RINGGOLD, Ga. -- Former Congressman Nathan Deal told supporters Friday that Georgia is the perfect place for high-tech medical companies and, if he's elected governor, he'll do everything he can to lure them to the Peach State.
Speaking at a fundraiser at the Ringgold Depot, Mr. Deal said companies producing cutting-edge "biologics" and medical devices could find a well-educated work force, strong similar industries and a population that is demographically well suited for clinical trials.
"Can you ever think of a better time to go to California and tell ... (medical companies) to come to Georgia?" Mr. Deal asked a crowd of about 30 supporters, made up mostly of elected officials.
Biologics, a name given to products such as vaccines, blood components, allergenics and other organically based medicines, present an opportunity for the state to jump in on a new industry, he said.
To bring the businesses in, Mr. Deal said he would cut corporate taxes by one-third so Georgia companies could compete better with other states in the region. Reducing the taxes could make Georgia very appealing to bio-tech companies in California, which has stringent laws and burdensome taxes, he said.
Among other comments, Mr. Deal said he would work to deepen Savannah's port to allow access for bigger cargo vessels; support innovative ideas in education such as charter and magnet schools; and give local governments seed money to build more water reservoirs.
He also said high-speed rail is important for Northwest Georgia and said a bullet train from Atlanta to Chattanooga would help the airports in both cities and spawn industrial as well as residential growth in the region.
"Wish we had gotten the Volkswagen plant across the state line, but we didn't," Mr. Deal said. "So what we need to do is focus on the spinoffs."
High-speed rail could also be an important bargaining chip with Tennessee if the state needed to negotiate access to the water in the Tennessee River, he told the crowd at the Ringgold Depot.
In a private interview afterward, he said the Tennessee River is not a realistic solution for Atlanta's water woes.
Catoosa County Commissioner Jim Cutler said he liked Mr. Deal's comments on luring companies from California and improving the port in Savannah. He said he'd like to see what Mr. Deal could do in office if he was working with a new gubernatorial counterpart in Tennessee.
Now in his second term, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen must step down, a move mandated by state law. On the Republican side, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp are running for governor, while Mike McWherter is running as a Democrat.
"I think it would be interesting if Zach Wamp got elected in Tennessee and Deal got elected, if they could work together," said Mr. Cutler, specifically mentioning the bullet train. "To me, that's a very interesting scenario."
Qualified candidates for governor
* Jeff Chapman, Republican, Brunswick
* Nathan Deal, Republican, Gainesville
* Karen Handel, Republican, Alpharetta
* Eric Johnson, Republican, Atlanta
* Ray McBerry, Republican, McDonough
* John Oxendine, Republican, Norcross,
* Otis Putnam, Republican, Brunswick
* Thurbert Baker, Democrat, Atlanta
* Roy Barnes, Democrat, Marietta
* Bill Bolton, Democrat, Marietta
* Carl Camon, Democrat, Ray City
* Randal Mangham, Democrat, Decatur
* DuBose Porter, Democrat, Dublin
* David Poythress, Democrat, Atlanta
Source: Georgia Secretary of State