A.T.L. Agenda Day 4: Burt Jones and Michael Thurmond | The Architect and The Builder
Examining the “Zero-Tax” Enterprise and the “Performance Over Promises” Architecture for Georgia’s Future.
Burt Jones (R)
- Originally From: Jackson, Georgia
- Georgia Residency: Lifelong (6th-Generation native)
- Years in Politics: 14 years
- Career: Executive, Jones Petroleum; Founder, JP Capital & Insurance, Inc.; Former Captain, UGA Football (2002).
- Platform: Focuses on the total elimination of the state income tax, universal school choice, and aggressive public safety enforcement.
- Known For: Being a “Trump-First” loyalist as the first state legislator to endorse him in 2015; his “walk-on” grit as a UGA football captain; and his high-profile legislative push for the Georgia Promise Scholarship and election integrity.
The A.T.L. Agenda (Bureau Analysis)
ART (Patriotic Literacy & Educational Choice) Jones’ “Art” pillar is built on the foundation of parental empowerment. He proposes a “Literacy First” curriculum that funds a dedicated literacy coach for every K-3 school in Georgia. By expanding the Georgia Promise Scholarship into a universal $6,500 “follow the child” grant, his platform aims to spark a competitive market in education, allowing families to curate a curriculum—whether private, tech-focused, or traditional—that fits their specific values and career goals.
TRADE (Zero-Tax Infrastructure & Industrial Integrity) His “Trade” agenda is a blueprint for Economic Deregulation. Jones advocates for the complete elimination of the state income tax by 2030, argued as a “5% raise” for every working Georgian. To protect the physical infrastructure of local commerce, he supports a 3% cap on property tax assessments to prevent small business owners from being “taxed out” of their properties. Additionally, he proposes ending specific “no-bid” state contracts to ensure a transparent, competitive bidding environment for Georgia-based contractors.
LIFESTYLE (Homeownership Security & Safety Mandates) Jones’ “Lifestyle” anchor is Community Stability. He proposes a significant increase in the statewide homestead exemption to lower the cost of living for seniors and long-term residents. His safety platform includes mandatory minimum sentencing for human trafficking and a state-funded “Fentanyl Task Force.” By ensuring that “where you live doesn’t determine the quality of your safety,” his agenda seeks to preserve the lifestyle of Georgia’s suburban and rural corridors.
8. Michael Thurmond (D)
- Originally From: Clarke County, Georgia
- Georgia Residency: Lifelong
- Years in Politics: 40 years
- Career: Attorney and Author; Former CEO of DeKalb County; Former Georgia Labor Commissioner; Former Superintendent of DeKalb Schools.
- Platform: Campaigns on a “Performance vs. Promises” blueprint, prioritizing a day-one “affordability crisis” order and Medicaid expansion.
- Known For: His reputation as a “Turnaround Expert” for stabilizing the DeKalb school system and county budget; being a premier historian of Georgia’s Black heritage; and his record as one of the last Democrats to maintain broad statewide appeal.
The A.T.L. Agenda (Bureau Analysis)
ART (Multiple Pathways & Historical Truth) Thurmond’s “Art” pillar focuses on Curriculum Diversification. Drawing on his experience as a historian, he proposes integrating Georgia’s antislavery and civil rights history as a core component of social-emotional learning. His “Multiple Pathways” initiative seeks to destigmatize technical education, funding “Early College” programs that allow high school students to earn industry certifications in film production, coding, and skilled trades alongside their diplomas.
TRADE (Labor Credits & Childcare Infrastructure) The “Trade” agenda for Thurmond focuses on Workforce Affordability. He proposes doubling the state income tax deduction for overtime pay and tips to $3,500, specifically to reward the “trade-class” Georgians in hospitality and manufacturing. To remove barriers to employment, his platform includes a $25 million “Childcare Guarantee” fund, aimed at creating 20,000 new scholarships for working parents to ensure the labor market remains accessible to all.
LIFESTYLE (Healthcare Access & Sales Tax Relief) Thurmond’s “Lifestyle” anchor is the Immediate Cost-of-Living Reduction. He proposes a “Day One” executive order to cut the state sales tax on groceries and essential goods from 4% to 2%. His healthcare agenda addresses “medical deserts” by funding the construction of five new rural micro-hospitals and subsidizing a network of 24/7 emergency clinics in underserved urban zones. By expanding Medicaid, his platform treats healthcare as a fundamental lifestyle right.
