Rick Jackson campaigns across Middle Georgia; Jackson campaign continues to dodge 41NBC’s interview request
The Republican gubernatorial nominee is meeting with voters in Macon and Perry Thursday.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson is campaigning across Middle and South Georgia on Thursday, with stops in Macon, Perry and Valdosta.
Jackson’s campaign announced meet-and-greets in Bibb and Houston counties, followed by an evening rally in Lowndes County.
During his campaign, Jackson has pledged to reduce Georgia’s income tax by 50% during his first term if elected governor. He has also criticized rising property taxes.
“I do have a commitment to reduce the income tax by 50% in the first term and I do have a plan on that,” Jackson said. “There’s not just hopes and strategy. It’s not going to be easy, but if anybody do it, I think I could do it.”
Jackson also claimed that the cost of living has increased 23% over the past five years, while average property taxes in Georgia have risen 49%.
41NBC has requested an interview with Jackson to ask about his proposals and his campaign’s priorities. The Jackson campaign continues to dodge our interview request.
On October 12, during Jackson’s campaign stop in Macon, 41NBC asked campaign spokesperson Garrison Douglas about arranging an interview with the candidate.
Douglas said the campaign did not have time for an interview at that stop but indicated the campaign would make time when Jackson returned to Macon next time.
When we received the press release about Jackson coming to Macon on October 22, we followed up with the campaign about the interview, we were once again told there was not enough time despite being promised an interview next time the campaign was in Macon.
At the end of Jackson’s speech on Thursday October 22, the candidate told the crowd, “We got some time, I’ll stay here until everybody leaves.”
Since Jackson won the runoff, 41NBC has reached out and followed up several times to request an interview. The campaign has continued to say it does not have time.
The latest response comes as Jackson returns to Middle Georgia for another round of campaign events.
The station also attempted to question Jackson after a campaign rally in Monroe County on September 28. Douglas called security, and Monroe County sheriff’s deputies physically removed us from the area. Following the event Douglas did send a text apologizing for his atrocious behavior.
41NBC continues to seek an interview with Jackson and will update this story if the campaign ever decides to honor their commitment and make him available.
According to the campaign’s media advisory, Jackson is making the following stops on October 22:
- Bibb County: 8:30 a.m. at Brickyard Golf Club, 6000 Wesleyan Drive North, Macon.
- Houston County: 2:30 p.m. at Hummingbird Hill Farms, 2000 Houston Lake Road, Perry.
- Lowndes County: 6 p.m. at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center, 1 Meeting Place, Valdosta.
The campaign says the events are meet-and-greets with voters in Bibb and Houston counties, followed by an evening rally in Lowndes County.
