Cam T. Ashling isn’t a career politician.
She’s a small business owner, former licensed stockbroker, livestock farmer, and single mother who understands how Georgia’s systems actually work — and how they can make or break working families and small businesses.
Her family came to Gwinnett County as political refugees from Vietnam, arriving with a single aluminum trunk and the determination to build a better future. Her parents worked factory and warehouse jobs for decades — her father as a forklift driver before wiring commercial HVAC systems, and her mother working night shifts in manufacturing — sacrificing everything to create opportunity for their daughters.
From an early age, Cam learned that hard work itself was noble but insufficient — and smart work, sound decision making, and financial literacy create freedom.
That mindset shaped her career — the desire to help others shaped her fight for Georgians.
While others talk politics, Cam understands the mechanics of power — business registration, securities regulation, licensing systems, fraud detection, risk/rewards, and financial accountability.
She holds two of the most demanding credentials in finance:
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Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
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Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA)
She also passed Level 1 and Level 2 of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exams. She worked for major financial institutions including Morgan Stanley, Ayco a Goldman Sachs Company and Bank of America U.S. Trust before building her own independent consulting practice and launching a successful Georgia-based small business brand, Goat Mansion by Buckhead Goats.
The Secretary of State oversees business registrations, securities enforcement, and professional licensing.
Cam is the only candidate with real-world experience in all three.
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Cam has been on the ground protecting Georgia voters long before it was politically advantageous.
She has:
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Led 24-person absentee ballot cure teams
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Served as a poll monitor documenting problems
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Drove and translated for limited English and disabled seniors
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Participated in ballot review boards to hand count for various counties
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Testified in court for a deceased voter to legally take down exact-match
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Sued the State of Georgia over the "Takeover" clause through GAPPAC with the Coalition for Good Governance
She understands the system because she has worked inside it — at the precinct level, at the county level, and in the courtroom.
Her mission is clear:
Fair. Safe. Transparent. Auditable. Secure.
Evidence based elections that the public can trust and the state can defend.
No partisan games. No chaos. No manipulation.
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For over a decade, Cam has worked to expand civic participation and strengthen minority political representation in Georgia.
She helped found or lead organizations dedicated to voter protection and civic engagement, including:
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Asian American Legal Advocacy Center (now Asian American Advancing Justice – Atlanta)
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Georgia Advancing Progress Political Action Committee (GAPPAC)
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Asian American Action Fund – Georgia Chapter
She served as AAPI Constituency Director for Jon Ossoff’s successful U.S. Senate campaign in 2021 and again for Senator Raphael Warnock’s re-election campaign in 2022 building across all coalitions not just her AAPI job.
Cam has been recognized three consecutive years as one of the 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia by Georgia Asian Times and has been featured by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times for her civic work.
But she has never held elected office. Not funded by powerful political insiders or special interest.
She answers to Georgia voters — not political machines. And will never be anybody’s puppet.
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Cam has lived in Gwinnett, DeKalb, Fulton, and now Forsyth County, where she operates her goat farm and raises her son.
She believes Georgia deserves leadership that is:
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Competent
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Fearless
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Financially literate
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Operationally experienced
Leadership is not about a title. It’s not about a job. It’s about delivering results for Georgians.
This office isn’t a career move — it’s a stewardship.
Because when this office works, businesses open, licenses move, elections are trusted, and millions of Georgians have a path forward brighter than yesterday.If Georgia wants a Secretary of State who understands business, finance, election systems, and where we have been — and isn’t afraid to challenge unsafe outdated systems — Cam T. Ashling is ready.
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Agenda
Cam Ashling is a small business owner, a Forsyth farmer, and a fierce election protection leader—ready to be the SOS G.O.A.T. who helps Georgia’s businesses grow, fixes licensing, protects seniors, and restores trust in our elections.
1) The Secretary of State as Georgia’s Economic Engine (Jobs, Small Business & Agriculture)
Georgia’s Secretary of State isn’t just about elections—it’s an office that touches nearly every paycheck through business registration, licensing, and consumer protection. [1][2][3]
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Grow new businesses by 10%—with a clear baseline and public dashboard. Cam will set the baseline using the SOS Active Entities Report and publish progress regularly so Georgians can track new registrations and survival rates by region (including South Georgia). [4]
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Meet Georgia where it works: prioritize rural outreach to farmers, small towns, and county seats so business services aren’t Atlanta‑only.
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Faster business registration = faster hiring. Streamline filings and reduce processing delays so new businesses can open doors, make payroll, and serve customers sooner. [2][5]
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Proactive “Business Check‑In” support for new registrants. After registration, the SOS office should connect owners to the right state and local resources (permits, taxes, workforce, financing guidance) rather than leaving them to figure it out alone.
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Protect Georgia businesses from identity theft and filing fraud. Strengthen verification and documentation standards so bad actors can’t hijack legitimate business identities (especially harmful to small contractors and family businesses).
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2) Smooth Licensing Services That Respect Working People (Lower Fees + Faster Service)
Georgia’s SOS office provides administrative support to dozens of licensing boards—and licensing delays or costs can mean lost income for working families. [6][7][8]
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Make getting and maintaining a professional license easier. Clear steps, plain‑language checklists, fewer repeat submissions, and better renewal reminders—because a license is how people pay bills. [7]
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Stop nickel‑and‑diming workers and small shops. Review licensing fees and renewals to reduce unnecessary administrative costs—especially for nurses, contractors, cosmetologists, nail techs, salon owners, electricians, plumbers, and other licensed trades. [7][8]
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Set service standards (and publish them). Create posted targets like “emails answered in X days” and “applications processed in Y days,” then publish performance by division so people see real accountability.
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Fix bottlenecks without lowering safety standards. Streamline outdated steps and cut redundant requirements while protecting public health and consumer safety—because licensing should be efficient and responsible. [8][9]
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Respect rural licensed workers. Ensure licensing support works for people in South Georgia who may have less broadband access or longer drives to offices—offer mobile-friendly tools and real human help.
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3) Trustworthy Elections: Transparent, Accurate, Evidence‑Based, and Affordable for Counties
Cam’s goal is simple: make Georgia’s election system trustworthy again—with evidence, transparency, and practical county support.
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Invest in poll workers as critical infrastructure. Increase training, retention, and pay—because a well-supported poll worker workforce reduces lines, errors, and stress for voters.
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Gold‑standard voting systems (not political theater). Evaluate ballot marking devices, Dominion equipment, and hand‑marked ballot approaches using security, auditability, accuracy, and transparency as non‑negotiables—not partisanship.
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Modernize and harden election technology. Update vulnerable software, replace malfunctioning equipment, and fix the “small failures” (like hardware and power issues) that create chaos on Election Day.
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Make elections cheaper and smoother for rural counties. County election offices—especially small towns with fewer resources—shouldn’t be forced to run high‑cost elections with limited staff. Cam will prioritize practical support and budgeting relief where it’s needed most.
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Increase transparency so misinformation can’t fill the void. Publish clearer election operations reporting (chain of custody, audit summaries, incident response) in plain language.
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4) Protecting Seniors & Families from Scams (Consumer Protection + Better Financial Literacy)
The SOS office oversees important consumer and securities functions that can protect Georgians from fraud and abuse. [1][2][3]
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Spend more to prevent senior fraud and scams. Shift resources upstream into prevention—public education, rapid alerts, and easier reporting—so fewer families lose savings.
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Make financial literacy actually useful (and interesting). Upgrade education programs so they reflect real life: avoiding scams, understanding credit, protecting savings, and spotting predatory tactics.
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Stronger coordination with local partners. Work with community organizations, faith communities, libraries, and senior centers—especially in South Georgia—to deliver scam prevention where people already gather.
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Improve securities and investment oversight communication. Provide clearer consumer guidance on how to check registration, report suspected fraud, and understand common scam patterns. [1][2][3]
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Measure outcomes, not brochures. Track prevention impacts (reports, recoveries, outreach coverage) and publish results.
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5) A Secretary of State Office That Actually Helps People (4.5‑Star Service + Secure Technology)
Right now, too many Georgians report frustration: no answers, long waits, confusing systems. Cam’s standard is a modern, responsive SOS office that works across Georgia.
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Customer service overhaul with real accountability. Add staffing where needed, train for problem-solving, and implement “no wrong door” support so people aren’t bounced around.
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Public-facing service scorecard. Publish response times, backlog levels, and resolution rates—so improvements are visible and real.
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Modernize the SOS website so it doesn’t glitch or trap users. Build a user-friendly, mobile-ready experience that works even when you have multiple screens open—and doesn’t force repeated registrations for basic tasks. [5][10]
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Stronger safeguards against business identity theft. Require documentation standards (including written authorization for registered-agent actions) and improve fraud detection so Georgia businesses are safer.
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Regional equity in service. Ensure rural Georgians can reach the SOS office without taking a day off work—better phone support, clearer online workflows, and practical help for county residents.
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References
[1] The Office of Georgia Secretary of State
[2] The Corporations Division of the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office ...
[3] Georgia Secretary of State
[4] Georgia Corporations - Active Entities Report - Georgia Secretary of State
[5] GEORGIA
[6] Georgia Licensing Boards | Georgia Secretary of State
[7] The Licensing Division of the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office ...
[8] Raffensperger launches professional licensing reform effort | Georgia ...
[9] Raffensperger launches professional licensing reform effort