Ken Hodges, candidate for Attorney General, endorsed by well known Republican District Attorney Pete Skandalakis

Skandalakis endorsement is the latest show of bipartisan support for Hodges; joins growing list of District Attorneys statewide in support of Hodges

Today Pete Skandalakis, a highly regarded Republican District Attorney for the Coweta Judicial Circuit in west central Georgia, endorsed Ken Hodges for Attorney General. Skandalakis stands with a growing list of District Attorneys, Sheriffs and other law enforcement leaders across the state, Democrats and Republicans, in support of Hodges, the only prosecutor running for Attorney General, Georgia’s top law enforcement officer.

Pete Skandalakis said, “I had the privilege and honor of working side by side with Ken during the 12 years he served as District Attorney of the Dougherty Judicial Circuit. Ken has the experience, commitment to justice and dedication to serving the public cause that will make him an exceptional Attorney General, and I endorse him without reservation.

During our service together, I personally witnessed Ken's commitment to public service. He worked tirelessly to represent the people of this state and to give victims of crime their opportunity for equal justice. He is mindful of his duty as a public servant and the trust placed in him by the people who put him in office. He will serve the people and represent their interests in a manner that ensures a justice system that is fair and equal to all. He has done that in the past and will do likewise in the future.

From a professional standpoint, I consider Ken to be the best qualified for the job of Attorney General. He has the experience and commitment to public service that will serve him well. From a personal standpoint, Ken is my friend. He can be trusted and will do his best to serve the public interest.”
Ken Hodges said, “I have worked side by side with Pete for many years protecting Georgia’s citizens. Pete has been a leader in our organization, and is widely regarded as a straight-shooting and honest prosecutor.

I am deeply honored to have Pete’s support and endorsement.

Electing an experienced prosecutor as Georgia’s next Attorney General is not a partisan issue. I am the only candidate who has stood up for victims as a prosecutor. I am the only candidate who has sent corrupt politicians to jail. I have closed down predatory lenders, prosecuted child predators, and sent some of Georgia’s most terrible offenders to death row. I look forward to working with Pete and every other law enforcement official as Georgia's next Attorney General to protect our families and communities from public corruption and violent crime."
The Coweta Judicial Circuit is located is comprised of Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether and Troup Counties.

Skandalakis has been the District Attorney of the Coweta Judicial Circuit since January 1991. He was an Assistant District Attorney from 1984 to 1987 and became the Chief Assistant District Attorney in 1987. He has served as President of the District Attorneys Association.

Ken Hodges was the first District Attorney in the state to sue predatory lenders, shut them down, seize their assets and kick them out of Georgia. He prosecuted corrupted public officials, including his former assistant chief of police, more than a dozen police officers, and was co-counsel in the trial of former DeKalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey. As D.A. in Albany, Ken brought the conviction rate of child predators from below 50% to nearly 100%.

Ken has served as President of the District Attorneys Association, the Prosecuting

Correction on the Ken Hodges Campaign Disclosure

I want to Correct something posted on Saturday in regards to the Ken Hodges Campaign. I mentioned he had raised over $350,000. That's not correct, they raised $380,000 for the race for Attorney General, outraising State Rep. Rob Teilhet who is also vying for the office of State Attorney General. My apologies to the Hodges Campaign

Karen Kemp, Executive Director for Sexual Assault Victim's non-profit and GOP Chairwoman, endorses Democrat Ken Hodges for Attorney General. www.kenhodges.com

Attorney General fundraising numbers.

Former Dougherty County D.A. Ken Hodges (D-Albany) reported raising $128,200

Cobb County Commissioner Sam Olens (R-Marietta) reported raising $185,954

State Rep. Rob Teilhet (D-Smyrna) reported raising $203,564.

The majority of Olens cash came from metro Atlanta, while Hodges & Teilhet got contributions from across the state. I feel good about the democrats holding on to this seat in 2010. Both Hodges & Teilhet are both great candidates for the position, but in my opinion Hodges is more qualified for the position bases on his track record & qualifications. But Teilhet holds the advanatge now because he is from the metro area where the primary will most likely be determined & the ability to raise cash.

Hodges will focus his campaign on the rural areas of the state. He is a south ga native (Albany) where he expects to run strongest against Teilhet.

Hodges files in Democratic race for AG, with a Republican name behind him

By Jim Galloway of the AJC: Ken Hodges, the former Dougherty County district attorney, has filed his paperwork in the Democratic race for attorney general. State Rep. Rob Teilhet of Smyrna is already in the race.

Worth noting is one of the names behind Hodges’ candidacy. The treasurer is listed as Edward C. Callaway of , son of Howard “Bo” Callaway, who almost became Georgia’s first Republican governor in 1966 — and remains a venerated figure within the Georgia GOP.

Edward Callaway currently serves as CEO and president of Callaway Gardens.

Chairman of the Hodges campaign will be Connell Stafford, who once served chief of staff to Sam Nunn, before moving on to Coke and beyond.

Ken Hodges will be very difficult for Rob Teilhet to defeat in the primary. Hodges will have the advantage of having a base in Southwest Georgia as well as the rest of South Georgia & rural Georgia.

Ken Hodges, a former Albany district attorney who resigned from office in September after serving for almost a dozen years. He is now in private practice in Atlanta.

Hodges plans to emphasize his efforts in south Georgia to crack down on predatory lenders and illegal video poker rings. And he said he'll be quick to emphasize his experience running a prosecutor's office.

"We need somebody who has done it before and knows the job," he said. "And so far I'm the only one I know of who fits that category.

Teilhet may have company for AG. Hodges considers AG run

ALBANY — Ken Hodges of Atlanta, former district attorney for the Dougherty Judicial Circuit, says he is "99 percent sure" he going to seek to become Georgia's top lawyer.

Hodges said in a telephone interview late Saturday that he was close to making a decision to replace Thurbert E. Baker, who plans to run for governor, as attorney general.

"I am very close to making the decision," Hodges said. "I’m probably 99 percent sure I am going to do it. There was no consideration until Thurbert said he would run for governor. I would not have run against him."

Hodges says he has been gauging support from around the state the past few days.

"It’s been very positive so far," he said. "There are other calls to make and people I want to talk with. If it continues as it has so far, I expect to make a formal announcement in the not too distant future."

Hodges was D.A. in Albany for about 12 years before he left for Atlanta late in 2008 to become managing partner of the Atlanta office of Baudino Law Group, a health care litigation firm based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Hodges is in charge of the Atlanta office for Baudino and the recently-opened Albany office.

"I’ll do like I did when I ran for district attorney the first time. I’ll work during the day & campaign at night & on weelends.

Hodges said the attorney general is "an important position."

"You need some have somebody in there that is going to protect the laws of the state and look out for the people.," he said. "I view this as a logical progression from what I did as district attorney there."

Hodges says he was aggressive in his role regarding death penalty decisions.

"The attorney general has to represent state agencies in a civil capacity, and I had done that prior to becoming a D.A. and am doing that now," he said. "It’s an easy transition for me to make."

Hodges noted that he and Baker have always had an "outstanding" relationship and that Baker had endorsed him in his last contested race.

The opening has already attracted several people with interest in the job.

Rob Teilhet of Smyrna, a Democrat, has already announced his plans to seek the job.

Also, State Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta) is considering a run for the office.