By Aaron Gould Sheinin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Many of the Republicans and Democrats who want to be the next governor of Georgia met Thursday to discuss the state’s future at a candidates’ forum sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
But what was said there is apparently a secret since the chamber denied requests from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other outlets to cover the panel discussion at the Ritz-Carlton at Reynolds Plantation, which sits along Lake Oconee.
The closing of the forum to the media prompted protests from the AJC and other publications that are part of the Georgia Newspaper Partnership. Thirteen daily newspapers that cover Georgia, including the Chattanooga Times Free Press, have joined together to cover this year’s elections.