LinkedIn

BallotPedia

Mike is from Lawrenceville, Georgia. He attended the University of West Georgia and earned a bachelor's degree in General Business Administration and Management. He lives with his wife and three daughters in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mike is the Deputy Commissioner of Labor. In 2010, he was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to lead The Subsequent Injury Trust Fund state agency. He held this role until December 2021.

Mike Coan serves as the Deputy Commissioner of Labor. He took on this role in December 2021. Mike previously represented Georgia's 101st district from 1997 to 2010 in the Georgia House of Representatives where he served as the Chairman for the Industry and Labor Committee.

As of March 14, 2022, Mike Coan’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Workers' Rights

COVID

As the head of The Subsequent Injury Trust Fund, he "saved the state 400 million dollars by managing the Fund like a business, streamlining functions and cutting out waste."

- As the head of The Subsequent Injury Trust Fund, he "saved the state 400 million dollars by managing the Fund like a business, streamlining functions and cutting out waste."

Economy

Mike Coan

Bruce attended Montana State University-Northern where he earned an associate's degree in Business Administration. Bruce lives with his wife and two children in Cartersville, Georgia.

Bruce is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of QuoteBurst Inc., a software development company, and the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Coverstar Automatic Pool Covers. Previously, Bruce served on the Cartersville-Bartow Chamber of Commerce and as the Agency Owner of the Thompson Group with Allstate.

Bruce Thompson is currently a Senator representing district 14 in Georgia's State Senate. He was elected in 2013. He is the Chair of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee.

As of March 14, 2022, Bruce Thompson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to address issues around Georgians not receiving unemployment benefits.

Wants to address fraudulent unemployment benefit claims.

- Wants to address issues around Georgians not receiving unemployment benefits.
- Wants to address fraudulent unemployment benefit claims.

Moultrie Observer

Wants to shift the Labor Department into a cloud-based system, saying this will "reduce the cost of processing claims while providing a user-friendly interface for the public."

Wants to focus on young people by introducing them to trades in high demand, veterans to help them find jobs when they leave the service, seniors to "take advantage of their experience and desire to work after they retire", and the prison system to create more employment opportunities for ex-convicts.

Said, "\[I will] ensure that Georgia businesses, big and small, can succeed."

- Wants to shift the Labor Department into a cloud-based system, saying this will "reduce the cost of processing claims while providing a user-friendly interface for the public."
- Wants to focus on young people by introducing them to trades in high demand, veterans to help them find jobs when they leave the service, seniors to "take advantage of their experience and desire to work after they retire", and the prison system to create more employment opportunities for ex-convicts.
- Said, "\[I will] ensure that Georgia businesses, big and small, can succeed."

Bruce Thompson

NRI Pulse

Karik lives with his wife, his daughter, and his parents in Acworth, Georgia.

Kartik is a property manager at his family business, Laxminarayan 108, LLC. He has previously served as an appointment to the Georgia Board of Examiners for the Certification of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Laboratory Analysts and as an Animal Control Officer with the Cobb County Department of Public Safety.

Kartik Bhatt’s campaign for Labor Commissioner is his first entry into politics.

Wants to increase hourly wages by $1 when workers are working Sundays, nights, or holidays.

Will support farm workers by collaborating with the H2A visa program.

- Wants to increase hourly wages by $1 when workers are working Sundays, nights, or holidays.
- Will support farm workers by collaborating with the H2A visa program.

Wants to reduce the unemployment rate to 0%.

Wants to follow the CDC and Governor’s guidelines and does not believe in mandating masks or vaccines.

Wants to help hotel business owners affected by the pandemic by cutting the $5 tax imposed by H.B. 170.

- Wants to reduce the unemployment rate to 0%.
- Wants to follow the CDC and Governor’s guidelines and does not believe in mandating masks or vaccines.
- Wants to help hotel business owners affected by the pandemic by cutting the $5 tax imposed by H.B. 170.

Wants to arrange a Global Business Summit every two years to "invite more investors to invest in our Great State Georgia."

Wants to support small businesses by shortening the SBA loans and commercial loans process from 60-90 days to 30-45 days.

Wants to offer entrepreneurship seminars for high schoolers and college students.

Wants to work with Secretary of State to expedite timeline for business and professional licensing.

Supports building an international cricket stadium in Georgia.

- Wants to arrange a Global Business Summit every two years to "invite more investors to invest in our Great State Georgia."  
- Wants to support small businesses by shortening the SBA loans and commercial loans process from 60-90 days to 30-45 days.
- Wants to offer entrepreneurship seminars for high schoolers and college students.
- Wants to work with Secretary of State to expedite timeline for business and professional licensing. 
- Supports building an international cricket stadium in Georgia.

Kartik Bhatt

- The Labor Commissioner is responsible for implementing the state's labor regulations, such as maintaining the minimum wage and enforcing child labor protections. 
- The Labor Commissioner is responsible for operating Georgia’s unemployment benefits program and rehabilitation programs. During the COVID pandemic, this role has become increasingly important as more people have lost their jobs and have filed for unemployment insurance and other related benefits. 
- In addition to these primary responsibilities, the Labor Commissioner produces statistics and research covering the Georgia labor market. The Labor Commissioner also creates workforce development and training programs, such as the GeorgiaBEST high school certificate vocational program. 
- The Labor Commissioner is elected to 4-year terms in a statewide election. There are no term limits for the Labor Commissioner and the salary is typically around $122,000/year.