Ralph Hudgens

Ralph Hudgens
Georgia Insurance Commissioner
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2011
Governor Nathan Deal
Preceded by John Oxendine
Personal details
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Suzanne Hudgens
Occupation Insurance Commissioner
Religion Baptist
Website Official site

Ralph Hudgens is the Commissioner of Insurance of the state of Georgia. Hudgens served in the Georgia House of Representatives as well as the Georgia Senate. He has been a delegate to numerous Republican Party events. Hudgens defeated his Democratic opponent in the 2010 election with 53.8% of the vote. Hugdens and his wife Suzanne have four children and twelve grandchildren.[1]

Views on Obamacare

With regard to Obamacare, as the Georgia Insurance Commissioner, Hudgens has opposed the implementation of Affordable Care Act and vowed to be an "obstructionist" while speaking to a group of Republicans at the Tillman Hanger Rally in Floyd County, Georgia.[2] However, Hudgens later admitted "I spoke to a Republican group in Rome, Ga., and I said I was going to be an obstructionist, but I can’t be. I mean, I was talking to a Republican group and I was throwing them some red meat."[3]

At the CSRA Republican Women’s Club meeting, he criticized the Affordable Care Act by likening the patients with preexisting condition to a car driver that has gotten in an accident and seeks car insurance post incident.[4] He has since retracted his remarks and stated, "I've had family members, I've had friends - who have pre-existing conditions. It's not the person's fault they have a pre-existing condition."[5]

Recent controversy

At a recent Georgia Republican public event, Hudgens was speaking and happened to notice a journalist, Nydia Tisdale, videotaping the event, which caused him to direct a comment at her, publicly stating "I don't know why you're videotaping". This led to some apparent discomfort, in spite of her already having had approval to record the public event. Subsequently the police arrested Tisdale, with accusations currently being leveled both at the police as well as at Tisdale. At this time, the dispute has not been settled but video has surfaced of the event.[6]

References

  1. http://www.ralphhudgens.com/about
  2. "Ga. insurance chief brags about sabotage of ObamaCare". Atlanta Journal Constitution. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  3. "Ralph Hudgens: No longer an Obamacare ‘obstructionist’". Atlanta Journal Constitution. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  4. "Another Georgia Republican Forgot The Camera Was Rolling, Accidentally Spoke His Mind". Huffington Post. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  5. "Hudgens walks back remarks about chronically ill people". Atlanta Journal Constitution. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  6. "VIDEO: Journalist Roughed Up And Removed From Georgia GOP Event". Talking Points Memo. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
Preceded by
John Oxendine
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner
2011–current
Succeeded by
Incumbent