Politics & Government

Following Primary Loss Belinfante Says He Will Stay Involved in Georgia Issues

Sandy Springs resident Josh Belinfante said he was surprised by outcome of the District 6 State Senate race, where Hunter Hill beat him and Drew Ellenburg.

 

After a hard fought State Senate run, Josh Belinfante said he is looking forward to spending more time with his family. On Tuesday, he and candidate Drew Ellenburg lost the District 6 race to Hunter Hill, who faces Democrat Doug Stoner in the November election.

The attorney and Sandy Springs resident said he was surprised by the outcome of the race. He would’ve brought considerable experience to the Georgia State Senate. He served as Chief Counsel to Gov. Sonny Perdue; the Vice Chairman of the State Ethics Commission; and was Special Assistant Attorney General representing Georgia to challenge President Barack Obama's health care plan.

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“Sure I wish things had turned out differently,” Belinfante said. “I have not done a thorough analysis of where the votes were in geography."

He added, "I will continue to be engaged on issues. I feel strongly about health care, making Georgia more competitive, and reforming health care.”

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Before Election Day, and was concerned about overspending and the lack of details on projects. On Thurday he said, “The results of TSPLOST were so overwhelming that it shows we have to go back to the drawing board.”

Belinfante was encouraged by Gov. Nathan Deal’s comments, Wednesday, to place a new interchange at I-285 and Ga. 400 at the top of his transportation projects list.

“The results of TSPLOST were so overwhelming that it shows we have to go back to the drawing board,” said Belinfante, a former member of the Sandy Springs Charter Commission. “We are going to have to do more with less and look at the means we are doing to finance transportation. I will continue to advocate for public/private partnerships. We have to look at MARTA and be more effective and less subsidized. That was one of the really strong criticisms [of voters].”

With the tone of national and local discourse at a fever pitch, these days, Belinfante said in politics there is much more civility in the Georgia General Assembly than among lawmakers in Washington. Most bills pass unanimously at the Georgia State Capitol, he said.


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