Article in the Walton Tribune

The Walton Tribune ran a story on my campaign for State Senate yesterday...

Democrat looks to end ‘gridlock’ in Senate

By Brian Arrington
The Walton Tribune

Published June 6, 2010

Democrat Jim Nichols says state government is bogged down by financial recklessness and political gridlock.
He’s hoping to change that if elected to the state Senate’s District 17 seat.

“Fiscal recklessness over the past few years by the Georgia legislature has been devastating to the citizens of this district,” the 29-year-old United Parcel Service truck loader from Stockbridge said. “Budget cuts to education have been one of the most dramatic examples of that failure to provide a sustainable budget. Our unemployment rate is still over 10 percent in this state, at a time when better-prepared states were able to take a hit and get back up.”

Nichols will face fellow Democrat Nicholas Day in the July 20 primary. Republicans Todd Hilton, Rick Jeffares and Ester Fleming will square off for the right to compete in the general election Nov. 2.

The seat is being vacated by state Sen. John Douglas, R-Social Circle, who is running for the District 2 Public Service Commission post.

Nichols is no stranger to politics, earning an associate’s degree in political science from American River College. He is currently attending Georgia State University working on a double major in economics and philosophy.

He was chair of the Henry County Democrats for a year starting in 2008, was named Young Democrats of Georgia Legislative aide of the year in 2008 and 2009 and was a legislative aide in 2008 for Reps. Debbie Buckner and Rick Crawford and Sen. Gail Buckner in 2009. He has been the second vice chairman of the Third Congressional Democrats since 2008, a Democracy for America National Advisory Board Member from 2008-09, a campaign manager for Jerry Brillant for state Senate in 2008 and a staffer with the Kevin Madden for state House campaign in 2007.

Nichols said the gridlock in Atlanta is caused by elected officials on both sides of the political aisle.

“Ending the gridlock at the Gold Dome is a key challenge,” he said. “Moderates and extremists in the Republican party have failed to come together to pass vitally needed reforms and the Democrats have failed to do their job as an opposition party to bring in important ideas and find common ground. That’s why we can’t get anything done in state government — be it streamlining programs, eradicating waste and providing more efficient effective government to the citizens of this state.

“The only way we are going to end the gridlock at the Gold Dome — be it creating a sustainable budget, fixing the water crisis, or improving our economic competitiveness so that we can get our citizens working again — is by shaking up the status quo in Atlanta.”

Being 29 years old, Nichols said he hopes to engage younger voters.

“The status quo of political insiders doing favors for their big business buddies has left the little guy standing by the side of the road wondering what happened to his government,” he said. “At 29 I can tell you that the 18-35 set don’t vote, don’t feel anything can change if they did — and so they disengage. Not only am I going to fight for today, I’m very concerned with what our future will look like. That’s why I decided I had to do something.”

Nichols is married to Deana Nichols.

For more information on Nichols’ campaign visit ww.JimN2010.com or call 770-312-6736.