GEORGES SCORES SIGNIFICANT VICTORY IN TELEVISED DEBATE

Section: Votenews

Committee to Elect John Georges

Independent businessman John Georges was the clear winner in the only forum or debate where all four major candidates for governor appeared.

“It was clear that John Georges was the winner in Thursday night’s televised debate on public television,” said John Hill, a communications consultant to Georges. “Georges not only looked more gubernatorial, but he demonstrated that he has a clear action plan of how to build the state we all want – and the managerial skills to execute the plan. It’s a plan of clear actions, not just ideas.”

Georges has made it a point to attend every forum and debate, but Republican Bobby Jindal appeared for the first time with his opponents at any forum.

“John Georges is not just another politician, but a successful businessman who knows how to make a plan and create jobs,” Hill said.

Commentators around the state weighed in Friday with positive reviews:

· Columnist and Louisiana Fax Weekly publisher John Maginnis said Georges did not equivocate in answering questions:

“With the most direct answers, Georges won on points,” Maginnis said. “John Georges was the most pointed toward Jindal, calling him `naïve’ for saying the state is united when the demonstration in Jena last week showed `how divided we are.’ He also stated that `unlike the congressman who has not created any jobs, I have created thousands as a businessman.’”

Georges is the only candidate who has proposed creating a Governor’s Commission on Multi-cultural Issues to help identify and solve problems before they reach the level of national attention that the Jena issue generated. Georges, the owner of 40 businesses, also has a history of growing jobs, having taken his family-owned wholesale grocery distribution company, Imperial Trading, from 60 to over 600 jobs. Georges took a failing start-up tugboat company to 100 high-paying jobs, with all employees receiving three raises in the past year.

· Columnist Jeff Crouere noted that Georges was most effective in the debate and noted that Georges is the only one of the major four candidates to sign and embrace the Blueprint Louisiana Agenda for Change.

“John Georges was the most aggressive in attacking Jindal and promoting his agenda, which includes the Blueprint Louisiana platform…Just a few months ago, no one knew Georges, but now he is a serious threat to finish the race in second place, quite an achievement,” Crouere wrote.

· The Independent, a Lafayette-based print and e-news magazine, also declared Georges the apparent winner. Georges “gave the most specific answers; drew a sharp contrast between himself and the other candidates on race relations by repeatedly noting that he was the only candidate to go to Jena; and used his business experience to note that he’s traveled to every parish in the state and also jab Jindal. `Unlike the Congressman who hasn’t created one job his entire life, I have created many jobs.’”

“John Georges has long specialized in acquiring failing companies and turning them around to create good jobs,” Hill said. “That’s what separates him from the politicians: He is a very successful entrepreneur who knows how to grow jobs.

“John Georges can do the same thing for the state as he has done in the private sector. After more than a century of electing politicians, we should elect a successful businessman who knows how to grow more and better jobs,” Hill said.