For Immediate Release
June 1, 2010
Contact: Rob Teilhet
(770) 514-0103

Rob Teilhet Announces Support of Ambassador Andrew Young

 SMYRNA, GA.  – Today Attorney General Candidate Rob Teilhet announced that his candidacy has earned support from civil rights icon and former Mayor of Atlanta, Congressman and U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young.

“I am honored and humbled to have support from Ambassador Young in my bid for Attorney General,” said State Representative Rob Teilhet.  “His career has been marked by a desire for justice and a willingness to stand up to protect the most vulnerable in society. These are the same values that drive our campaign . ”

The news raised questions for Teilhet's primary opponent, Ken Hodges. Although Hodges has been touting an official endorsement from the Ambassador for months, Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Jim Galloway today revealed that Ambassador Young has been supportive of both candidacies. According to Galloway, Ambassador Young took a photo with Ken Hodges at a retirement party, but never intended for it to be used as a formal endorsement. To read Galloway's quote from the Ambassador, go to: http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/ .

Left unanswered by Tuesday' developments were questions as to why Hodges' campaign has for months claimed to have Young's formal endorsement, when according to the Ambassador's Tuesday interview, no such endorsement had been made. The snafu was the latest in a string of bad news for the Hodges campaign leading up to the July primary. Just last week, Hodges surprised observers when he announced in a forum that he wasn't sure if there was a need for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in Georgia, and “had not looked at” whether or not there is evidence of discrimination in Georgia. In mid-May, Hodges campaign “kick off” in Columbus, Georgia was met by a protest hosted by the Georgia NAACP and other Columbus citizens concerned with his handling of a high-profile murder case there.

By contrast, Teilhet voiced strong support of the Voting Rights Act and its pre-clearance requirements and has, among others, the support of the chairmen of both the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, Sen. Emanuel Jones and Rep. Tyrone Brooks.

“Georgia needs an Attorney General who understands and supports the Voting Rights Act, and will fight to see that the right to vote is protected,” said Teilhet. “My opponent's continuing uncertainty on this issue is an important difference between us. We cannot afford an Attorney General who can't make up his mind on this fundamental principle.”

Teilhet's campaign has received endorsements from the Marshal Greg Countryman of Muscogee County, the IBEW Local 613 , former legislator and U.S. Senate candidate Jim Martin , DeKalb Solicitor General Robert James , Civil Rights Leaders Representative Tyrone Brooks and Elder Bill Harris , the Chairmen of the Legislative Black Caucus, Senator Emanuel Jones , eight Democratic State Senators , and over forty current and former Democratic members of the House of Representatives .

Teilhet's campaign for Attorney General focuses on protecting Georgia's children, crime prevention, ethics in government, and consumer protection.  Teilhet is widely known as a champion in the General Assembly for protecting Georgians from rip-offs and con artists.  He has been a reliable supporter of law enforcement and crime victims as a member of the House Judiciary Committee.  Teilhet has also consistently fought for stronger ethics laws.

Rob Teilhet (pronounced tuh-lay) has represented Smyrna and Marietta in the Georgia House of Representatives since his election in 2002 at the age of 28.  He is the Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and serves on the Judiciary, Education, and Industrial Relations Committees.  He is a partner in the Marietta law firm of Rogers, Strimban & Teilhet.  More information about his campaign and other endorsements can be found at his website, www.robforgeorgia.com .

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