Zachary strikes back at Greene in HD 151 race

ALBANY – Independent House District 151 candidate Kenneth Zachary addressed and apologized for past mistakes that were publicized as part of an Albany Herald article earlier this week and then immediately went on the offensive, accepting an offer from Republican Rep. Gerald Greene to “check my record and find where I’ve voted against something that was best for my district.”

In a release sent to The Herald through the Georgia House Democratic Caucus, Zachary, a minister and past city official, said he’s put the “mistakes” of his past behind him.

“I acknowledge that I have made mistakes in my past, and I do not excuse them,” he said. “What I can do is offer my heartfelt apology, and continue focusing on serving this community as a pastor and, hopefully, as a representative.

“But Gerald Greene owes us an apology, too. (Tuesday) Gerald Greene challenged this community to check his record and find out when he has voted against the best interest of this district. I am taking him up on that offer. Our community is hurting because not enough people have health care, jobs and quality schools. Instead of addressing those issues, Greene has prioritized bringing guns into our churches and on our college campuses, gutting local public schools, and has refused to support Medicaid expansion that would bring health care and jobs to thousands in the region.”

Zachary went on to categorize Greene’s 33 years in the House as “failed leadership.”

“Two hospitals have closed and jobs have been lost in 151 because of his failed leadership,” Zachary said. “Schools are struggling and neighborhoods are less safe as a direct result of his votes. Southwest Georgia deserves leaders with the right priorities who will put them and the issues they care about first, not party switchers who insist on supporting an out-of-touch Republican agenda.”

Greene, who criticized Zachary for “being fed his talking points by the state Democratic Party,” said his opponent is “distorting the facts about the issues.”

“This year, in education alone, we spent $1.5 billion in new dollars,” the Cuthbert Republican said. “In fact, out of a $23.7 billion budget, $8.9 billion — more than a third — is for education. QBE (Quality Basic Education) was never funded when the Democrats were in charge, but since the economy turned around, we’ve put more into education every year. This year’s budget alone included $300 million that could be used for teacher pay raises.”

Greene also criticized Zachary’s comments about his failure to support Medicaid expansion, saying the independent candidate’s contention that he “excused himself from voting on a critical Medicaid expansion bill on March 3rd 2014 … despite being present for several other floor votes, including both immediately before and immediately after the Medicaid expansion vote on the same day” was untrue.

“I haven’t ever voted against expanding Medicaid because the Legislature has not voted on that issue,” Greene said. “This is simply another example of the state Democratic party distorting the facts. I called on (Zachary) to take a look at my record, and all the Democrats have done is make accusations they can’t back up.”

Zachary’s release also accused Greene of:

— Voting in favor of the “Opportunity School District” legislation and constitutional amendment that will remove local control from 127 Georgia schools, including Calhoun County Elementary School and Randolph Clay Middle School in House District 151;

— Backing legislation that led to tax increases in six HD 151 counties (Stewart, Quitman, Randolph, Terrell, Clay and Calhoun); and

— Voting twice to allow Georgians to bring guns into bars and churches.