The below question was sent to Kemp campaign spokesman, Ryan Mahoney and candidate Kemp last week. We have not received a response. We have confirmed they have seen the request.

Sent October 3, 2018 at 11:03

From: “D.A. King”
Subject: Media request for quote and candidate position: Constitutional official English
Date: October 3, 2018 at 10:47:58 AM EDT
To: ryan@kempforgovernor***
Cc: Brian Kemp

According to the AJC, Stacey Abrams has announced her intent to oppose allowing Georgia voters to decide on a ballot question to amend the state constitution to make English the official language of Georgia government and was active in that opposition when she was in the General Assembly.

AJC: “The event at Plaza Fiesta, a mall largely populated with Latino-owned businesses, was a meet-and-greet pegged to Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15. Abrams enumerated her proposed policies that touch Hispanic and immigrant communities, from preventing wage theft to opposing a state constitutional amendment making English the official language of Georgia, a bill she fought as a freshman state representative.” Here.

FYI, In 2016 SR 675 passed the Georgia senate with every Republican member voting “YEA.” It was not allowed a vote on the House floor.

That Resolution created the ballot question:
” Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that English is the official language of the State of Georgia?”

All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote “Yes.”

All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote “No.”

If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of this state.”

FYI – There is a statute in place that makes English the official language, but also says officials can ignore that directive. “State agencies, counties, municipal corporations, and political subdivisions of this state are authorized to use or to print official documents and forms in languages other than the official language, at the discretion of their governing authorities.”

A 2015 Rostta Stone poll shows a 76% percent approval from Georgia voters on constitutional official English.

—> Question for candidate Kemp: Do you support allowing Georgia voters to decide on a ballot question that would amend the state constitution to make English the official language of Georgia government and which would end current practice of offering the written road rules portion of the DDS drivers license exam in (11) foreign languages? If so, will you use the power of the governor’s office to promote that cause for the 2020 election?

I will be writing the story this evening and will include any response or notation of lack thereof from the Kemp campaign.

Thank you in advance for a prompt reply.

Respectfully,

D.A. King
Marietta