Murray GOP hopefuls push agendas before primary

Published 10:37 am Tuesday, June 24, 2008

CHATSWORTH — Republican hopefuls vying in the July 15 primary made promises and stumped for votes Monday night around the themes of immigration reform, taxes and technology.

Nine candidates appeared at the Murray County Senior Center in a forum sponsored by the local party and moderated by Kevin Harris, chairman of the Ninth District Republican Party.

Sole commissioner candidates David Ridley and Ricky Leon Pritchett were first up, with Pritchett saying infrastructure is a key element for the county’s future, as well as “alleviating the tax burden on homeowners.”

“We need leadership to build infrastructure, for ourselves and to attract tourists,” he said. “Tourism will do much for our area and our people, and bring in needed funds while keeping taxes low.”

Ridley called for retail development in Murray.

“I’m sick of seeing our people going to Gordon County, Dalton, Cleveland (Tenn.) and Ellijay,” he said. “We’re losing thousands and thousands of tax dollars.”

He also called for “cost-efficient government,” not raising property taxes.

Asked about changes needed in the clerk of Superior Court office, Rita Winkler Hawkins mentioned putting historical and other data on a Web site.

“Most working people don’t have time to come down to the courthouse and search records,” she said. “We need to put certain records online and also stagger working hours to make the courthouse more accessible.”

Her opponent, Nancy Young, did not appear due to illness.

Sheriff’s office candidates Benny Davenport and Ken Smith agreed for the most part on drug enforcement, but sparred on how to handle illegal aliens.

“Any at all is too much,” Smith said of drugs. “Law enforcement doesn’t know where the drugs are — we have to depend on citizens and informants to find them. There are things in this county that need their heads knocked off, and I’m just the man to do it. We need a drug task force, and we need to kick down some doors.”

Davenport agreed there needs to be a unit to work with other agencies. “We need to go after those who make drugs and those who distribute drugs,” he said. “I would ensure there are deputies trained in the latest interdiction programs.”

Smith advocated letting ICE (the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement) know of the arrests of any possible illegal aliens. While waiting for ICE to come get them, he said, the county jail would be paid $109 a day by the state to house them.

“We may have to wait forever for the state to pay us,” countered Davenport, “and then we’d be feeding them out of the taxpayers’ pockets. Everyone is still protected by the Constitution, and I mean everyone. We could be sued in federal court (for a wrongful arrest), and that could be very costly.”

Smith insisted law enforcement was “slapping (illegals) on the wrist” while “defending the Southern border.”

“We need to make it so bad for them, they’ll tell their comrades this is no place to be,” he said.

Running for the District 2 board of education seat, both Sam Bright and Kay Leonard McCurdy cited their backgrounds in technology and computers, and advocated for the same in the school system.

McCurdy claimed insights into the building of the new high school because of her family’s background in construction, and Bright championed a vocational mentor program since “60 to 70 percent of our graduates won’t go to college.”

Rebecca Whaley is running unopposed in the primary for the District 3 board of education seat, but stood to cite her 35 years in education and interest in school safety and funding, especially in the instructional area.

Greg Shoemaker’s opponent in the District 4 school board race, incumbent Jonathan “Billy” Webb, did not appear. A former board member who was defeated in the at-large seat in 2006 by Josh Young, Shoemaker believes he can still contribute.

“I was in on the planning of the new high school,” he said, “and I’d like to see that mission accomplished.”