Former governor Roy Barnes touted his track record in office, even with the mistakes he admits he made in office.

Barnes, one of four vying for the Democratic nomination in next year’s governor’s race, stopped in Liberty County last week for a fundraiser. There, Barnes addressed issues such as education, transportation and water and touched on issues that affect coastal Georgia in particular.

 “I’m not running to put another line on my resume,” Barnes said. “I’ve lived in the governor’s mansion. I want to put Georgia on the right track and then go home.”

He also said that during his tenure as governor, from 1998-2002, 275,000 jobs were created in the state.

“They were difficult times then, they’re difficult times now,” Barnes said.

Barnes acknowledged that many educators were unhappy with changes he made to Georgia’s public schools, and said he should have “explained” those reforms better.

“We all have a common ground here,” he said, referring to educators, parents, students, businesses and government.

Barnes said a strong educational system translates into economic development and job growth. He would like to see more of Georgia’s teachers receive national board certification.

“Fifteen percent of North Carolina’s teachers are board certified, and they’ve had the greatest gain in test scores over the past 25 years,” he said.

The former governor said if elected he would initiate higher academic standards, especially in math and science. However, Barnes does not favor more standardized testing.

“Testing is necessary but over testing is counter-productive,” he said.

Barnes said teachers need to be given the necessary tools to “make the light come on” in their students. A combination of the latest technology and allowing teachers to appropriately discipline students would go a long way, he said.

As for transportation, Georgians must “look to the next horizon,” Barnes said. The former governor would like to see a consolidated state transportation plan that addresses the different needs across the state.

The building of highways and bridges is still important, he said, but progressive initiatives such as mass transit in large cities like Atlanta should be explored. A commuter rail linking other cities, such as Macon, Augusta, Savannah, Albany and Valdosta, also would offer Georgians more transportation options.

“As fossil fuels get more scarce, we must look at alternatives to automobiles,” he said.

As for water, Barnes said Georgia needs a statewide water policy that concentrates on conservation. He warns that, if elected, he would not allow Atlanta to take water from Georgia’s neighbors or from watersheds other than the Chattahoochee, and not from the coast’s aquifers.

“We get plenty of water,” he said. “It comes down to storage and release.”

He said leaks in Atlanta’s water system and leaks found in other Georgia cities’ systems need repair. Barnes said the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority can help finance these repairs.