John Barge
Republican | Georgia
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John Barge
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State School Superintendent
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Georgia, Athens, Ed.D, 2004
University of West Georgia, Carrolton, M.Ed, 1994
Berry College, Rome, B.A., 1988
University of West Georgia, Carollton, Ed.S, 1997
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Council of Chief State School Officers, Board of Directors, McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors, Katz-Whittle Foundation, Board of Directors
Georgia School Superintendents' Association, Georgia Association of Educational Leaders
Recipient of Citation Award, Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instruction Supervisors
Georgia Association of Career & Technical Education, Policy Maker of the Year Award, National Dropout Prevention Network
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Georgia State School Superintendent, 2011-2015
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Governor, 2014
Congress, 2020
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Protect Student Health Georgia
OTHER (4)
Jeff Jones
Lee Ann Cowart
Mike Long
Randy Nix
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Protect Student Health Georgia
Kevin Boyd, former State Board of Education Member
Larry Winter, former State Board of Education Member
Mary Sue Murray, former State Board of Education Member
Randy Nix, State Representative
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Harrison Lance (2020)
State Republican Party Organizations (2020)
William T. Ligon, Jr. (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Made in America PAC (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Agree
That would also include banning comprehensive sex education as many of the pro-abortion concepts and principles come through that curriculum.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
As a Christian I believe in the sanctity of life. The Word says that God "knew us even before we were in our mothers' wombs." God is the author of life and I believe at anytime that man decides to end a life, whether outside the womb or inside, it is murder. I do not understand a society that can charge and convict someone for infanticide (infant homicide) for causing the death of an unborn baby, yet when a mother decides to commit infanticide, it's a "choice."
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
I believe it is the government's responsibility to ensure that we retain our freedoms as American citizens to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Whether we succeed in that pursuit or not, is our choice, NOT the government's responsibility.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
The government should not be paying for college. Pre-K should not be mandatory. K-12 education needs to be fully funded, but the control should stay with the local districts with guidance from the State DOE and School Superintendent.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Strongly Agree
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
Strongly Disagree
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
This is a bedrock principle of our constitutional republic.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
EDUCATION
Every state should mandate K-12 standardized tests and the use of teaching software which aligns with Common Core standards.
Strongly Disagree
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Strongly Agree
Before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL), they must opt-in with written parental permission.
Strongly Agree
These teachings should be banned in all public schools.
I support the teaching of curricula (such as the 1619 Project, No Place for Hate, Second Step, etc.) that emphasizes slavery and racism as the foundation of American history.
Strongly Disagree
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a devote Christian whose moral beliefs are strongly aligned to traditional values as defined by the Bible which I believe is the inerrant word of God.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
It shows up in every media interview I do with the AJC and beyond.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
What books have had the most profound impact on your view of life?
The Bible.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I have proven leadership skills and am not afraid to make the hard decisions. I work hard every day, attend board meetings and believe in working with others to better education in Georgia. During my previous time as superintendent we lead Georgia to its highest ranking every in Education Week's Quality Counts Study. We were 7th. Today we are 31st. I created the Career Pathway Program in Georgia that has become the model for other states. The pathways have emphasized the value of a technical college degree to replace university degrees for some students. All students will have a career regardless of whether that career requires a four year college degree, a two year technical college degree, military education or training, or on the job training. These pathways have opened to the door for higher graduation rates in Georgia, as evidenced by the current 96% graduation rate for career pathway completers.
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2012 Republican Primary 2012 General Election 2014 Republican Primary 2014 General Election 2016 Republican Primary 2016 General Election 2018 Republican Primary 2018 General Election 2020 Republican Primary 2020 General Election
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Strongly Agree
The state law currently allows local school boards to approve this. They must, however, go through the same training as a mandated police officer. I think that is best to protect the teachers and our students.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Do you support mandatory vaccinations for children attending public school?
No. We currently provide exemptions and I think we should continue to do that for all vaccines.
I support mask mandates.
Strongly Disagree
Absolutely not!
