Reporter Asks: Is Carter Kessler Struggling With His Identity?

Spencer Frye is a Democrat and he doesn’t mind saying so.  But during a recent debate at East Friendship Baptist Church, Carter Kessler had a harder time with labels.

Kessler is running as a Republican, but “If the choice is if you are a Libertarian, totalitarian, anarchist, I am going to take Libertarian over the authoritarian,” said Kessler.  

In 2009, Kessler started the Young Americans for Liberty chapter on the University of Georgia campus.  During this year’s primaries, the group backed Ron Paul.

Despite his Libertarian roots, Kessler appears as a Republican on the Athens-Clarke County ballot running for the general assembly in the 118th district, against Frye.  

Why not run as Libertarian?  That was Raven Covington’s question.  She is the communications director for Young Democrats of UGA.

“I am an American,” said Kessler, “You’re trying to put a label on me. You can call me what you like. At the end of the day, I am trying to be effective.”

“Trying to understand the madness to your methods, Mr. Kessler, I am getting flustered,” said Bertis Downs, a retired attorney and manager of the Athens-based band R.E.M.  “Are you going to pull a reverse McKillip?”

Doug McKillip ran and won as a Democrat in the 2006 general election beating Republican Regina Quick.  McKillip later switched parties citing religious reasons, and in 2012 was beaten by Quick in the GOP primary.   

Kessler emphasized his desire to be effective if elected. “I hope that you will understand the method to my madness as to why I am running as a Republican.”

Kessler insisted he is “deeply concerned about the direction of my Republican party and the people leading it.”  He said the Republican Party is corrupted and doesn’t have the best interest of the communities at heart.  

“These are the people I am fighting against every month within the Republican Party.  I am begging you all to join me in this fight.  If we unite and work smart and work effectively we can take it to them.  But as long as they keep us divided they’re going to continue to run wild, crafting policy that benefit themselves while marginalizing and ignoring our local communities,” said Kessler.

Clarke County official and former schoolteacher, Karen Solheim, 57, asked each candidate to state the difference between himself and his opponent.

“Spencer is not my adversary.  The people I have been opposing and who have been opposing me is within my Republican party,” said Kessler.

“I think the main difference between my friend and I…I don’t think holding my Democratic values and running as a Democrat is a tactic,” said Frye.  “It’s not a tactic in my book to be a Democrat.”

There were no major policy fights between the two, and both were rewarded with applause from time to time.  Some said the event was a disappointment.

“I expected to come here and hear a Republican debate a Democrat.  Instead, I heard a Republican say he is a Democrat debating a Democrat but then arguing about what we believe, whoever we is,” said Downs.

You may also be interested in:

Carter Kessler Defeats Chris Perlera in the Republican Primary for the 118th District

Candidates Debate For The 118th House District Seat

Georgia House Candidates Attend Athens Forum at Old Fire Hall