2008 GOP Nominee John Stone Endorses Rick W. Allen

Augusta – John E. Stone, the 2008 Republican Nominee against John Barrow, today formally endorsed Rick W. Allen’s Campaign for Congress, citing Allen’s track-record of creating private-sector jobs as the critical distinction among all candidates in the race.

“I ran for Congress in 2008 to try to forestall what we knew John Barrow and Barack Obama would do to this nation, the 12th District, our economy, and our jobs”, Stone said. “We are now mired in the economic ditch they dug, and we can’t raise taxes high enough or cut spending low enough to get out. The real path to recovery is by earning our way out with new tax revenues created by new jobs, and Rick W. Allen is the only candidate with a lifelong track record of creating thousands of new private sector jobs. Congress is in desperate need of new Members who have that kind of experience.”

Stone, a native Augustan and former President of the conservative U.S. Freedom Foundation, was a senior staff member for U.S. Representatives Max Burns (R-GA12) and the late Charlie Norwood (R-GA10). He lost a tough race to Barrow in 2008 during which Stone raised funds neck-and-neck with Barrow inside the district, only to be outspent nearly 7-1 in the final weeks of the campaign by out-of-district special interests.

“Since 2008 we have seen the 12th District slide to the economic bottom in our state from lack of decent representation in Congress,” Stone said. “After 8 years of John Barrow gaming his votes to claim both sides on every issue, we need a new Congressman who puts the needs of this district above those of his political career. I’ve known Rick W. Allen for over 30 years, and Rick isn’t looking to climb the political ladder – he simply wants to make the tough decisions necessary to get this country and our district back on track. Rick is a job creator – not a politician – which is why I’m happy to throw my full support behind his campaign.”