If a vacancy occurs, the governor fills it, subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the Georgia Senate. background-color: #6db24f; height: 56px; We need a culture change, he said. } } margin-top: 0px; .inner_percentage.CrossFiled { Federal courts | Next Lori talks . Each position comes with a four-year term. His current term ends on January 11, 2027. "If you know where to look it pops right up. background-color: grey; Commissioner Mark Butler, a Republican who has led the department since 2011, did not run for re-election, and two Democrats hoping to be elected in his place made their cases Wednesday at a debate hosted by the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. Butler, who said he has personal reasons to step away, praised the staff of the agency he has led for three terms since 2010, and said that even with the strong post-pandemic recovery, the job will not be easy. Bruce Thompson defeated William Boddie and Emily Anderson in the general election for Georgia Commissioner of Labor on November 8, 2022. } The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms GeorgiaCommissionerofLabor. width: 100% !important; margin: 0px 10px; I can work across the aisle, Boddie said. A candidate can only use contributions for "that elected office for which those contributions were received". font-weight: 300; $('.hideResponses').hide(); Per Article V, Section 3, Paragraph II of the Georgia Constitution, the commissioner of labor must, at the time of his election: Georgia Constitution, Article V, Section 3, Paragraph II, (a) No person shall be eligible to the office of the Secretary of State, Attorney General, State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture, or Commissioner of Labor unless such person shall have been a citizen of the United States for ten years and a legal resident of the state for four years immediately preceding election or appointment and shall have attained the age of 25 years by the date of assuming office. display: block; color: white; He hopes to work with legislators to bring affordable healthcare to the people of Georgia, provide equitable insurance rates for Black Georgians, and lower car insurance premiums. Apply today! display: table; Source. clearInterval(nTimer); Assumed office: 2023-01-09, The Georgia Commissioner of Labor is a state executive position in the Georgia state government. Coan assumed office in 1997. Georgia Labor Commissioner candidates discuss state labor department, Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } left: 0; Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to read or post comments. Jeri Tyler has a "Mike Coan for Labor Commissioner" sign in her front yard. There are five Democrats running for Georgia Commissioner of Labor, including William Will Boddie Jr., Thomas Dean, Nicole Horn, Lester G. Jackson III, and Nadia Surrency. }) He served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1997 to 2010, during which he served as chairman of the Industry and Labor committee. z-index:1; .outer_percentage { Vote Counted County-By-County. External Relations: Moira Delaney Hannah Nelson Caroline Presnell margin-right: 12px; .widget-row.Republican { top: 2px; Georgia Commissioner of Labor - Google News Contact info 148 Andrew Young Intl Blvd, NE Atlanta, GA 30303-1751 United States Phone: (404) 232-7300 E-mail :commissioner@gdol.ga.gov See also Georgia state executive offices Georgia state executive officials External links Georgia Department of Labor Footnotes .votebox-results-cell--number { Albany } 678-665-8480. bottom of page . U.S. Congress | In 2008, he co-founded Quoteburst software to automate the quoting activity for the insurance industry. $('.collapse').collapse('show'); Subscribers can also sign up for a trial offer of99 cents per month for the first two months. Be Nice. Not really. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. word-wrap: break-word; width: 35px !important; Democrat Nadia Surrency said she has a much more diverse background than other candidates. Local Communities vertical-align: middle; During his time in the House Coan was named Legislator of the Year by the NFIB, the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia, the Georgia Restaurant Association, and others. For more information visit mikecoan.com. .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Georgia Recorder. $('#candidate-connection-email-116655').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-email'); }); If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us. Mike Coan is a Republican Candidate for Labor Commissioner in Georgia. } Hemingway ran for Georgia House District 104 in 2020, but lost. position: absolute; [8], In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $122,786, according to the Council of State Governments. Georgia House of Representatives District 101, Georgia Labor Commissioner election, 2022, Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2008, District of Columbia (board of education), https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Mike_Coan&oldid=8741307, Georgia Commissioner of Labor candidate, 2022, Former member, Georgia House of Representatives, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections, Subcommittee on Regulations and Oversight (Chair). } Augusta .race_footer { } } In 2010, He was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to lead the state agency known as The Subsequent Injury Trust Fund. font-weight: bold; }; left: 0px; Sonny Perdue to lead the state agency known as The Subsequent Injury Trust Fund in 2010. The public's trust for the Department of Labor is at an all-time low. font-size: 1.2em; The results have been certified. Cities | Thompson has been a Republican State Senator out of White, Georgia since 2013. There were no incumbents in this race. Columbus .race_header.democratic { .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { 24, 2022 | Updated 4:01 PM EDT May. Policy: Christopher Nelson Caitlin Styrsky Molly Byrne Katharine Frey Jimmy McAllister Samuel Postell font-weight: 300; He and his wife, Hope, have three daughters. Bruce is also the founder and owner of Strong Tower Development, an investment and holding company which has built a funeral home, a center for small businesses, and in keeping with his passion for serving those in need, this company has built affordable rental homes for single moms and their children. position: relative; } State and local courts | Incumbents are bolded and underlined. margin-bottom: .75em; Mike Coan serves on the Chairmans Advisory Council for Workers Compensation and volunteers his time with a charity that raises funds to send children, whose parent has been killed or catastrophically injured, to the technical school or college of their choosing. Public policy. } padding-bottom: 8px; } } He also served on President Trumps post-election legal team in Georgia. a[aria-expanded=true] .fa-chevron-right { display: none; } .results_row td:first-child { } if (typeof $ != 'undefined') { Georgia's workers, small business owners, and taxpayers are the Department of Labor's customers, and they deserve world-class service for the money they are required to pay to fund this agency. He currently serves as deputy commissioner in the Department of Labor. We have got to get them to answer the phones, he said. Boddie has been a member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the South Fulton and Douglas County Chamber of Commerce, the Douglas County Small Business Society, the City of Douglasville Housing Committee, and the Douglas County Democratic Party. The current Georgia Commissioner of Labor is Bruce Thompson (R). color: white; border: 1px solid #999; In his current role at the Department of Labor, he oversees facilities and legislative matters. text-align: center; @media screen and (max-width: 350px) { } There were no incumbents in this race. top: 0px; Bruce Thompson defeated William Boddie and Emily Anderson in the general election for Georgia Commissioner of Labor on November 8, 2022. Although credited with many business and political accolades over the years, Bruce's biggest accomplishments are raising his two children alongside his wife of 24 years, Becky. It is imperative that the department upgrades software to a cloud-based system that will reduce the cost of processing claims while providing a user-friendly interface for the public. Last Modifed: IndyGeorgia May 19, 2022 12:05pm: Tags: Info: Born September 18, 1968 in Lawrenceville, Gwineett County, Georgia Married to Hope Coan Two Children - Autum, 3 and Madison 1 1/2 Member of the Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, Georgia . [5] 2023 FOX Television Stations, The I-Team first reported on then State Senator Thompson, New bill could require active-shooter drills Georgia public schools, Surveillance captures shooting death of man robbed at MARTA bus stop, Georgia man vanishes while on Louisiana business trip, Suspects wanted for Clayton County drive-by shooting, Man shot by police officers at MARTA station identified, Douglas County woman convicted of stabbing her husband to death, Cheerleader competes alone at state champs after squad quits: It felt amazing, Georgia elementary school principal charged with child cruelty, false imprisonment, Clayton County twin sisters make history rising the ranks in Georgia UPS facility, Family of Selena Garcia remains hopeful 7 months after disappearance. and provide assistance and expenses necessary for the operation of the department of each. margin: auto; Some notable initiatives for Thompson if elected include restoring credibility to the agency through building trust with the public, recruiting a dynamic workforce, and creating a culture that values and promotes proactive problem-solving and increases morale among employees. *Subscription includes a complimentary subscription toJAMES Magazine. Contact our sales team. .infobox p { .inner_percentage.Republican { Mike Coan-Candidate for Labor Commissioner joins the Lori Duke Show to talk Campaign, Why Running, Challenges, Leadership, Labor Shortages, Unemployment Challenges and much more! He said he has over 35 years of experience building companies and managing organizations, including two automatic swimming pool cover businesses and the Thompson Insurance Group. Thompson decided to come home and never answered the FOX 5 I-Teams questions about the incident. .votebox-scroll-container { Robinson says if elected she will make sure there is a pathway for all our families to be included at the level of the Commissioners Office in a reliable and sustainable way.. Republican State Sen. Bruce Thompson said the department needs modernization and an aggressive, business-style emphasis on measuring performance. font-size: 12px; Smith, said he would post a deputy outside Thompsons beach house to keep him inside and protect the local community. Four patrons offered her a ride, and she accepted without considering the precarious position she had placed herself in. Source. } .indicate_scroll { text-align: center; Coan lost in the Republican primary on May 24, 2022. width: 100%; Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. overflow-x: auto; Horn wants to promote apprenticeship programs and add staff. ", Reporter: So, at heart you are a journalist?". top: 2px;

} position: absolute; height: 22px; background-color: #6db24f; } There were no incumbents in this race. Early voting for the Republican and Democratic primaries is underway. text-align: left; display: inline-block; Terms & Privacy. @media screen and (max-width: 350px) { . It has often been said that Bruce Thompson is not afraid of rolling up his sleeves and getting dirty. He says if elected, he will ensure our food supplies are kept safe, making sure that our families are fed. .inner_percentage.Democratic { background-color: #003388; Thompson assumed office in 2023. All rights reserved. I have no idea if they are properly staffed, because I have no idea what they do, he said. Thompson promised, on Facebook, on March 22, to "remain at home in self-quarantine for the immediate future.". } Incumbents are bolded and underlined. King said he hopes to restore trust in the Department of Insurance, eliminate corruption, and advance policies that put consumers ahead of the special interests.. if (window.jQuery) { Jackson cited constituent issues with delayed unemployment checks and communication woes from the labor department. }); Bruce is already well-respected among his colleagues in the General Assembly, which will be critically important as he works acquire the resources and support needed to modernize the agency to better serve the people of Georgia. $('#candidate-connection-twitter-116655').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-twitter'); }); width: 43%; Bruce Thompson, who is vying to be the Republican candidate for Georgia Labor Commissioner is facing a campaign finance complaint. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Its disjointed, and right now you have an agency thats not being led. Georgia Commissioner of Labor .votebox_bp_logo { The office of labor commissioner is established by state law.[2]. The I-Team first reported on then State Senator Thompson during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. } } Incumbent Mark Butler advanced from the Republican primary for Georgia Commissioner of Labor on May 22, 2018. Senator Thompson has received numerous awards over the years from the business community, and has been recognized by various lobbying groups as their Legislator of the Year, including: Despite his many accomplishments as a businessman and legislator, Bruce will quickly tell you that his greatest successes, and joy, comes from being a father to his two children, Faith (21) and Max (16), who he raised with his wonderful wife of 24 years, Becky. Tech: Matt Latourelle Nathan Bingham Ryan Burch Kirsten Corrao Beth Dellea Travis Eden Tate Kamish Margaret Kearney Eric Lotto Joseph Sanchez, What's on my ballot? .widget-row { background-color: #f4f4f4; Copyright 2023 Metro Atlanta CEO. height: 100%; [3] In 2022, Coan ran for the Republican nomination for Georgia Labor Commissioner. Source1Source2. background-color: #003388; Georgia_CEO is part of the Georgia CEO Network which includes newswires, newsletters, databases and local web sites in cities across Georgia: Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, LaGrange, Middle Georgia, Newnan, Rome, Savannah, Tifton, and Valdosta. Cities | Horn worked previously as a political fundraiser and media consultant, and worked in public radio and TV news. "The audacity of a man, who had this disease a few days ago, and came into a community that has been virus-free is irresponsible. .inner_percentage.Republican { background-color: #db0000; top: -5px; .race_header.green { Thompson represents west Cherokee County and portions of Bartow and Cobb in the state Senate. A extra special thank you to my rock, Hope Lee Coan! Ballot measures, Who represents me? }; He served concurrently under Governors Perdue, Deal and Kemp. } .results_row.winner { .widget-row.value-only.white { letter-spacing: .04em; let scrollHeight = jQuery('.results_table_container').get(index).scrollHeight; margin: 0; position: relative; background-color: #f9d334; ", Georgia Constitution, Article V, Section 3, Paragraph I, The Secretary of State, Attorney General, State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Commissioner of Labor shall be elected in the manner prescribed for the election of members of the General Assembly and the electors shall be the same. } } margin-bottom: -2px !important; The former journalist is now stepping back into the political game she so loves. background-color: white; } position: absolute; } } .results_row td { a.communitylink { color:black; font-weight:bold; } display: inline-block; Brian Kemp last year. } float: left; The Labor commissioner is responsible for implementing the state's workforce regulations andoperating Georgia's unemployment insurance and rehabilitation programs. font-weight: bold; All rights reserved. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. font-weight: 300; } State legislature | An attorney and CEO of a human resources firm, she said the department should use mobile career centers to augment its offices. Anybody could find it. He says if elected, he hopes to lower monthly bills and provide better coverage for Georgians. @media (max-width:600px) { } | vertical-align: top; float: left; width: 90%; overflow-y: auto; Swann is an entrepreneur and a small business owner, running Out of the Box Farms in Gainesville. He served concurrently under Governors Perdue, Deal and Kemp. background-color: grey; With over 40 million quotes currently processed by the company, it is no wonder it has become the largest and premier quoting solution with over 4,000 agencies. State legislature | background-color: green; Volunteer one (1) hour a week to make calls, or set up a meet/greet, or help put out signs. Coan and Thompson discussed the General Assembly moving some of the powers and responsibilities of the labor commissioner out of the labor department. width: 50px; Georgia will get new commissionersof agriculture, labor and insurance, three positions that have a heavy hand in regulating different aspects of the state. We invite you to learn more about how to expose your business to others in the community. .results_row { CANDIDATE DETAILS: Affiliation: Republican <- 2022-01-01 . .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h3.votebox-header-office-name { text-align: center; I think we have the ability to go in there and change the culture.. } Kartik Bhatt, Mike Coan, state Sen. Bruce Thompson joined a forum Tuesday that was hosted by the Cherokee County Republican Party and the Cherokee County Republican Women. Current Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black is not running to keep his seat, mounting a run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Raphael Warnockinstead. I already have rapport with our leadership in the different units. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this week attempted to contact all nine candidates three Republicans, five Democrats and a Libertarian. } } Bruce Thompson margin-bottom: -2px !important; Butler has endorsed Republican Mike Coan, his former deputy commissioner, who took leave to run for the top job. setTimeout(function() { defer() }, 500); Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? width: 100% Republican candidate Mike Coan wrote FOX 5 to say he's calling on Bruce Thompson to return the contributions he used from his Senate account to their rightful donors and take responsibility for his misuse of campaign funds. The incumbent, King was appointed as the insurance commissioner in 2019, after Jim Beck was suspended from the position. } Rome font-weight: 200; Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles. letter-spacing: 0.03em; } Middle Georgia }) .results_table_container { On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. .race_header.libertarian { } I am proud to have served our state at the pleasure of all three of Georgias Republican governors, said Coan. Whether on a jobsite or just volunteering, he is not afraid of hard work, especially if it involves helping others. }. padding-left: 16px; } "[6], Powers, Duties, Compensation, and Allowances of Other Executive Officers. $('.pastResponses').hide(); } background-color: #003388; margin-bottom: 0; The results have been certified. text-align: center; } left: 0; font-style: italic; "16 Feb 1996, 261 - The Atlanta Constitution at", "11 Jul 1996, 76 - The Atlanta Constitution at", "Republican Mike Coan announces candidacy for Labor Commissioner", "Thompson secures GOP nod, Dems head to runoff in labor commissioner race", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Coan&oldid=1127978704, Republican Party members of the Georgia House of Representatives, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 December 2022, at 18:45. Dukes has served as the representative for District 154 since 1997. Former Georgia State Representative Mike Coan joined WDUN's "The Martha Zoller Show" Tuesday to talk about his campaign for state labor commissioner. How to run for office | } border-radius: 50%; Federal courts | } width: 150px; display: block; After that, the rate will be $7.99 per month. Coan (R) ran unopposed and finished with 16,025 votes. } .infobox { Prior to joining the DOL, he did a short stint as President at Georgia Association of Manufacturers (GAM). } margin-bottom: 0px; .votebox { Thompson did not want to do an interview but sent FOX 5 a statement calling the complaint a "baseless, last minute attack by a desperate opponent who has led the most ethically challenged and scandal plagued agency in Georgia.". } Tifton font-size: 16px; Fortunately, she decided to keep the child and 9 months later delivered a son that she would name Bruce. float: right; let item = jQuery('.votebox .indicate_scroll').get(index); margin-top: 1em; Mike Coan ( Republican Party) was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 101. Georgia legislator talks controversial bills that went through Capitol this session. .expand-all:hover, .collapse-all:hover {cursor: pointer; text-decoration: underline;} .inner_percentage.Green { padding-left: 0; color: white; The results have been certified. The FOX 5 I-Team examined the allegations and found Thompson spent some $35,000 from his old state Senate campaign for his current Labor Commissioner race. } left: 0px; 1602 Braselton Hwy. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { And we need to make sure calls are answered on the first ring.. Anti-gay letter fails to deter hiring of Georgia school superintendent, Georgia Senate panel passes bill to expand ability to challenge voters, Fulton County murder suspect back in jail after accidental release, Former Atlanta fire chief says God brought slaves to America to save them, Rivian posts $6.8B loss in 2022, hit by production woes, Richard his 5 3s, scores 24 as Florida beats Georgia, Texas State defeats Georgia State 81-76 in Sun Belt tourney, Beal, Wizards spoil Snyder's Hawks debut with 119-116 win, Timber frame office building at Ponce City Market Atlanta starts to rise, Supreme Court hearing on student loan forgiveness: What it means for Georgians. Ballot measures, Who represents me? There were no incumbents in this race. Phone:(404) 232-7300 Facebook. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. text-align: center; The pandemic may be ebbing, but the Labor Department will face more unexpected crises, Horn said. According to Coan, he was appointed by Gov. jQuery(item).html("Scroll for more "); font-size: 20px; width: 100%; Other candidates, both Democrats and Republicans, have harshly attacked the departments performance. The candidates were united in opposition to a proposal last year that would have created a chief labor officer to share some duties with the labor commissioner, reporting to the General Assembly. Columbus Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? We are understaffed.. We need better customer service, she said. Click play on the audio above for the full interview. And listen to the AJC Politically Georgia podcast from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 125 7 comments Like Comment font-weight: bold; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 4px; Smith said. background-color: #f9f9f9; Coan said he would work to boost funding, and reform operations. An outraged Florida sheriff, A.J. Associated Categories: WDUN Show Clips, The Martha Zoller Show Associated Tags: wdun, Election, Georgia politics Copyright 2023 AccessWDUN.com Coan has served as deputy commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor since December. } background: #4c4c4c; Create a password that only you will remember. [3], .votebox { Thompson has introduced and signed controversial legislation in 2022, including a bill that would require women to see doctors in person before receiving a specific abortion pill, and Georgias iteration of the Dont Say Gay bill. Each position comes with a. In 2002, she and her husband built a buisness that "helped colleges and universites develop programs to train and retrain the workforce." William Boddie and Nicole Horn advanced to a runoff. .votebox_legend { The open seat for state Labor Commissioner has triggered a free-for-all with nine hopefuls across three parties seeking to succeed Republican Mark Butler. To read all of InsiderAdvantage Georgias daily news,SUBSCRIBE HERE. Middle Georgia max-width: 75px; padding-top: 8px; Lawrenceville, GA 30043. if(scrollHeight > 580 ) { .widget-value { As you can see, Bruces path to where he is now was hardly the traditional route many would expect, and many years later he and his wife would choose to adopt the first of their two children. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { ^ "Candidate Nicole Horn promises more high-paying jobs as Labor commissioner". .race_header.green { Coan is the second Republican to get into the race after state Sen. Bruce Thompson, Chairman of the Senate Economic Development Committee. She kept us moving forward with purpose! font-size: 2em; } United States According to Coan, he was appointed by Gov. 27, 2022 Labor Commissioner 99% Est. Richard Keatley defeated Fred Quinn in the Democratic primary for Georgia Commissioner of Labor on May 22, 2018. Georgia Commissioner of Labor - Google News, 148 Andrew Young Intl Blvd, NE "It looks clear the statute states one thing, and hes doing another," said Dr. Adrienne Jones. Coan is the second Republican to get into the race after state Sen. Bruce Thompson, Chairman of the Senate Economic Development Committee. But, when Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced he was retiring, Thompson decided to run for his seat. [5], The salaries of elected executive officials in Georgia are determined by state law as mandated in the Georgia Constitution. He is a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives. Bruce Thompson defeated Mike Coan and Kartik Bhatt in the Republican primary for Georgia Commissioner of Labor on May 24, 2022. function defer() { William Boddie and Nicole Horn advanced to a runoff. var nTimer = setInterval(function() { .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper { vertical-align: middle; div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } In 2008, Coan collected $46,001 in campaign contributions. Previous Lori talks Ukraine-Samaritans Purse, Biden on Ukraine, CDC Upset with no more masks and more! color: white; Jeri Tylers complaint alleges Thompson has illegally used donations from his state Senate campaign for his labor commissioner race. One evening in 1964, Bruces mother, who was a single mom, needed a ride home from her shift at the California bar where she worked. When questioned about how to solve this challenge, the answer seems to be elusive. 29 TikTok Viral Beauty Products You Can Find at CVS, Shark Tank Investor Kevin O'Leary: Don't Overlo, GET OUT THERE: 5 things to do in north Georgia , Woman convicted of writing false prescriptions in Cherokee County, Police: Two teens injured in Canton shooting, New playground equipment, dog park coming to Barrett Park in Holly Springs, An earthquake could hit Missouri at any time: Here's what to know. letter-spacing: .03em; If you get hungry enough, he said, youll get back to work.. In 2010, the commissioner received a salary of $120,570. Sonny Perdue to lead the state agency known as The Subsequent Injury Trust Fund in 2010. .votebox-scroll-container { Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. .widget-row.value-only.black { He added that the government is set up to give away too many freebies, and if we stop giving away stuff to people, well get them (the unemployed) back to work. Coan said that criticism of the department does not account for the scale of the pandemic crisis.