MACON, Ga. — We asked; you answered.
When we took our 13WMAZ Listening Lab to voters in Central Georgia, they told us that inflation and crime are issues at the top of their minds this election season.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — the Democratic nominee for vice president — came to Macon for a visit Tuesday morning.
While here, 13WMAZ anchor Frank Malloy had an exclusive one-on-one interview, asking those questions and more during Walz's stop here in Central Georgia.
Here's what Walz had to say about the issues affecting Central Georgians.
What do you tell people who wake up each morning wondering how am I gonna get by financially?
I tell them Kamala Harris and I know something about it being middle-class folks. Our family sit at the table trying to pay the bill. We know coming out of the COVID pandemic with prices where they were, that people need to see some relief.
And I think that's why Kamala Harris has put out a plan — especially around home ownership — making sure we're building 3 million more affordable homes, making sure we're making the down payment assistance there.
Drug prices, especially for seniors, making sure we're keeping a cap on those. That's making a difference.
And then making sure we're investing in rural communities like the Investment Acts that have created a lot of new jobs in terms of infrastructure and other things. Those are things that we start to get a handle on it.
We're seeing those come down, but folks are dealing with that.
I think the contrast is, is that we see a proposal from Donald Trump to put a 20% national sales tax basically on everything, adding about $4000. Not a single economist thinks it's a good idea.
So I think telling them that, look, we're with this, folks, to understand that they're hurting on this. But there's a plan to go forward and Vice President Harris has got that.
What do you see as solutions to violent crime — and in particular — youth violence?
Well, and I think the one thing is we're seeing that, while it is lower, what I keep telling people is that's small consolation to a person who's involved in it.
Now, it's much lower than it's been. It was up during Donald Trump.
I think for us, one of the things is we're going to have to have a national conversation like we did in Minnesota. We're seeing it around gun violence, and there's things you can do.
Look, I'm a veteran hunter. I own firearms. The second amendment is important. But our first responsibility is the safety of our children, getting them out of there.
And I think one of the other things is investing in these kids' futures. We're seeing different pathways to careers, the skilled trades, things like that. Making sure that we're not losing these kids at an early age by investing in our schools and understanding those public schools in rural communities, that is the lifeline for all of us.
And I think trying to cut that out early. And what I say a lot of times and I think it's true is, you can buy school buses or you can buy prison buses.
It makes more sense to invest on the front end. It makes more invest in that.
And I think Kamala Harris's plan — we saw this in Minnesota — if you want to reduce childhood poverty, the child tax credit is the way to do this. Republicans and Democrats say it. She's got a proposal out there to save families $6000 in that first year. That gets kids off to a good start, gets them into a good saving place.
What do you say to people who are on the fence about voting?
That's the thing that worries me the most, especially with young people. This idea of making people cynical about this.
And look, there's a couple of things you can do.
You can go down the road to voter suppression. And I think there's folks that want to do that. Make it more difficult to vote. Tell them it doesn't matter, tell them the system is broken — or worse yet — tell them that it's rigged, which we know it's not.
Or you can go out and engage them, give them a more positive future. Tell them this is what it will impact your family if you do it. And I keep saying this, billions of people could only dream of being able to control their own destiny.
I hear people tell me, 'Look, I'm just into politics, governor.' And I say, 'Well, too bad politics is into you.' It's going to impact your taxes, it's gonna impact your roads, it's gonna impact public safety. Why don't you get out there and make a difference and at least have your voice heard.
So I would tell people Kamala Harris is offering that positive future. And I think this energy you're feeling too is because this can be joyful work. Hard work can be good work. I think all of us know that. And I think that's what she's bringing back.
You say hope is the most powerful word in the universe. What is your hope for this country?
My hope is that we unify around our common principles. The support of our constitution and democracy. The belief that our neighbors are our neighbors.
You don't have to agree with them, but I often say this, it's just mind your own business. They'll get by on that and we've seen this time and time again across this country. It doesn't matter what state it is.
I was just out in Nevada. They've got a fire out there that's pretty bad.
People come together and support that. They suspended the campaigns out there and just went and collected food and water and things for people. That's the way this should be.
So my hope for the country is, that democracy is a beautiful thing. It's also very fragile.
We don't need one person making all the decisions, we need all of us involved in it. My take is is to get them out there.
Kamala Harris talks about being a president for all Americans. That's my hope.
What have you taken from your time as a coach that you apply every day?
Yeah, it's that, it's that sense of count on the person next to you. You can't do it alone. I played with kids that were, you know, superstars basically. And then I played with kids that did the best they could.
I've seen things on teams that I might have not had the most talented team, but I had the most successful team, because they trusted the person to the left and right of them – and they did it.
I think America is the same way. Trust your neighbors. They might not think exactly the same way, but they're in it with you.
I think this demonizing somebody because they think differently is really dangerous. Because in coaching, I can't imagine that.
If you're just in it for yourself — ‘Oh, I rushed for 1000 yards’ — too bad. You didn't win a game.
You know, that's the thing. And I think when you get people thinking that way, things work out really well.