One of the two Republicans running for governor in Georgia campaigning on his expertise as a businessman is being sued for money an investor says he borrowed but never repaid.
Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who faces Lt. Governor Casey Cagle in the July 24th run-off election, says trust is an important issue in this campaign.
“This race is about trust,” he told WSB’s Pete Combs in Cobb County on Wednesday.
But Kemp is accused of abusing the trust of a North Georgia investor named Rick Phillips, who is suing the candidate. Phillips says Kemp promised to pay back a half-million-dollar business loan solicited by the Secretary on behalf of a company called Hart AgStrong. At the end of the nine-month note period, Phillips, who runs a Toccoa investment firm said Kemp failed to repay the loan.
Kemp admits … the company has fallen on hard times.
“I’ve started my own companies. I’ve invested in others. This is one that has struggled,” the candidate said.
Phillips’ lawsuit goes to court in Gwinnett County the day after the runoff election.