Re-run for Roy
In the crowded race to become the Democratic nominee for Georgia governor, two candidates stand out: Roy Barnes and DuBose Porter.

Both men have a clear vision for where they would like to lead the state, and the relevant experience necessary to be credible candidates. But we give the edge to Mr. Barnes.

Weighing the two is a tit-for-tat exercise in positive virtues.

Sunday sales of alcohol? Both would leave it up to a local referendum. Both like the idea of zero-based budgeting, to review every nickel of state spending every four years. ...

Mr. Barnes, the former governor who lost his re-election bid to Sonny Perdue, would store water underground when rainfall is plenteous, and pump the water back into rivers during dry spells. ...

We like former Gov. Barnes' stance from his previous administration calling for accountability among educators, based on student outcomes.

Both Barnes and Porter see the need for improved economic development in Georgia, starting with building a better workforce to lure employers.

But we give the edge to Mr. Barnes on this issue, given his proven track record as a dynamic salesman for doing business in the Peach State. ...

On sales tax collection, Mr. Porter would have the state Revenue Department overlay the databases of business licenses and sales tax certificates to find those who are not paying their fair share of taxes into the state. It's a good first step, a measure he says could bring in an extra $500 million a year, 40 percent of which is local money.

However, Mr. Barnes has rightly called for increasing sales tax proceeds by allowing counties - which are more attuned to local businesses - to collect the tax. Our state auditors simply miss too much, and leave too much money on the table.

Both men would like to tweak newly passed legislation allowing multi-county districts to pass sales taxes to fund transportation. Mr. Barnes says outside metro areas, counties along specific transportation corridors should be allowed to band together. Similarly, Mr. Porter has called for more flexibility in which counties may join to impose a sales tax.

However, it is Mr. Barnes' transportation agenda that gives proper importance to the port deepening project in the Savannah harbor, calling it the state's top transportation priority. Because the Port of Savannah is a massive job engine for the state, that's the kind of prominence this project deserves.

Both men are strong supporters of the environment. But in the other issues vital to Coastal Georgia voters - the port, transportation, and taxes- our endorsement falls to Roy Barnes.

Democrats voting in the July 20 primary should give Mr. Barnes another go at the governor's mansion.

Johnson the GOP’s best
Former state Sen. Eric Johnson has the right background in public service and private enterprise to be the Republican nominee for governor.

We believe that Eric Johnson offers the best combination of experience, knowledge and vision for this critical job during the next four years. We recommend his candidacy to Republicans who will be voting in the July 20 primary.

Mr. Johnson is a 56-year-old architect, and his approach to lawmaking during his 17 years in the Georgia Legislature has been similar to the knowledge-based approach he uses in his profession: Do your homework first, thoughtfully craft a solution, then work your behind off to get it adopted.

Georgia’s next governor will probably inherit a state budget that could be up to $2 billion in the red. More difficult choices loom until the state recovers from the recession and revenues improve. That means the state’s chief executive won’t have time for on-the-job training or pitched battles with lawmakers — Georgians can’t afford the luxury.

Instead, the next governor should be someone who has the trust and respect of leaders in the state House and Senate and knows how to work with them, who knows what makes the state tick in terms of jobs, education and transportation, and who knows what private businesses are up against in today’s economy.

Mr. Johnson is the lone GOP candidate who fits this bill.

He’s the only GOP candidate with a comprehensive blend of public-private, real-world experience. He’s a thoughtful conservative who has a plan that combines tax cuts and incentives to put people back to work, and he will work to implement zero-based budgeting in state spending to ensure smart use of precious dollars. …

Republicans who don’t know Mr. Johnson should know this. They should know that while he proudly hails from Georgia’s coast, he rightly understands that Georgia will rise or fall together. We support his candidacy in the GOP primary.