A forum for Republican candidates for governor to address the Black community in metro Atlanta began with controversy Sunday after some on the guest list declined to appear.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, business leader Clark Dean and military veteran Ken Yasger showed up for the Georgia Black Republican Council event at the Southwest Arts Center in South Fulton, but fellow GOP contenders Brad Raffensperger, Chris Carr and Rick Jackson didn’t attend.
Their absence was punctuated by the number of empty chairs onstage inside the venue’s auditorium in front of a crowd of more than 200 attendees, most of whom were Black. The apparent snub appeared to anger GBRC Chairwoman Camilla Moore, who told those in attendance not to vote for any of the candidates who didn’t appear.
“If you as a Republican don’t think the Black vote in our community is good enough for you to come and give us your attention, we’re not voting for you,” Moore said, as attendees applauded. “I’m going to ask that you not consider voting for them because they don’t think you’re worthy enough to show up tonight and give an answer to what they would do in addressing issues with the Black community. That is my position. That is my stance.”
Moore told Capital B Atlanta on Monday that the forum began about 30 minutes late because organizers were waiting for Raffensperger to show up. She characterized the situation as an insult to the Black community at a time when she and other Black Republicans are working hard to make inroads with Democrats’ most loyal voting bloc.
President Donald Trump’s appeal helped the party make gains with Black voters during the past three presidential election cycles, but polls show that support has waned this year.
Moore’s remarks came at a crucial time in the Republican race for governor, with the May 19 primary election two months away and candidates battling hard for support in a race that may ultimately be decided by a runoff.
McDonough resident Ashaki Nichols, who attended Sunday’s forum, said she agreed with Moore’s call not to vote for candidates who failed to appear. The 54-year-old owner of Noni Consulting Management Services said failing to show up for the event was disrespectful to Black voters of all political backgrounds.
“It just really shows their lack of concern for the vote of the Black community,” she said.
When reached for comment about Moore’s assertions, all three no-show campaigns accused GBRC organizers of being in the tank for Jones, a state party leader who has trailed Jackson by eight to 15 points in three of the latest GOP primary polls. They said GBRC members took pictures with Jones earlier this month after he officially qualified for the race.
Staffers for Jackson and Carr told Capital B Atlanta their candidates never committed to attending due to scheduling conflicts. They also pointed out that GBRC member Shelley Wynter, the Black conservative radio personality, was one of the moderators. On his show, Wynter has called Jones “the only Republican running for governor,” and referred to Raffensperger and Carr as “blue dog Democrats.”
“[I’m] not saying they’re not Republicans,” Wynter told his listeners last year regarding Carr and Raffensperger. “They can be defined as moderates. Burt Jones is really running against all Democrats.”
Reports that Jackson, the billionaire founder of Jackson Healthcare, would not be attending Sunday’s forum began circulating last week. He told reporters at a campaign stop in Watkinsville on Thursday that he was still considering debate invites.
A spokesperson for Jackson’s campaign said he had “long-scheduled events” Sunday afternoon and noted he has previously appeared on Wynter’s radio show.
“Rick appreciates the work of the Black Republican Council to further the cause of conservative leadership in Georgia,” the spokesperson said in a Tuesday morning text message.
A spokesperson for Raffensperger’s campaign said Monday that the secretary of state asked Moore if he could speak last at the GBRC forum on Sunday due to a “family obligation” that prevented him from coming earlier.
“Since his request could not be granted, he did not confirm his attendance,” the campaign said via text message.
Moore said claims that the GBRC forum was biased are “ludicrous,” and that the candidates missed an opportunity to address the concerns of Black voters.
“We will never make inroads if we don’t show up,” she said. “At what point does my community matter to you? Obviously we don’t matter to Jackson, Carr, and Raffensperger.”
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