Local News
2 candidates stop by downtown festival
Water, education and transportation are the three most important issues facing Georgia, former Gov. Roy Barnes told a group gathered to hear him at Dalton’s Liberty Tree Festival Saturday morning.
Congressman Nathan Deal told the crowd two hours later that Georgians need a governor with experience who knows and has dealt with political issues — particularly water and health care reform — for 17 years.
Barnes and Deal were the only gubernatorial candidates visiting during the Liberty Tree Festival downtown, and both spoke outside in front of the courthouse on a cold, windy morning before crowds of fewer than 60 people.
Barnes, a Democrat from Marietta, said he wants to see more jobs come to Georgia, but he believes the key to bringing jobs lies in making infrastructure and education improvements. Georgia is competing with North Carolina and even Tennessee for new business and industry, he said, and the state needs transportation improvements like a high-speed rail system. The water wars between Georgia, Alabama and Florida over lakes controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers need to be resolved, he said.
Health care reform is another important issue, Deal said, a Republican from Gainesville, and it’s one that every state governor will have to deal with it Congress passes a reform bill.
“Now this legislation that is before Congress is also potentially going to severely impact our state because most of the versions of the bills that are there mandate that states must increase their Medicaid eligibility up to 133-and-a-third percent of the poverty level,” Deal said. “For Georgia, that means a tremendous expansion of Medicaid and the costs associated with it.”
Both men said they favor government policies and laws that would promote businesses moving to North Georgia and various parts of the state rather than being attracted only to Atlanta. Barnes said he would consider giving “a little extra kick” for businesses that locate outside of Atlanta in terms of tax breaks and benefits. Deal said one way to encourage businesses locating in different parts of the state is to support communities that are making infrastructure improvements, like Dalton’s recently improved airport capacity.
Barnes said Georgia already has a fairly competitive corporate tax structure, although improvements could be made. Deal said he wants to “take a look at” the state’s overall tax system — including taxes levied on businesses — but cautioned against making too many changes too quickly.
Others contending for the Republican gubernatorial nod include former Glynn County commissioner and businessman Jeff Chapman, secretary of state Karen Handel, former state Sen. Eric Johnson, businessman and states rights’ activist Ray McBerry and state insurance commissioner John Oxendine,
Democrats contending for their party’s primary nod are attorney general Thubert Baker, Ray City mayor Carl Camon, former DeKalb County chief executive officer Vernon Jones, state House minority leader DuBose Porter and former state labor commissioner David Poythress.
Grady County planning commission member John Monds is running as a Libertarian, and environmental activist and retired businessman Sam Hay III is running a write-in campaign.
Micki Dion, a Ringgold resident who promotes the Fair Tax, asked both candidates for their stance on the revenue proposal. Fair Tax proponents favor a bill that would do away with the federal income tax and replace it with a flat sales tax.
Barnes said he doesn’t support the Fair Tax.
“Don’t ever trust government when they tell you they’re going to take away out one tax and replace it with another,” he said. “You’ll end up with both of them.”
Deal said he has co-sponsored a bill to enact the Fair Tax but doesn’t necessarily support a similar measure at the state level. Such an abrupt and drastic change could put Georgia at a competitive disadvantage unless neighboring states implement it too, he said.
Dalton resident Patti Coppedge said she came to the festival just to hear Barnes speak at 10 a.m.
“I think he just has workable ideas,” said the former elementary school teacher.
She said rewarding teachers who get national certification with financial incentives helps attract the best and brightest educators. Barnes’ ideas for incentivizing well-trained teachers, she said, creates better schools and in turn a better-trained workforce.
Dalton resident Billie Little said Deal is a “statesman” she has known and respected for a long time. He tells Georgians what is happening and why and not just want he is going to do about it, she said.
“This man is the only one who approaches or governs in this manner,” she said.
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Preparing for the big game
Kayla Webb, 15, performs a cheer with the varsity and junior varsity members of the North Murray cheerleading team Wednesday as they walk laps around the track at Murray High School. The team is getting ready for their first game of the season, scheduled for Aug. 20, a scrimmage against Murray High. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
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