COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - From the south side of Columbus, to entrepreneurship, to the state senate, and now a Democratic candidate for Georgia governor, Jason Esteves said he is ready to lead the state of Georgia.

“I look forward to being the next governor of Georgia,” he said.

According to him, his focus is on lowering the cost of living for Georgians.

“I’m going to focus each and every day on lowering the cost of living whether we’re talking about taxes, utilities, or we’re talking about healthcare,” he said.

When it comes to affordable housing, Esteves said the solution starts with holding data centers accountable and cutting taxes for working families.

“I want to make sure that we’re holding our utility companies accountable, especially as relates to data centers, to make data centers pay their fair share. We should not be paying for data centers being built,” he said.

According to him, at least 800,000 Georgians are living without health insurance. He said he knows exactly how to get it done.

“What I want to make sure we do is that we expand access to Medicaid, and I know that I can work. To build a coalition of Democrats and Republicans who are going to be willing to do that.”

A full-time husband, father, business owner, and now candidate for governor — Esteves said his experience running the Flying Biscuit Cafe gives him a unique perspective on what Georgia’s small business owners need.

“I have proposed a $1 billion dollar low interest loan and grant program for small business owners and entrepreneurs,” he said.

He is one of seven Democrats in the race competing alongside eight Republican candidates, all vying to be Georgia’s next governor.

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