Democrats air platforms at candidates’ forum

Published 10:03 pm Tuesday, September 26, 2006

The Republican leadership in Washington doesn’t have the best interests of ordinary Americans at heart, says Democrat John Bradbury.

Bradbury is challenging incumbent Republican Nathan Deal in the November election for Georgia’s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Whitfield and Murray counties. He was one of four candidates who addressed the Whitfield County Democratic Party Tuesday night at the Judicial Building.

“We need to stand up and tell everyone we are not satisfied with what’s going on,” Bradbury told an enthusiastic audience of about 50.

Bradbury, a truck driver and former school teacher from Rising Fawn, accused Republicans of rolling back protections for air and water. And he pointed to deficit spending and the increase in the federal debt that has occurred while Republicans have had control of the federal government.

“We are spending our children’s inheritance,” he said.

Bradbury acknowledged he is an underdog, but he said he can win if Democrats turn out in force.

Jeannie Babb Taylor said Georgia is suffering from a health care crisis, an education crisis and an economic crisis.

Taylor, a Catoosa County resident, is challenging Republican incumbent state Rep. Ron Forster in the election for state House of Representatives District 3. District 3 includes most of Catoosa County and parts of western and southern Whitfield County.

Taylor said the state has seen $1.25 billion cut from education in recent years, and she said the state has had the highest foreclosure rate in the nation.

Taylor vowed to work to raise the minimum wage and to expand PeachCare, the state program that provides health insurance for children from low-income families.

“I’ll also work to make sure our schools get the money they need and that it isn’t spent on pork barrel projects,” she said.

Democrats also heard from former county commissioner Pat Hicks, who is challenging Republican incumbent Mike Cowan for the District 1 seat on the Board of Commissioners.

“I’m not running against Mr. Cowan. I’m running on my record as a commissioner,” he said.

Hicks served a two-year term from 1987 to 1988 and a four-year term from 1993 to 1996. He said that during his second term the board increased spending to $24 million from $18 million, but cut the property tax rate to 2 mills from 2.5 mills.

“At the time, that was the lowest (property tax) rate in the state,” he said.

Hicks said when he left office the county had a $15.5 million fund balance.

“We need to run the county like a business, and commissioners need to be accountable for the money they spend,” he said.

Hicks said he didn’t have any specific issues or projects he wants to advance at this time.

But Barbara Vaughn said she would try to find ways to expand sewers across the county.

Vaughn is facing Republican Randy Waskul for the District 3 seat on the Board of Commissioners. Waskul defeated incumbent Odell Cochran in the July Republican primary.

Vaughn said expanding sewers will make it easier for the county to attract new businesses.

“And if we can bring in new business, we’ll expand the tax digest,” she said.