Huck's Cafe, a staple in Commerce, saw a health care billionaire that has been picking up traction in Georgia's Governor race stop by on Wednesday.
Republican Candidate Rick Jackson spoke to voters to hear their concerns.
"I'm squeezing two years of campaigning into 90 days," Jackson told AccessWDUN before the event. "I like places all over Georgia that have great food and entertainment and meet real people ... I could care less about going to some fancy ballroom."
Over 50 people packed into Huck's to hear from Jackson, with potential voters telling AccessWDUN before the event they were curious about Jackson — who got into the race later than most but has managed to shake things up.
A man donning a Jefferson High School hat outside the cafe told AccessWDUN that he likes what he has seen from Jackson so far, and a couple said they frequented Huck's all the time and were there to learn more about Jackson. A Commerce High School football announcer said he liked Jackson's message, and was excited to see him stop by.
"I grew up poor, I grew up without eating, I know what it's like to struggle," Jackson told AccessWDUN. "When you do that, you never forget what it's like."
Jackson's multiple buses could be seen parked at the restaurant off of Georgia State Route 15.
A military veteran asked Jackson a question about Veterans Affairs (VA) health care, as well as mental health among veterans.
"The VA is a broken system ... we've had five veterans in the last two-and-a-half months in the state of Georgia who took their life or somebody else's life," the veteran said. "I'll back you all day long if you will save me and my brothers."
Jackson responded to the veteran before they embraced each other.
"What you're going through, nobody should have to go through, period," Jackson said. "This gentleman deserves the best health care in the United States ... he should be able to go to any doctor he wants to."
Jackson spoke about his campaign priorities to the voters as well, including cutting property taxes, upholding law enforcement, deporting "criminal illegals," and being pro-business.
After the event, Banks County Commissioner for District 1 Danny Maxwell (who was attending as a potential voter) spoke to AccessWDUN about his thoughts.
"We had a program out at the golf course up in Banks County, and I listened to him, I read his profile, and he believes in a lot of things that I believe in," Maxwell said. "It's always a pleasure too have a governor candidate come to Jackson County, Banks County."
Lincoln, a University of Georgia student whose grandfather established Huck's, said he was impressed.
"I like his message, I like that he's not a career politician," Lincoln said. "My questions and what I expect to be a priority aren't going to be priorities for the generation above me, because those are the voters, those are who are targeted ... but I just take it for how it is ... I like what he has to say."
State Representative for District 28 in Hall and Forsyth Counties Brent Cox (R), who has endorsed Jackson, spoke at the event as well.
"The reason I have endorsed Rick is because of what this gentleman said, health care, mental health, all the things that are struggling," Cox said. "These are all transformational things that must be addressed. If we elect the wrong person to handle these situations, we will see ... the bad proof that will come from those choices."
State Representative for District 26 in Cumming and Commerce native Lauren McDonald (R), has also endorsed Jackson.
"My dad believes in Mr. Jackson," McDonald said. "The McDonough family supports Rick Jackson."
Before the event, Jackson was asked by AccessWDUN on Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones' attacks during an Atlanta Press Club debate, accusing him of hiring undocumented immigrant work and profiting off of doctors and nurses who go to organizations like Planned Parenthood.
"I don't know anybody who's more conservative than I am," Jackson said. "My life has been dedicated to having impact, kingdom impact, as well as impact on other people that don't have a voice ... that are forgotten, that don't have lobbyists ... I can afford to not worry about making money and not worried about what donors say."
The Republican Primary is May 19, and early voting is already underway.
Jackson's campaign website can be found here: https://rickjackson.com/
Jones' campaign website can be found here: https://burtjonesforga.com/
Attorney General Chris Carr, who made various campaign stops and secured an endorsement from former Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, has his campaign website here: https://carrforgeorgia.com/
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is also running, and his campaign website can be found here: https://bradforgeorgia.com/
Business executive Clark Dean is also running, as well as entrepreneur Gregg Kirkpatrick, Army National Guardsman Ken Yasger, and retiree Tom Williams.
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