theinterview Karen Handel looks ahead


Within whisker of governor’s office, Handel turns to new projects; Says not done with politics


BY HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com


Karen Handel burst out of a pack


of single-digit candidates to make a huge run for the 2010 Republican gubernatorial nomination, only to see her lead fade in the runoff with Nathan Deal. So what is she doing now? Northside Woman wanted to


know. We caught up with her as she headed to Washington D.C. to meet with a client for a new company she has started, The Handel Strategy Group. Sitting down on a conference call, Handel brought Northside Woman up to date.


NORTHSIDE WOMAN: What do you


think you came away with in your run to be governor? HANDEL: It was a tremendous


experience. The people I was able to meet and the new friends I was able to make were for Steve and me both an extraordinary time. I am just grateful for every single minute of it. NSW: You were literally


within an eyelash of becoming the next governor. Do you see


yourself


coming back to politics at some point?


HANDEL:


now on building my company -- but make no mistake about it, I will remain involved in politics, even if the role is as a citizen. NSW: But you are not going to close any doors? HANDEL: That’s right. Whether it’s


politics or business, I’m too young to close any doors. NSW: So what was the most


valuable lesson you learned from that campaign? HANDEL: Gosh, I learned so much


on the campaign trail. For me, the most valuable part was to see what you are really made of. It tests you. It was a very humbling experience.


Win or lose, I think I am a far better individual because of that campaign. And it was seeing people take a real risk on me. And many took it very hard to run such a long campaign and then lose by such a small margin. To the women’s groups I talk


Who knows? It is hard to predict the future. What I know is I will be prudent and smart about my career. I will make sure the things I have engaged in are not things that will present a difficulty for me later. That is the way things are in the


world of politics. I was once told that timing is very much a big part of it. And often the timing picks you. You don’t get to pick it. I’m just going to focus


“ ” itself.


NSW: You said you have started a new company. Tell us about that. HANDEL: I’m doing some strategy


and consulting work for mostly nonprofit organizations, but not exclusively. The first group I’m working with is the Susan G. Komen Foundation. They have affiliates in all the states, and I’m


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to, the women who are running for office, I tell them to focus on what we did achieve. People have to remember that for the whole first year of my campaign, people were calling to ask if I was dropping out yet. I would tell them no. So to make


it into that runoff and come within 2,500 votes of winning was an achievement in


HATCHER HURD/STAFF


Karen Handel has settled into her new consulting business, but she is keeping her options open to return to the political arena.


working with them make sure those groups are as strong as they can be. And we’re making sure there is a good relationship between the national headquarters group and the affiliate group.


There are well over one million


people who participate in the walks each year. They represent very powerful and vocal voices for the Komen Foundation, as well as breast cancer and screening. Ending breast cancer is an issue I got involved in from a very young age, in my early 20s. I was a part of the first national Race for the Cure held here in Washington. So it is very much like coming home. NSW: What other issues do think you might get involved in now? HANDEL: There might be an


opportunity with elections reform. There seems to be a lot of interest in doing this. I might be a resource to other secretaries of state contemplating elections reform based on Georgia’s experience through the courts in not only developing photo I.D. -- not only in developing it from the legislative side-- but in implementing it, voter education and the courtroom battles. NSW: So what else have you been doing to keep yourself occupied? HANDEL: Well, I can tell you,


much to my husband’s great surprise, I have taken up running. I started in October, and my goal was to run 5k by Christmas. And the week of Christmas, I ran 3.3 miles twice that week. I figured I had better do it again to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. Since then, I’ve added a little


bit more. My personal best is 4 miles. Today, I ran 3.2 miles at 12.5 minutes a mile, which a personal best on my time. I’m enjoying this. I never really thought of myself as a runner before, but I’m the kind of person who needs to have a goal. So after the runoff, while I was


trying to sort through what would be next in my life, it was a very productive goal for me to have in the short run. But I’ve found running really allows you to clear your head, and I’m enjoying this.


I found losing weight was a nice


byproduct. Steve and I often mix up our routes so it doesn’t get boring. We’ll go down sometimes to Chastain Park. Sometimes we’ll go over to the Greenway off Haynes Bridge Road, or we’ll go down to RiverWalk Park in Roswell. The great thing is at the next


Komen 5k, I’ll be able to run it and not just walk it.


Whether it’s politics or business,


I’m too young to close any doors.


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