The Mayor of Sandy Springs—a stalwart in Georgia's Republican party—is coming to terms with the potential for a President Trump.
Mayor Rusty Paul—a former Georgia State Senator as well as former chair of the Georgia Republican Party—tells us in a one-on-one interview that he is reconciling himself to the idea that Donald Trump all but has the Republican nomination for a presidential run in November. “It's over,” Rusty says, adding there's “no way” to stop Trump from getting the nomination after he swept five state primaries Tuesday.
Rusty was part of a lineup of prominent figures for our Central Perimeter 2016 event this morning at The Retreat at 1001 Perimeter Summit, including JLL's Kay Younglove, Hotel Development Partners' Allen O'Brien, Ackerman & Co's Pat Chesser, Perimeter Community Improvement District's Yvonne Williams and Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal (not pictured). While the topic was ostensibly about growth and development of Central Perimeter, we took a moment for Rusty to wax political.
A supporter of Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and part of what he describes as the “Republican elite” in Georgia, Rusty says he sympathizes with the disenfranchisement of Middle America that seems to be sweeping Trump into power. “I understand the anger and frustration in America right now,” he says, adding that the middle class hasn't been “touched” by the economic recovery while Wall Street and corporate executives seem to benefit most. And Trump—to Middle America—is seen as an agent of change.
Rusty notes the anger isn't limited to the Republican Party—Democrats are facing similar themes with supporters of Bernie Sanders, even though it appears Hillary Clinton all but has the nomination at this point. Rusty adds that Republicans need to start to promote “humane” capitalism, one where more people participate in the increased revenues on Wall Street and Corporate America. “They're not even getting trickled down on anymore.” Rusty admits he doesn't know what the policies should be to address that issue, but says the party must examine the issue if it is to remain relevant moving forward.
