Gary Ward Black (born August 20, 1958) is an American farmer and politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. A Republican, he previously served as Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia from 2011 to 2023, having been first elected in 2010. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Georgia in 2022.
Agricultural career Black received a Bachelor of Science in agricultural education from the University of Georgia.Georgia Agriculture Commissioner candidates , August Chronicle (October 30, 2010). He spent 40 years in the farm business and is a cattle farmer in Jackson County,Brewer Turley, Black determined to unseat ag commissioner , Thomasville Times-Enterprise (October 31, 2006). specifically in Commerce.Walter C. Jones, Georgia agriculture commissioner candidates want to strengthen farm economy , Florida Times-Union (September 27, 2010). Until his 2010 campaign for agriculture commissioner, Black's primary job was president and lobbyist for the Georgia Agribusiness Council, a position to which he was elected in 1989 and held for 21 years.Kay Harris, Black running for Ag Commissioner , Valdosta Daily Times (September 1, 2010). He had previously held positions at the Georgia Farm Bureau.
Political career
Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia
Black was the Republican nominee for agriculture commissioner in 2006, but was defeated by Democrat Tommy Irvin, a 37-year incumbent. In 2004 and 2008, he had positions on the Bush-Cheney and McCain-Palin campaigns.
In 2010, Irvin decided not to seek election to an eleventh term as agriculture commissioner, and Black was elected to the open seat.Lauren Foreman & Greg Bluestein, Longtime farms chief Tommy Irvin dies , Atlanta Journal-Constitution (September 15, 2017). Black was twice reelected agriculture commissioner by large margins. Upon taking office, Black ordered the removal of a part of a 1956 mural by George Beattie from the lobby of the Georgia Department of Agriculture building; the removed murals included idealized images of plantation slaves in Georgia harvesting sugarcane, picking cotton, and using a cotton gin. Black said at the time that he shared others' views that the images were distasteful, and that he wanted to depict a better picture of agriculture in the state.Ga. office to remove paintings of slaves, Associated Press (December 30, 2010).
After Hurricane Michael hit South Georgia, Black was a leading voice pushing for federal relief. Black opposed Obama-era EPA environmental protection regulations, such as proposed rules on pesticidesProposed new EPA pesticide rules are toxic, say Georgia agriculture leaders , Valdosta Today (September 5, 2014). and the Clean Water Rule (also called the Waters of the United States rule), which Black called "wretched" (the rule was ultimately revoked by the Trump administration).Jill Nolin, South Ga. judge blocks Obama-era policy to curtail water pollution , Georgia Recorder (August 25, 2019).U.S. Senators release video to overturn controversial water rule , WALB (2015).Tamar Hallerman, In Georgia, water rollback divides on property rights vs. environment , Atlanta Journal-Constitution (December 11, 2018).
Black is a supporter of Donald Trump. In 2016, Black endorsed then-candidate Trump, who appointed Black to his agriculture policy advisory council.Aaron Gould Sheinin, Gary Black: Only Donald Trump will stop feds' overreach , Atlanta Journal-Constitution (August 19, 2016). At the time, Black criticized federal power, especially agricultural regulations.
After Trump was defeated in his 2020 bid for re-election, Black supported Republican efforts to restrict voting rights in Georgia.
U.S. Senate campaign
In June 2021, Black announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate in 2022 to challenge incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock.Jeff Amy, Warnock raises $7.2M in quest to keep Senate seat in 2022 , Associated Press (July 15, 2021). In announcing his Senate run, Black said he intended to rely on his name recognition from prior statewide elections, strong base of rural support, and staunch Trump support. He praised Trump for "all the good things he's done the past four years" and dodged questions about whether he accepted that Joe Biden was legitimately elected president.James Arkin, State GOP official jumps into Georgia Senate race against Warnock , Politico (June 4, 2021). Many of Black's largest campaign contributors were from Georgia agribusiness. About one-third of Georgia's sheriffs, mostly from less populous rural counties, endorsed Black for Senate.Greg Bluestein, One-third of Georgia's sheriffs back Gary Black’s Senate bid , Atlanta Journal-Constitution (August 9, 2021). During his campaign, Black took conservative stances and opposed the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.'No and no.' Why Georgia GOP Senate contenders oppose infrastructure, budget plans , Atlanta Journal-Constitution (August 12, 2021). Donald Trump endorsed another candidate, Herschel Walker, in the Republican primary.
Electoral history
Personal life He is married to Lydia Black and they have two children.
References