COVINGTON, Ga. – Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle brought his campaign for Georgia’s top job to Newton County Monday night, addressing the Newton County GOP at the Covington Municipal Airport.

Cagle told the 125 or so who braved rainy weather to greet him at the final stop on the first day of a two-week bus tour that he believes in incentives that help create jobs in the state.

“I do believe in incentivizing things that do grow the economy and create good paying jobs for our citizens,” he said. “As long as it has a return on its investment. You see, the $26 billion budget within the state, I believe is, as governor when I present it, needs to be viewed in the context that I’m making an investment of your dollars. And I need to know what that return is going to be.

He also talked about the importance of providing a good education.

“Education is a prime example. If we don’t succeed in education in getting our kids the ability to be self-reliant, then what are they going to do? They turn to a life of crime. What’s the cost of a life of crime? Thirty thousand dollars a year incarceration. Government dependency? Another $30,000 a year, probably. This is why it’s important that we become effective and efficient in meeting our goals around education, where people can become self-sufficient.”

Cagle told The Covington News education and the economy are the things most on Georgians’ minds as he travels across the state.

And he sees Newton County as primed for future economic growth.

“In the next 10 years this is a hotbed of economic growth,” he said. “You see what happened with Facebook. It’s coming this way.”

Early voting starts Monday, April 30. Election Day is May 22.