Saying he's learned from mistakes made during his first term as Governor, Roy Barnes says now he's ready to fight for his old job.
Barnes made his intentions known to a packed conference room of friends, family and associates this afternoon at the Marietta Conference Center. He enters the 2010 Governor's race to challenge three other declared candidates on the Democratic side.
Barnes says a tour of the state the past couple of months sparked personal reflection on his one term as Governor that ended with defeat in 2002:
Barnes made his intentions known to a packed conference room of friends, family and associates this afternoon at the Marietta Conference Center. He enters the 2010 Governor's race to challenge three other declared candidates on the Democratic side.
Barnes says a tour of the state the past couple of months sparked personal reflection on his one term as Governor that ended with defeat in 2002:
"I realized when I was Governor before, I didn't do enough listening. I realized
that I was impatient and had an aggressive agenda."
Barnes says a pair of issues that may have sunk his previous re-election bid--battles with teachers over accountability, and the firestorm over the state flag--are either his fault, or are of lesser importance now.
He says topping his agenda for this race is working to solve transportation problems, and mending shortcomings in education.
Barnes will begin his campain in earnest in July, once he wraps up legal work and a chairmanship term on a national education board.
