. Commissioner of Labor Republican Mike Coan Coan served as the representative for District 101 in the Georgia House from 1997 to 2011. "I am proud to have served our state at the pleasure of all three of Georgia's Republican governors," said Coan. This agency has repeatedly stated that many of their community offices remain closed because of the significant percentage of aging workers. 	font-weight: bold; } } 	display: block; The departments handling of that crisis  and the vast new programs the federal government created  triggered complaints, protests, an unflattering audit and a few lawsuits. CANTON  Republican candidates running to become Georgias next labor commissioner met voters in Cherokee County and discussed the changes they believe are needed in the labor department. 	color: #0645ad; .widget-row.heading {  Bruce Thompson 	top: -1px; 	top: -5px; } 	} else { Because we are looking at a post-Roe world, women are going to be facing questions about insurance and about time off so they can travel out of state, Horn said. Be Truthful. 	padding-left: 16px; 	top: 0px; *Subscription includes a complimentary subscription toJAMES Magazine.     Augusta An email has been sent to  with a link to confirm list signup. 	background-color: #6db24f; These results are automatically generated from Google. 	background-color: #f9f9f9; 	margin-bottom: 4px; If legislators wont help, federal funds are available, she said. 	} } Whats the disposition of those calls? They are the proud parents of three daughters, Autumn, Madison and Grace.      They defeated Lester Jackson, Nadia Surrency, and Thomas Dean in the  Democratic primary for Georgia Commissioner of Labor on May 24, 2022. } .race_header.libertarian {  At this critical time in our history, we need an experienced conservative leader who understands how to run one of Georgias biggest agencies.. 	display: inline; Invalid password or account does not exist. Elections in 2023 | Democratic State Rep. William Boddie said he was inundated with sometimes desperate calls from constituents waiting for jobless benefits to be paid and unable to reach any department staffers. 	margin-top: 0px; As a serial entrepreneur, Bruce has successfully launched or turned around a variety of businesses. 	background-color: green;     LaGrange 	font-weight: bold; } But also extends to gas station pump calibration and regulating pet breeders, and a wide berth of other issues. How to run for office | The public's trust for the Department of Labor is at an all-time low. .votebox-results-metadata-p { U.S. Congress | 	top: 2px; ", Reporter: So, at heart you are a journalist?". The law seems pretty clear. 	text-align: center; 	    } Bruce Thompson for Georgia Labor Commissioner Initiatives for the DOL Restore Credibility Trust is the foundation for any organization. Coan currently serves as Deputy Commissioner at the Georgia Department of Labor and is a former state representative. 	padding-left: 8px; 	let scrollHeight = jQuery('.results_table_container').get(index).scrollHeight; It was WWII. Since then, Bruce has successfully started 2 automatic swimming pool cover businesses that grew to become the largest in the Southeast prior to being acquired in 2018. .widget-row.Libertarian { if (typeof $  !=  'undefined') { In 2008, Coan collected $46,001 in campaign contributions. Live news updates: Latest election day news from the Georgia Primary. .votebox-covid-disclaimer { 	width: 100%; Georgia House of Representatives District 101, Georgia Labor Commissioner election, 2022, Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2008, District of Columbia (board of education), https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Mike_Coan&oldid=8741307, Georgia Commissioner of Labor candidate, 2022, Former member, Georgia House of Representatives, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections, Subcommittee on Regulations and Oversight (Chair). Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. 	position: relative;  The results have been certified. .widget-row.value-only.black { Promotional Rates were found for your code. He currently serves as deputy commissioner in the. But hes not sure they need more workers. 	background-color: #db0000; During his time in the House Coan was named Legislator of the Year by the NFIB, the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia, the Georgia Restaurant Association, and others. 	padding-bottom: 5px; We need to start working on the culture help the people inside that agency understand the reason you exist is to serve the people outside, he said. 	background-color: #f9d334; if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? 	let item = jQuery('.votebox .indicate_scroll').get(index); $('.showResponses').hide(); Mike Coan, a Republican candidate for Georgia labor commissioner, answers a question from media. Error! .results_text { .results_text { Anybody who wants to take the time and effort could do this," Tyler said. U.S. President | } } 	font-size: 12px; 	letter-spacing: 0.03em; 	border-radius: 50%; 	indicateScroll(); Coan assumed office in 1997. She argues that it should be an advocate for workers, not only with a stronger safety net, but with protections against abuse of workers in unsafe conditions, stolen wages or discrimination. The hopefuls seek an office that was historically uncontroversial  until the pandemic triggered a tidal wave of unemployment claims, far more than during even the deepest previous recessions. This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Georgia Recorder. The Labor commissioner is responsible for implementing the state's workforce regulations andoperating Georgia's unemployment insurance and rehabilitation programs. .votebox_legend { Coan said he is running to "fix the problems we got," regarding the labor department. There were no incumbents in this race. Republican Mike Coan announced Friday that he will qualify this week for the Georgia Labor Commissioner  after current Commissioner Mark Butler announced that he will not be seeking re-election.     Gainesville Using his relationship with the General Assembly, Thompson said he would focus on four groups of people to fill open positions. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? William Boddie and Nicole Horn  advanced to a runoff. 	margin-top: 1em; He served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1997 to 2010, during which he served as chairman of the Industry and Labor committee. Mike Coan for Labor Commissioner. } 	margin-bottom: .75em; 	font-size: 12px;      	width: 35px !important; [4] He lost the primary election to Bruce Thompson.[5]. .widget-row.Green { 	text-align: left !important; 	color: #fff; 	background-color: #003388; 	height: 56px; a[aria-expanded=true] .fa-chevron-right { display: none; }                                         
 When questioned about how to solve this challenge, the answer seems to be elusive. 	padding:7px 8px 8px; } The publics trust for the Department of Labor is at an all-time low. Bruce Thompson ( Republican Party) is the Georgia Commissioner of Labor. 	width: 100%; 	position: relative; } } According to Coan, he was appointed by Gov. Bruce originally served as the CMO before moving to the COO role, and he currently serves as the CEO of the corporation. } 	left: 0;     Columbus Republican primary for Georgia Commissioner of Labor Bruce Thompson defeated Mike Coan and Kartik Bhatt in the Republican primary for Georgia Commissioner of Labor on May 24, 2022. } .votebox-results-metadata-p { .results_row td:first-child {      We need volunteers to help connect Bruce to others. In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $122,786, according to the Council of State Governments.  Buy a monthly subscription or pay yearly to get full access to all of our local news.      Coan said he would work to boost funding, and reform operations. } } He and his wife, Hope, have three daughters. 	} .inner_percentage { To read all of InsiderAdvantage Georgias daily news,SUBSCRIBE HERE. 	font-weight: 100; It does not need more of the same., Bhatt, a Cobb County resident since 2001, said he is running to ensure that hard working Georgians are financially independent.. 	width: 100%; Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles. In 2010, He was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to lead the state agency known as The Subsequent Injury Trust Fund. 	background-color: #db0000; Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to read or post comments. Thompson assumed office in 2023. } Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. } Reporter: "You were editor, publisher and owner? 2022 Georgia Labor Commissioner Republican Primary Results Election Date: May. 	font-size: 1.2em; Republican Mike Coan announced Friday that he will qualify this week for the Georgia Labor Commissioner - after current Commissioner Mark Butler announced that he will not be seeking re-election. 	background-color: #003388; div.survey-scrollbox {  height:400px;  overflow:scroll;  margin:20px;  padding:10px;  border:1px solid gray; } Assumed office: 2023-01-09, The Georgia Commissioner of Labor is a state executive position in the Georgia state government. 	font-weight: 200; } Federal courts | Legislators and citizens of Georgia are exasperated by the actions and attitude of this agency. If a vacancy occurs, the governor fills it, subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the Georgia Senate. I think that is something we can do administratively, she said. 	margin: 0; 	}      People immediately notice Bruces get it done spirit, which is rooted in his Montana childhood, where life was anything but easy. }) Some notable initiatives for Thompson if elected include restoring credibility to the agency through building trust with the public, recruiting a dynamic workforce, and creating a culture that values and promotes proactive problem-solving and increases morale among employees. Primary Election Day is May 24. The commissioner is responsible for implementing the state's labor regulations, operating its unemployment insurance and rehabilitation programs and producing statistics and research covering the Georgia labor market.[1]. [3] In 2022, Coan ran for the Republican nomination for Georgia Labor Commissioner. Local Communities If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us. Coan has served as deputy commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor since December. When the I-Team reviewed Thompsons campaign disclosures, it looks like he spent some $35,000 from his Senate account to pay three different people to work on his labor commissioner race. 125 7 comments Like Comment  	if(scrollHeight > 580 ) {