Republican gubernatorial candidate Eric Johnson spoke to local residents at two separate events Thursday.

The first event was a meet-and-greet at J. Henry’s. Johnson met with Spalding County Republican Party Chairwoman Karen Mathiak, Jim Hill, Alton Knight and United Bank President Jim Ogletree and spoke briefly.

He then went to the Rotary Club of Griffin, where he spoke more about the issues facing the state in the coming year. He began his speech by telling the Rotarians that he had just gotten a text message announcing that David Ralston is the new speaker of the House.

Johnson then said many people have not heard of him and those who have heard of him know him due to his sharp tongue. He said he tells the truth regardless of whether or not people want to hear it.

“Let’s do a little bit of truth-telling today,” he said.

He said the state budget used to be $21 billion but the budget that will likely pass this year will be $15 billion. He said the state has cut and balanced its budget without raising taxes but this has come at a price — stacking prisoners three per bunk, furloughing teachers and other cuts.

Johnson said water is going to be a big issue in the coming year. He said Atlanta might try to capture other regions’ water and that is something he does not support. He said quarries could be used as reservoirs and conservation measures could be implemented.

As far as transportation is concerned, both conservatives and liberals agree that the fuel tax is not enough to pay for the state’s needs. He expects the regional transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax to be presented to voters as a constitutional amendment.

Johnson devoted the bulk of his talk to education. He said the United States has the best university system in the world due to the universities competing for the huge numbers of World War II veterans who went to college on the G.I. Bill. He said the HOPE Scholarship has led to the same thing in Georgia and he wants to replicate that effect in K-12 schools.