Joe Frank Harris

Joe Frank Harris ( born February 16, 1936 in Atco, Bartow County, Georgia ) is an American politician and former governor of Georgia.

Youth and political rise

Harris graduated in 1958 from the University of Georgia. He then participated in the concrete company of his family, before he could be won in 1964 by local politicians as a candidate for the House of Representatives of Georgia. After the victorious election, he remained for nine legislative sessions in a row member of the house. He soon earned a good reputation, especially in the area of ​​public financial management. Accordingly, he became a member of the Budget Committee and in 1974 even as its chairman. In 1982, Harris ran for the nomination as the leading candidate of his Democratic Party for the upcoming gubernatorial election. Given a strong intra-party competition, he was at first only as an outsider. But with the help of the Parliament Speaker Tom Murphy, he was able to prevail in the party. After nomination he also achieved a victory against his Republican opponent.

Governor of Georgia

As governor, he put some points of his predecessor George Busbee continued. He promoted the further industrial development of the state, he lured by national and international companies to Georgia. In the field of education he put on the so-called Quality Basic Education ( QBE ) program. This program included the following points: increase in the budget for public schools, better training programs for the disabled and the increase in teacher salaries. Although the financing of QBE was only partially approved by parliament, this program meant a great step forward. It was for decades the most successful program of reform in the education system of Georgia. Harris also strove for the award of the 1996 Summer Olympics to Atlanta and supported the construction of the Georgia Dome. Also, the four-lane expansion of highways within Georgia was driven by Harris in order to meet the increased volume of traffic needs. According to the 1976 and 1983 amendments to the Constitution Harris in 1986 was elected to a second term.

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At the end of his second term, he retired from office in 1991. First, he retired for a few years in the private life. In 1999 he was then for seven years a member of the University Board of Directors for Georgia.