News release, Jan. 8, 1998A

Georgia Department of Labor
Suite 642 148 International Boulevard N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032

January 8, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

POYTHRESS ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION AS STATE LABOR COMMISSIONER

ATLANTA -- State Labor Commissioner David Poythress announced today that he will resign the post he has held since 1992 to devote full time to his campaign for governor of Georgia.

"After much reflection and prayer, I have decided to resign as state labor commissioner of Georgia to devote all of my time and energy to my campaign for the office of governor of Georgia," Poythress told reporters and supporters during a press conference in Atlanta today.

"I have met with Governor Miller on this matter," Poythress continued. "My resignation is effective Jan. 20, and I expect that the Governor will name a new commissioner very shortly." Poythress said he and Governor Miller have not discussed who his replacement will be. "That's Governor Miller's decision. I will, however, do everything I can to ensure a smooth transition, so that the citizens of Georgia will see no interruption in the high quality of service provided by the labor department," he said.

Poythress, 54, was first elected labor commissioner in a special election in 1992 and re-elected to a full term in 1994. Under his leadership the department has risen to many challenges and established itself as a national leader on many fronts.

"Our department has been the national leader in pushing for a complete overhaul of the federal employment security system, as well as federal laws governing migrant farm labor," Poythress said. "In Georgia, we have taken a leadership role in welfare reform and in eradicating drugs from the workplace. The Georgia Department of Labor was recognized nationally for our leadership in providing emergency services to victims of the great floods of 1994.

"In the last four years, we have recommended and secured tax cuts of $140 million, weekly benefit increases for deserving Georgians who are between jobs, and we still have one of the strongest unemployment insurance trust funds in the country, with a balance of $1.77 billion," the commissioner continued.

"We developed Georgia Job TV, the high-tech system of providing listings of job openings to the public via cable television. We co-produced with GPTV the very successful career development program "Success Track," which has helped thousands of Georgians find work and improve their careers. Our Jobs for Georgia Graduates program, which helps at-risk high school seniors make a smooth transition into the work force, is recognized as the best of its kind in the

country. And, the list goes on and on."

Poythress also discussed his vision for Georgia and the challenges the state faces in the coming years.

"In the next decade, I envision for Georgia a seamless public education system, beginning with pre-kindergarten through technical school and university, where instructional quality is world-class, our teachers are adequately paid and our young people are job ready on graduation day. I envision a Georgia where the air is fit to breathe and the water is fit to drink, but where we can continue to have economic development and growth. And, I envision a Georgia where we can all be safe in our homes and on our streets, without the constant threat of crime and drugs. In the coming months, I will discuss how I plan to accomplish these goals as governor," said Poythress.

Prior to being elected labor commissioner, Poythress served the state as assistant attorney general, deputy commissioner of revenue and secretary of state. He practiced law for 10 years, specializing in taxation and health law.

A native of Macon, Poythress graduated with honors from Emory University Law School. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force, including a year in Vietnam. He is a Brigadier General in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and served as chairman of the U.S. delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on reserve military legal matters.

Poythress is a Methodist and served two terms as chairman of the State YMCA of Georgia.

He is married to the former Elizabeth Congleton and has a 16-year-old son, Cullen.

NEWS MEDIA NEEDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AN INTERVIEW OR ACTUALITY SHOULD CALL THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S OFFICE

E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us.

FY-98-289

STATEMENT OF DAVID POYTHRESS
STATE LABOR COMMISSIONER
January 8, 1998
After much reflection and prayer, I have decided to resign as State Labor Commissioner of Georgia to devote all my time and energy to my campaign for the office of Governor of Georgia.
I have visited with Governor Miller on this matter. My resignation is effective January 20, 1998, and I expect that the Governor will name a new commissioner very shortly.
Over the past five years, the Georgia Department of Labor has risen to many challenges and established itself as a national leader on many different fronts. Our

Department has been the national leader in pushing for a complete overhaul of the federal employment security system, as well as federal laws governing migrant farm labor. In Georgia, we have taken a leadership role in welfare reform and in eradicating drugs from the workplace. The Georgia Department was recognized nationally for our leadership in the great floods of 1994. In the last four years, we have recommended and secured tax cuts of $140 million, weekly benefit increases for deserving Georgians who have lost their job through no fault of their own and are seeking a new job, and we still have one of the strongest trust funds in the country with a balance of $1.77 billion.
But there is much more to be done and many challenges ahead if Georgia is to achieve her full potential in the next decade.
In the next decade, I envision for Georgia a seamless public education system, beginning with pre-kindergarten, through elementary and high school, technical school and university, where instructional quality is world-class, our teachers are adequately paid, and our young people are job-ready on graduation day. We must continue to build on the foundation of the HOPE scholarship program, while taking advantage of the latest technology to deliver instructional services if we are to achieve this vision.
I envision a Georgia where the air is fit to breathe and the water fit to drink. We must get tough now in making our public institutions, as well as the private sector, toe the line on environmental protection if we are to achieve this vision.
And I envision a Georgia where we can all be safe in our homes and on our streets. We will never control crime until we control drugs. The place is here and the time is now for the private business sector to join the fight against crime and drugs by voluntarily adopting drug-free workplace programs. I have proposed to the General Assembly this year payroll tax cuts of $100 million over the next four years for Georgia employers who decide that they really want to be drug-free. We must provide this kind of incentive if we are going to achieve this vision of a drug-free Georgia.
As Governor, I'll see to it that we achieve this vision of Georgia with a world-class education system, a clean and healthy environment, and safe, drug-free streets and job sites.
Over the next eleven months, I will devote my full time and energy to running for the office of Governor so that I can lead Georgia into the next century and achieve this vision of the future for ourselves and our children.
Thank you.
DAVID POYTHRESS
Georgia Commissioner of Labor
David Poythress was elected State Labor Commissioner of Georgia in 1992.
Since then he has become the national leader of a move to dramatically reform the nation's unemployment insurance system by delegating to the states major responsibility for the program. In just 24 months his plan has gone from an idea to a bill now pending in Congress, which is lightning speed by Washington standards.
In each of the past three years, Mr. Poythress has pushed legislation through the General Assembly cutting the Georgia payroll tax by $22 million, $69.5 million, and $47.5 million. They were the first cuts in the payroll tax since it was adopted in 1935, and Georgia still has one of the most fiscally sound unemployment insurance trust funds in the country.

Mr. Poythress has also been recognized by the Georgia business community for his relentless efforts to eliminate drugs from the work place in Georgia by encouraging employers to adopt drug testing programs.
David Poythress was born and raised in Macon and graduated with honors from Emory Law School. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force, including a year in Vietnam. He is a Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve and serves as chairman of the U.S. delegation to NATO on reserve military legal matters.
Mr. Poythress previously held several positions in Georgia government including Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Commissioner of Revenue & Secretary of State. Before his election as Labor Commissioner, he practiced law for 10 years specializing in taxation and health law.
Mr. Poythress is a Methodist. He has served on the Board of the Wesley Homes, the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women, and as Chairman of the State YMCA of Georgia.
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