ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Five candidates have entered the Georgia governor’s race so far — one Republican, Attorney General Chris Carr, and four Democrats, most of whom are current or former elected officials.

Olu Brown, a retired Methodist pastor, is the only candidate with no political background.

Brown said voters are looking for leaders outside the traditional political mold.

“I believe voters aren’t looking for these career politicians anymore,” he said.

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Brown previously led East Point United Methodist Church, where he helped transform a blighted warehouse into a $4 million community resource. He said politics, like ministry, is about serving people.

“It’s all about people. And I believe effective pastors and politicians care about people,” Brown said. “The leap isn’t that great for me because I’ve had to study policy. I’ve had to negotiate. I’ve had to learn to build teams. I’ve had to raise budgets. I’ve had to make very tough executive decisions my whole career.”

If elected, Brown said he would work to raise educator pay, provide tax breaks for small businesses and invest in infrastructure across both metro and rural Georgia.

“As governor, you won’t have to come to the State Capitol to see me. I’ll come to yound so even after we win, we’ll still be in all parts of Georgia,” he said.

Brown is leading listening tours across the state. He visited Baxley last week.

He plans to head to Meter and St. Simon’s in the next month.

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