There were plenty of thoughts, suggestions and political sparring on hand in Rockdale County this week as the Ga. Highway 20 Coalition held a candidate forum at Epiphany Lutheran Church on Tuesday.

The forum lasted two hours and featured 11 candidates from local seats such as Board of Commissioners to national seats such as U.S. Congressional 4th District.

The forum was a week before the runoff elections from the 2010 primaries held last month and featured two candidates for Tuesday's voting in its early discussion.

The forum allowed a minute from each candidate for an introductory message, and a minute each for questions from two reporter panellists, including Tonya Parker from the News, and another minute for summarization.

Questions asked of the candidates ranged from local inquiries such as dealings with zoning issue, transportation funding questions and budget inquires to national questions such as education and immigration.

Transportation came up early as the question, what are the biggest challenges to getting mass transit in Rockdale funded, was asked to House District 94 candidates Steven Conner, Dar'Shun Kendrick and Rhonda Peek.
Kendrick a Democrat opposing Peek in Tuesday's runoff cited her work with MARTA as having the knowledge on bringing transportation options such as that and others to the city.

Peek responded with her constituents' viewpoints on the transportation issue.

"I knocked on Georgia doors throughout my campaign and I didn't have one person really talking about transportation," Peak said. "What Georgia needs is to come up with a state-wide transportation plan. Georgia long-range doesn't have a solution for transportation problems."

Conner responded with budgetary concerns as talk of light rail and other transportation options were discussed.
"First off I'm not sure if light rail is the way to go, it's very expensive," Conner said. "Our major problem right now is the economy. I can't see spending money for a light rail that's not necessary at this time."

Another runoff candidate was next on the stage as House District 95 Representative Toney Collins debated with Republican Rodney Upton. Collins runoff opponent, Pam Dickerson, wasn't present at the event.

Collins and Dickerson discussed foreclosures, education budgets and one of the most controversial topics in American currently, immigration.

In regards to if Georgia needed an immigration law such as the one in Arizona, Collins and Upton both said they were in favour of immigration.

"I believe in immigration, but I need to emphasize I believe in legal immigration" Upton said. "We do not want people to come into this country willy-nilly. If we just let anybody come into this country we're, endangering ourselves and endangering our future."

Collins also said that he believes immigration is good for the country.

"One thing about immigration is when people come here, they come here for a reason," Collins said. And one reason people come to America is because they want the best life."

After the talk on national issues the forum turned to its most local race, the race for the Board of Commissioners Post 2 seat between incumbent JaNice Van Ness and Democrat Courtney Dillard.

Gathering for the first time, the two discussed issues from zoning to more opportunities for youngsters.
Dillard said he would like to see a meeting of Rockdale citizens to talk about all the issues.

"The thing that makes us unique is that whenever there is a crisis, we're always able to come to the table and sit down and talk."

Van Ness said that she could see the BOC becoming a non-partisan group, such as the school board, and also discussed the board's decision on zoning projects such as Salem Rd.

"Salem Road was one of the worst zoning ordinances," Van Ness said. "It was not our intent. We intended on growth and beauty. We realize through communications with business owners, property owners and residents in that area that there really is a need for change. As a board, I hope we will continue to look at reviewing that ordinance and making it more palatable for the people in that area."

Dillard didn't know of any specific ordinances in detail to discuss.

The forum then went to two members of the same party for the only time of the evening as Senate District 17's two republican candidates took the stage.

Runoff opponents Todd Hilton and Rick Jeffares answered questions, while Jim Nichols was not present.
The two joked and even deferred answers to one another in discussing their future possible decisions as state senators.
Jeffares, a water/sewer director said he would use a leadership skill that relied on letting his administrators do their job, trusting that he hired the right people.

"I let people do their job," Jeffares said. "When I hire department heads I let them do their job. I believe in people who can do their job."

Hilton compared the task to his family, and leading by example.

From there the forum went on a solo act as the last two candidates answered questions on their own, with their opponents not in attendance.

Georgia Senator Ronald Ramsey was absent, so Republican Diana Williams answered such questions as what the toughest issues the district faces unopposed.

"Cutting the budget is the biggest thing," Williams said. "We've got to cut back on excesses in the state budget. We've got to cut things that should not have the financial support."

Williams was followed by another unopposed discussion as Republican Liz Carter rallied for support for her run in the Congressional 4th District.

Representative Hank Johnson was unavailable due to an impeachment trial, which Carter questions, and continued to raise questions about Johnson through her discussion time, ending with her slogan "Yank Hank."

In between Carter said she would be willing to work across the aisle and shared her thoughts about the justice department's suit of Arizona.

I think they should be suing Congress," Carter said. "I think it's appalling that the U.S. is suing one of its own states. For Arizona has the right to have to protect its own economy and people and then be sued is a travesty."

Near 100 people heard the candidates speak, as they rallied for both votes in Nov. and runoff votes for this Tuesday's conclusion of primaries.