Candidates square off in Walker before standing-room-only crow
Oct 15, 2008 | 59 views | 0 
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Walker County residents packed the Civic Center Tuesday evening to hear political candidates talk about the issues.
The forum was hosted by the Walker County Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Chamber member Lecia Eubanks.
Chamber president Stacy Mauer said of the turn out for the event, “We are so pleased to see this many people turn out to hear from our candidates.”
During the last forum hosted by the Chamber, to decide city elections, 98 chairs were put out with only about half being filled, Chamber member Alice Pollard said.
On Tuesday, chairs continued to be up set up by Chamber members even after the event began at 6:30 p.m.
“This is great,” Pollard said as she rolled additional chairs out for the crowd that easily numbered 200. “This is the type of interest you hope to see during an election.”
Candidates were joined by groups of supporters, many wearing T-shirts and buttons, with others unpacking signs, endorsing their choices, from the truck of their cars.
More information: For more on the election, ballots, candidates, voting sites, etc., click here.
Most of the invited candidates did participate
Candidates running for all of the local contested offices to be decided in November were invited and included U.S. House District 9, U.S. Senate, Georgia Senate District 53, Georgia House District 2, Walker County commissioner, Walker County sheriff, Walker County coroner, Walker County clerk of courts, Superior Court judge, and Walker County school board Post 4.
Most of the candidates attended, with the exception of U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and his opponent Jim Martin. Martin sent a representative, who read a prepared statement on Martin’s behalf. Other candidates missing were Mike Giglio, who is running for Superior Court judge, and Robert Cabero, candidate for Walker County coroner.
The platform for the forum allowed candidates three minutes to introduce themselves to the audience and discuss one question that had been determined in advance for them by the Chamber’s governmental affairs committee. The candidates were given the question before the forum to prepare their response. The discussion format lasted about an hour.
Discussed among the candidates were a host of issues that ranged from the state’s current economic budget crisis to solving the low graduation rate among local high schools.
Early voting: Those wishing to cast a vote now for the candidate of their choice can do so at the Walker County Courthouse in LaFayette. Three additional sites for early voting will open Oct. 20: Rossville City Hall, Chickamauga Civic Center and Lookout Mountain City Hall. Voters need some form of photo ID. For more information, call the Walker County elections office at (706) 638-4349.
Election day: Tuesday, Nov. 4. Voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Some spirited responses
The forum did not offer any surprises, but some spirited addresses were given by some of the challengers outlining the failures and shortcomings of what they perceived of some of the incumbents.
Sadie Morgan, challenger for Georgia House District 2, called the repeal of the homeowner’s tax exemption for Georgia residents “a lie” designed by Gov. Sonny Perdue. Perdue has withheld the exemption until the legislature resumes in January, citing an economic budget crisis for his decision. Morgan said Perdue and other Republicans wanted the repeal as far back as 2003.
“This isn’t about an economic crisis,” Morgan said. “Perdue wanted it gone.”
House District 2 incumbent Martin Scott responded, “I have kept my promises to you. ... I oppose any and all tax increases in whatever form.”
Other spirited responses included a comment from Walker County Board of Education Post Four candidate Heather Pickard, who said of the low graduation rate in Walker County, “We have a $90 million operating budget but we can’t afford textbooks for many of our students. The focus of the system needs be redirected back to our students instead of creating new central office jobs.”
Incumbent Patty Hart responded by pointing to moderate gains being made by the system in the graduation rate. “We have made steady progress toward improvement,” Hart said.
According to numbers provided by the school’s central office, graduation has improved from about 55 percent in 2006-07 to about 58 percent in 2007-08.
After the formal sparing concluded, the candidates fielded additional questions from residents at a reception that followed.
The event lasted until about 9 p.m. with many of the candidates passing out signs and other paraphernalia to supporters.
Below are links to videos of the candidates answering questions posed to them.
Political race: U.S. Senate
Question: What is your solution for the energy crisis and the U.S. reliance on foreign oil?
Political race: U.S. Congressional District 9
Question: What is your solution for the energy crisis and the U.S. reliance on foreign oil?
Political race: Superior Court judge
Question: What makes you qualified to be the Superior Court judge?
Political race: Walker County Board of Education, Post 4
Question: What is your plan to improve the graduation rate among our schools?
Political race: Georgia House District 2
Question: What is your solution to the state’s budget shortfall, including homeowner’s relief tax grant?
Political race: Georgia Senate District 53
Question: What is your solution to the state’s budget shortfall, including homestead tax relief grant?
Political race: Walker County clerk of courts
Question: What are your plans to efficiently manage the clerk of courts office and make the process more user-friendly?
Political race: Walker County coroner
Question: What are your plans to run the coroner’s office more efficiently?
Political race: Walker County sheriff
Question: What are the two biggest law enforcement problems facing Walker County and, utilizing your current budget, what are your solutions to these problems?
Political race: Walker County commissioner
Question: What challenges do you see facing Walker County and what experience do you have to face these challenges?
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