'You Can‘t Drink Yourself Sober'

I sat down last Sunday at Panera Bread in Snellville with Georgia House District 107 candidate Tom Kirby to find out what kind of fellow he is and try to discover what motivates someone to run for public office. He is one of four candidates running for the 107 seat -- the others are Michael Lynch, Paul Smith, and Mark Banks.

Tom Kirby's demeanor is affable, easygoing, and no nonsense. When he starts talking, though, you see that this amiable person is also incredibly serious about becoming a Representative in the Georgia House.

Talking about the economy in Georgia and the United States, Tom Kirby said this about the out of control spending that occurs at all levels of government that must stop for us to get ourselves out of this economic mess we find ourselves in, “You can‘t drink yourself sober.”

Kirby said that one of Georgia’s biggest challenges was to more actively compete against our Florida, Alabama and South Carolina neighbors in economic and business development”. “We need to make sure of a level playing field to encourage business.”, he went on, “I am a big FairTax supporter. H.R. 25 would give us a leg up when attracting businesses. Eliminating property tax is a dream of mine. I think Florida is a great example with their tourist tax---a great model for a consumption tax that eliminates the state tax.”

“I am not one of those guys who checks off the FairTax box just to get elected. Governing for Tom Kirby is not about checking the box on any one ideology simply because it’s the politically expedient thing to do. He wants to encourage that, “good government that simply allows families and businesses the opportunity to succeed on their own merits.”

When asked about his first foray into politics and government, Kirby told me he began his political involvement in college with the University of Kentucky Young Republicans. He has stayed involved in the years since college with various groups, and has helped to bring important issues to the forefront of his community.

He took part in the Leadership Walton program in 2002 where he learned a lot about local government, community affairs and community history. He also served on the Board of Directors for Walton County Chamber of Commerce holding the Vice Chairman for Economic Development position. Kirby ran unsuccessfully for Walton County Commissioner in 2008.

“But the idea of getting more involved and running for a higher office came to me during the summer of Obamacare in 2009. I was talking with an elderly gentleman who realized that things weren’t going so good and maybe it was because he had never been involved the way he should have. Then it hit me really strongly that I had to do more too.”, Kirby noted.

As a result of that new commitment, Tom Kirby was the first to announce he was running against former Georgia District 7 Congressman, John Linder in 2010. That was before Linder announced his retirement. After Rep. Linder announced he would not seek another term, Kirby became one of a broad field of eight candidates seeking the 7th U.S. House seat.

It is worth noting here that candidate Kirby has been already been endorsed in his run for the Ga. House 107 seat by five of those former candidates : Jody Hice, Jeff Fincher, Clay Cox, Chuck Efstration and Tom Parrott.

Tom Kirby’s depth of business and economic knowledge is very visible when he talks about how the problems of government can be solved. He is certain that solving the problems of government at any level can only be achieved if approached from the standpoint of good business.

Kirby said one of the biggest challenges of District 107, which includes Grayson, Loganville and parts of West Walton and East Gwinnett, involves preparation for the massive growth and building development that is sure to resume with a vengeance when the economy does rebound, as it is expected to.

The candidate said that local and state governments need to do whatever they can to encourage the creation of manufacturing companies in the area as well as courting those businesses that will  bring wealth to the community. Such a business sense and perspective is what strikes one when talking to Tom Kirby.

In that vein, he likes to talk about his years as Chairman of the Board of the Walton Career Academy, from 2006-2010. Walton Career Academy is a charter school but it is also a joint venture between the Walton Board of Education, Athens tech and area businesses. Students who attend Walton Career actually graduate from Loganville High School.

Tom Kirby is proud of the business-oriented educational program at Walton Career Academy. He said they went to local businessmen and asked what qualifications they would like to see in students who come to them for jobs, and then made those the basis for the school’s curriculum.

One word that definitely describes Tom Kirby is business! He himself has spent more than 25 years in the business world, working for several outstanding corporations.. At present, he is the Human Resources Safety Manager for CertainTeed Corporation Siding.

Many in the state education system don’t think the business model will work, but, Kirby simply says this: “We’ve had other countries come to us and ask how they can model after our career academies.” The proof’s in the pudding.

He also talked about the fact that all government work is not dealing with the big glamorous issues but involves dealing with those practical matters that affect district residents For instance, Kirby wants to introduce an amendment in the Georgia House that requires car dealerships to tell customers if the cars they sell have tinted windows that don’t measure up to legal standards before they make a purchase. People have been stopped by police and had to pay fines and spend money to get the too dark tinting removed, which is costly.

Tom Kirby said he wants to work as an advocate for cities, counties and businesses with the state government and he wants to be that important liaison that helps address those issues that matter most to the citizens of District 107.

He plans to hold not only town halls to inform his constituents what is going on under the Gold Dome, he wants to have strictly "listening sessions" to find out what citizens need and want out of their state government. “Good government is about representing and listening to people,” Kirby said.

Kirby has no qualms about telling you his opinion on the hot button issues, like charter schools and illegal immigration either. When I asked him his opinion on charter schools, Kirby said he is all for the establishment of charter schools but also noted that "schools without proper accreditation are not something states should be funding." He said there were always schools being formed that don’t measure up to the necessary requirements.

Again, he cited the Walton Career Academy has an example of the success that can be achieved by a charter school when it is a joint venture with the  department of education and is run by businessmen and not by career educators. The educators, he said, are left to the business of curricula and teaching at the academy.

On the subject of illegal immigration, the District 107 Georgia House candidate said, “The Kirby clan came from Ireland from nothing during the potato famine. I have no problem with immigration. But the discussion ends at illegal.”

He said the matter of dealing with illegal immigration is a federal responsibility but that, “if the Federal government is not doing the job of protecting our borders then-the states have a right to take care of it themselves.”

Not only is he extremely knowledgeable about business and economics (he holds a B.S. in agricultural economics from the University of Kentucky) and knows what measures Walton Co. the  state of Georgia and America need to take to get back on a successful financial track, he is the first to let you know that he is also a staunch supporter of the family unit and the values that should go along with that.

Just how much importance he puts on family values and on his own family in particular, is best illustrated by his request that his campaign signs have four stars on the bottom, representing his wife and this three daughters.

His family is very involved at The Church in the Grove over in Walnut Grove. His wife, Rosemary, is active in the PTA at his youngest daughter, Peyton’s middle school and they are both very proud of their two older daughters Courtney and Leslie, a University of Kentucky and Valdosta freshmen, respectively.

Tom Kirby is a strong, well-respected Conservative who has a time-tested business acumen and a record of success in his community. He wants to bring government to the people where they will be able to let him know their concerns and where he can serve as a strong, effective voice for those concerns under the Gold Dome.