What is your name?

Jeff Criswell

When is your birthday?

July 15, 1959

Tell us more about yourself.

You: Live in Georgia's 6th congressional district, sick of Joe Biden and ready for a new political voice? Me: New kid on the Republican block. I've always despised politics but recently felt called to get involved. No doubt, Christ is my all-in-all. Clearly, I'm not perfect, but Jesus informs most of what I do. Humor is huge for me. In an unjust world we gotta laugh some now, don't we? Longtime Braves fan who prefers burgers to bourgeoise, jeans to three-piece suits. The 6th is majority Black and I am White; no matter. Voters in the 6th, from Buckhead to Union City and Douglasville to Sandy Springs can trust me to pursue their interests in D.C.

What office are you running for?

U.S. House of Representatives, 6th District

What is your party affiliation?

Republican

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

- West Springfield High School (Virginia), 1977 - B.A., University of Virginia, 2001 - M.A., Morehead State University, 2014

Provide the link to your campaign website.

www.jeffcriswell.com

What is your job/occupation?

Roadside service provider

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

Smyrna

Is this your first time running for office?

Yes

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

I'm the divorced dad of two sons. They're grown now, but when they were kids being dad was my single most important mission. In D.C., I want to help restore fatherhood to the American landscape. Professionally, I am an out-of-the-box thinker who once started (from scratch) the baseball brand A.D.STARR, which I sold profitably after 10 years (1990-2000). The brand now belongs to Dick's Sporting Goods and is used in the Little League World Series. Although it was a labor of love, running A.D.STARR was also at times a grueling ordeal that tested my ability to persevere in extreme adversity. Finally, I've been a Christian for 46 years.

What actions would you take to enhance government transparency and trust in government?

Police reform: Obviously, we value justice, law and order and arresting criminals. But, just as obviously, policing in Atlanta needs meaningful reform. Congressional term limits: It's ridiculous how folks like [former House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi and [Senate Republican Leader Mitch] McConnell can strangle the American political trajectory. Reduce the national debt: The current debt load is unsustainable. The Pentagon wastes billions every year. Congress wastes billions every year. We gotta stop the bleeding.

How do you plan to overcome political polarization to get things done for your constituents?

I'm a conservative but not militantly so. I'm definitely a centrist and see value, frankly, on both sides of the aisle. As a cause-driven congressman, I'd be happy to work with the left when it seemed in the best interests of my constituents.

What would you do to address the cost of living for Georgians?

Joe Biden-omics is crushing the spending power of every Georgian. Statistically, we're all spending $1000+ more per month than when Biden and [U.S. Rep. Lucy] McBath took office. Rents are out of control and it's almost impossible for first time homebuyers to afford a mortgage. Groceries are sky high and gas is substantially more expensive under Biden than Trump. Why? In part because Biden ended important crude oil drilling here on American soil. This is stupid. Let's pump American crude. Yes, we value green energy, but it's ridiculous to think we can go "cold turkey" on fossil fuels. Biden and McBath's insane inflationary approach to government has to stop.

What specific elements would you push for in a border security/immigration bill?

Biden and McBath seem hellbent on ruining America with illegal aliens — as many as 10 million — under Biden. Now, the Democrats are providing them with free groceries and housing while needy Americans go without. We do not have the resources to support these folks, many who don't even bother to learn English. Their kids create stress on our schools, they use hospital emergency rooms like doctor's offices, and they wire our money to their countries. I support [former] President Trump's Day 1 initiative for widespread deportation. Further, let's aggressively seal the border, which means some of them will go home in body bags, if necessary.

What should Congress do to address concerns about climate change?

I support the methodical, common sense transition to green energy. Wind, solar, EV's are all very young technologies that will improve in an open marketplace. Hydrogen is also promising as an alternative to fossil fuels. But there is no magic pill and the impulse to go "cold turkey" on fossil fuels is ill advised. As regards the output of livestock into the atmosphere: you can't tell people what to eat or not to eat, but I largely go without meat and it's not a bad lifestyle.