Spotlight on the GA 8th Congressional District

Republican Winner, Austin Scott
The 8th Congressional District of Georgia encompasses all or part of 21 counties in a swath running north to south in the middle of the state. The northern district border originates just southeast of Atlanta. Heading south, the cities of Macon, Warner Robins, Perry, Dublin, Fitzgerald, Tifton and Moultrie are found. There is a large African-American presence centered in and around Macon, yet in the last three presidential elections, Republicans have won this district by 14 or more points each time. The Georgia Legislature redrew the state’s congressional districts in 2006. Their handling of Districts 3 and 8 set up a turf war between 8th District incumbent Mac Collins (R) and 3rd District incumbent Jim Marshall (D), former mayor of Macon. The contest, which Marshall won by a scant one point, attracted heavy spending and national attention. It was one of the most competitive House races in the country that year. In 2008, Marshall waltzed to victory, beating retired U.S.A.F Major General Rick Goddard by 14 points. He positioned himself as a conservative Democrat by opposing his party on issues such as health care and S-CHIP and supporting tax cuts proposed by Republicans. State Representative Austin Scott (R), who had sights on the Peach State governorship, dropped his bid for that post and filed instead to run in the GA 8th. He instantly became the favorite to win the Republican primary and went on to defeat Marshall, 53% to 47%.
Austin Scott
  • Graduate, Terry College of Business, Univ. of Georgia
  • Business owner/operator, independent insurance brokerage in Tifton, GA
  • Representative, Georgia General Assembly, 1997-present (elected at age 26)-Chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Comm. and member of the Appropriations, Rules and Ways and Means Comms.
  • Recognized by Georgia Trend as one of Georgia’s Brightest Starts under Age 40
  • Named a “Hero of Open Government” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Two time recipient of the American Cancer Cosiety’s Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award (2003, 2004)
  • Selected to the State Trauma Comm. (to help improve trauma care statewide), 2006
  • Star of Life Legislative Award, Georgia Assoc. of Emergency Medical Service (2007, 2008)
  • Member, National Assoc of Insurance and Financial Advisors
  • Graduate of The American College,a school for financial service professionals
  • Lifetime member, NRA
  • Served as Board member, Coastal Plains Chapter-American RedCross
  • Graduate, Leadership Georgia, 2007

ISSUES

  • Healthcare: provide market-based solutions, not an all-out government takeover
  • Economy/Jobs: believes in a regulated free market economy, not excessive bailouts; for small businesses, simplify regulatory processes, lower taxes, provide incentives to hire
  • Federal Spending: reduce taxes and reduce spending; pass a balanced budget amendment
  • Energy: separate ourselves from dependence on foreign powers; develop alternative resources; with proper safety measures and stringent oversight, continue domestic oil production
  • Taxes: lower taxes on business and consumers means more money to put to work in toward job growth and increased economic opportunity
  • Education: inherently a local issue and should not be subject to excessive federal control
  • Immigration: legal immigrants on a path to citizenship should be welcomed; need to secure our borders,enforce existing laws, and remove immigrants who have broken the law; does not support amnesty
"The Democrats in Congress have taken spending to unprecedented levels, and they show no signs of stopping. While American families are forced to tighten their belts, Congress continues to spend and drive our nation further into debt. We must elect fiscal conservatives this November to reverse the irresponsible actions of our government."
Austin Scott For Congress "The Extra Mile"
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