Candidates Speak at Forum
Nearly 50 people turned out Monday to hear the views of candidates for Senate District 25 and House District 110—the areas that include Jasper County.
Johnny Grant (R-Milledgeville) is running for re-election to the Senate, and he is being challenged by Bruce Gilbert (D-Madison).
In the House, Rep. Jim Cole (R-Forsyth) is seeking his second term, and he faces a challenge from former Rep. Curtis Jenkins (D-Forsyth) who wants to return to Atlanta to represent the district.
Thurman Willis moderated the forum that primarily consisted of questions submitted in advance to the sponsoring agencies—Jasper County Farm Bureau and the Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce. A few questions were taken from the floor before closing. The forum was recorded by WJGA radio of Jackson.
Mr. Willis opened by stressing how difficult politics can be, and thanked the candidates for caring. He said it is so important to have quality individuals making decisions for us. He talked about the citizenry being quick to criticize.
In his opening remarks, Sen. Grant said it had been an honor to serve and recounted some of the accomplishments he was a part of. He said that the legislature had helped protect private property rights, cut the cost of state government, and worked to improve education, saying Georgia has the best curriculum.
Mr. Gilbert said he is a native of Madison and a graduate of the University of Georgia. He said he owns a small hardware store in Madison, and had served 31 years in city government, first as a councilman in Madison then as mayor. The city election was non-partisan, he said, and he has spent his entire time working with Democrat and Republican leaders on initiatives for his community.
Rep. Cole thanked everyone for the honor and privilege of serving, then recounted what he had done. He said he had worked hard, and the future looks brighter now. He said two years ago he vowed to work hard, be visible and return calls, and he felt he had done that. He offered to stay as long as needed to answer questions.
Mr. Jenkins thanked everyone for coming, saying those in the audience are the important ones as opposed to the candidates. He talked about his proven legislative records and 16 years of service. He said he has shown that he can work in a bi-partisan fashion.
The first question concerned a bypass around Monticello. All four candidates said they would work for a bypass, but stressed it takes a unified voice from local leaders and citizens working with the legislative contingent to get things done.
The next question asked the candidates what issue they felt they could make a difference with, knowing the citizens’ concerns after their travels through Jasper County and talking with citizens.
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Mr. Gilbert answered education. He said that the state keeps requiring unfunded mandates, putting a burden on local systems to fund them, and he felt he could make a difference there.
Sen. Grant talked about economic development and new jobs. He said the state is looking at moving more state agencies to smaller communities and that he thought the Department of Natural Resources would be a good fit for Monticello. He mentioned the possibility of housing the department at the old school that is now the Civic Center on College Street.
Rep. Cole talked about preserving the way of life. He talked about his success in moving the Department of Corrections to Forsyth and said he would like to move something into the old school. He talked about having opportunities for young people to come back to Jasper County to live when they are adults.
Mr. Jenkins mentioned education, jobs and health care. He talked about his efforts to get the Griffin Tech campus in Monticello.
The candidates responded to a question about the health care crisis in Georgia, including rising insurance costs.
Rep. Cole said that we must take market based approaches to the problem. He suggested the possibility of being able to buy into the state health benefit plan. He said he was going to propose legislation to buy prescription drugs for the state and pass the savings on to the seniors.
Mr. Jenkins said that was why there is an insurance committee, and said that we need to call on them to get help. He said he would support lowering the cost of health care.
Sen. Grant said there are a million uninsured Georgians. He said we have a problem, a system that is broken. He talked about third party payment of medical bills and said that we have to get the consumer back in control.
Mr. Gilbert said that he would propose allowing small businesses to group together to be able to obtain group health benefits. He said much of it goes back to economic development, with good jobs comes endurance. He talked about education and the benefit to everything that education offers.
He also spoke of the misuse of the emergency room.
The candidates responded to a question about openness in government.
Sen. Grant said that in most cases we should continue to make sure government is open. He said he plans to propose a bill requiring more openness in relation to phone calls and e-mail.
Mr. Gilbert said he certainly supports transparency in government, and indicated that he did not feel that the current administration was supportive of that.
Mr. Jenkins said that he does not support closing doors on taxpayers. He said he has seen attempts to shroud meetings in secrecy.
Rep. Cole said that he supports openness. He said much takes place in legislative committee meetings, and that he was instrumental in appropriating a million dollars to put cameras in every meeting room, eliminating opportunities for secrecy.
The representative candidates sparred on a question about economic development. Rep. Cole answered first and took credit for getting the Department of Corrections to move to the old Tift College Campus in Forsyth. He said he met with the governor his second day in the House, and they put together a team to work to bring the Department of Corrections to Forsyth. He said that move is bringing 500 jobs and $25 million in payroll to the district.
Mr. Jenkins then said he had been working on the Tift College property and had announced in October, 2004 that corrections had decided to move to Forsyth. He also mentioned his work with Griffin Tech.
The candidates were similar in their answers that non-elected bodies should not be able to exercise eminent domain, the taking of property. They said that it should only be done for the public good as the law was originally intended. Rep. Cole mentioned the proposed constitutional amendment that would help limit the use of eminent domain.
The candidates were questioned about how they could work with the Republican-controlled government.
Mr. Jenkins said that he had a record for being able to achieve bi-partisan support and felt sure he could be productive no matter which party is in control.
Rep. Cole said that the Republicans are now in control, and the House leaders are not as willing to work with Democrats. He said it is all about having a voice, and being Republican his voice will be heard better, he indicated.
Sen. Grant talked about his service in committee and how important it is. He said that there are seven state prisons ion the 25th district. He said he has the support of the leadership, and the Republican will be in control.
Mr. Gilbert said that in 31 years of public service he worked across party lines, with old and young, black and white, men and women and gotten things done. He said he thinks he can work across party lines to get things done for the district.
A question about a proposed end to ad valorem taxes elicited various answers.
Mr. Gilbert said it will be a long time before they disappear. He said, however that there is a need to find a combination of taxes to create a revenue stream that does not punish property owners.
Sen. Grant said he thought the proposal was to removed the ad valorem tax that is paid to the state. He said that ad valorem taxes should be raised and spent at the local level. He said that is the most efficient use of those revenues.
Rep. Cole said a study committee will look at sales tax replacing ad valorem taxes for school, and to look at ways to distribute the money.
Mr. Jenkins said that he thought the proposal was to remove the one-fourth mill that goes to the state. He said that he feels a responsibility to keep taxes as low as possible.
The candidates asked for the vote of those present in their closing remarks.
Mr. Jenkins said that we need leadership in Atlanta to represent us, and that he will always try to earn and keep the trust of his constituents. He said he will vote against tax increases, fight for health care, infrastructure upgrades and economic development. I will use my experience to represent you, he said.
Rep. Cole said that the legislature had tackled illegal immigration, gone after child predators, fought eminent domain. He said that he has said he is running for two reasons–his children and your children. He said he would use his proven leadership to make visions reality.
Mr. Gilbert said that he talked a lot about education because it is one of the most important things we can talk about. He also said that he’ll work to solve health care problems, support economic development and education. He said he’ll vote for what’s right.
Sen. Grant said he has done his best to represent you in Atlanta. We’re working for you every day, he said.
Mr. Willis closed the forum by saying, “you have to be impressed with these candidates.”
He went on to say “shame on us if we don’t vote. It is one of the greatest privileges we have.
