 By MEGAN MORRIS Businessman Michael Coles, the Democratic candidate for state senator, said he knows all about miracles and starting from scratch. After working his way out of poverty and back from a serious accident, Coles has another impressive dream: to defeat Sen. Paul Coverdell this November. Coles also believes he can help Georgia and the entire nation with public education, veterans’ benefits and the environment. “Georgia deserves better,” he said. Public education is a particular concern of Coles. He believes residents must concentrate more heavily on kindergarten through fourth grade and that the federal government should support local governments in their attempts to improve their systems. He pointed out that many schools have a serious problem with the buildings in which the students learn, and that the federal government considered a bill to donate such funds. Coverdell voted against it, according to Coles. “All local issues should be handled by local governments and the community,” Coles said. “The federal government can help make funds available to them.” Coles has harsh words for his opponent’s record on veterans' benefits because he feels that our nation’s defenders and heroes deserve better. “(Coverdell) has led an assault on veterans’ benefits since 1993, where he has consistently voted to take away veterans’ benefits for those who served 20 years or more,” Coles said. “I will not only stop that assault, but I will also vote to give those benefits back.” As a member of the “River Keepers,” who Coles said brought the Atlanta river pollution problems to state attention, Coles has shown his commitment to the environment. He believes environmental protection will promote both tourism and Georgia’s unique heritage. “You can have progress and development and also protect your environmental heritage, which I think is important to Georgia,” he said. On the issue of business, Coles wants to help companies become closer to the community so that they feel less forced into taxation and get to see where their money is going. He emphasized cooperation between communities and industry. Coles has led an interesting life. According to a statement, he began working at 11 years old to help his family and never even got the chance to go to college. He co-founded the Great American Cookie Company in 1977 and eventually became an accomplished businessman. Coles and his wife Donna are both active in community service. They received the Georgia Philanthropists of the Year Award in 1995 from the Georgia Chapter of the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives, according to a statement. He also is a member of the Board of Trustees of Kennesaw State University and endowed the Michael Coles School of Business there in 1994. Coles and his wife are both active in a number of other community service organizations. A Democrat, Coles entered politics for the first time to run against Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich in 1996, and received 47 percent of Cobb County’s vote, according to a release. Cobb County usually votes strongly Republican. Michael and Donna Coles have three grown children - Lorin, Jody and Taryn, and they live in Kennesaw. |
