[The Cobb County Courier invites candidates to submit articles explaining what their vision is for the office they seek, and why voters should elect them. To check out our requirements for submissions, please visit this link]
By Bárbara Rivera Holmes – Georgia Labor Commissioner and Candidate
As a wife, mother, economic developer, and first-generation American, I wake up every morning with deep gratitude for the opportunities this nation and state have afforded my family. When Gov. Brian Kemp appointed me as Georgia’s Labor Commissioner in March 2025, I stepped into office with a clear mission: To bring a conservative, business-minded, private-sector approach to state government.
For too long, government agencies have functioned as bureaucratic mazes instead of service centers. My objective has been straightforward: Turn the Georgia Department of Labor into a true engine of economic opportunity. We do that by staying laser-focused on connecting hardworking Georgians with high-impact, mortgage-paying jobs.
Georgia’s economy is thriving. Today, more than 5.3 million Georgians are employed — more than at any point in our state’s history. Yet we must confront a difficult reality: Inflation and rising prices are still making it tremendously hard for families to afford the American Dream.
The elevated cost of gas, groceries, and healthcare squeezes household budgets every day. That is why our team is committed to ensuring every community feels the direct benefit of our state’s growth — a commitment driven forward by economic pillars like Cobb County.
With nearly 800,000 residents, Cobb County is a commercial and community powerhouse. From frontline healthcare workers delivering world-class care to the defense professionals safeguarding national security at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Cobb embodies Georgia’s hardworking spirit.
It is a place where enterprise meets community — whether at corporate headquarters, small businesses along main street, or at The Battery as families gather to cheer on our Atlanta Braves at Truist Park.
To keep Cobb County and the rest of Georgia moving forward, we are executing a targeted strategy focused on three key pillars:
1. Transforming & Reforming the Georgia Department of Labor
Government should move at the speed of business, not the speed of paperwork. Since I’ve taken office, we have aggressively cut bureaucratic red tape and modernized agency operations so benefits and services for Georgia’s job seekers and employers are delivered faster, fairly, and reliably. When you need help, state government should work for you — not slow you down.
To deliver on that promise, we’ve undertaken the largest unemployment insurance modernization in Georgia’s history. We are bringing legacy systems into the modern era, speeding up assistance for families in transition while making our state a hard target for fraud and bad actors. By streamlining processes, lowering administrative burdens, and engaging directly with local communities, we are transforming the Georgia Department of Labor into an agile, responsive partner for Georgia’s workforce.
2. Building Tomorrow’s Workforce Today
Economic growth requires a pipeline of skilled talent ready to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving marketplace. We are expanding workforce development by building strong, active partnerships with educators, technical colleges and universities, trade organizations, and local business leaders.
Every day, we work side-by-side with small business owners and main street entrepreneurs across Cobb County. Whether preparing workers for Cobb’s booming professional services and healthcare sectors, equipping talent for defense and technology industries, or strengthening hands-on technical trades, we are ensuring Georgia’s workforce training aligns directly with real, local employer needs.
3. Making the Top State for Business the Top State for Talent
For an unprecedented 13 straight years, Georgia has earned the title of Number One State for Business. That record is an immense point of pride, but to maintain our competitive edge, we must also become the Top State for Talent. Major employers choose Georgia because of our low-tax, pro-growth climate; they stay and expand here because of our people. By directly aligning state labor resources with local industry demands, we are ensuring businesses in Cobb County and across Georgia have access to the skilled workforce they need to innovate, scale, and succeed.
At its core, workforce development is about family security. A good career is more than just a paycheck; it is dignity, stability, and the foundation for a better future. When we connect a parent with a high-impact, mortgage-paying job, we strengthen a household, support local schools, and invest in a safer, more prosperous community.
As your Labor Commissioner, I will continue applying a practical, business-driven approach to public service — eliminating inefficiency, expanding opportunity, and keeping Georgia’s economic momentum stronger than ever.
This election is too important, and Georgia cannot afford to go backwards.
Together, we will ensure that every hardworking Georgian — in Cobb County and across our state — has the pathway and tools needed to achieve their American Dream.
For more information, visit https://BarbaraForGA.com.
About the Author:
Bárbara Rivera Holmes serves as Georgia’s Labor Commissioner and is running for a full term in office. She is a resident of Albany, Ga., and previously served as the President & CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.