The public and party regulars gathered at Baci Italian Restaurant recently to listen to and question incumbent state Sen. Rick Price and his three challengers.

The short, informal Senate District 28 forum was hosted by the Fayette County Republican Party at its monthly First Saturday breakfast. Senate District 28 encompasses a small portion of Fayette County including Peachtree City, all of Coweta County and all of Spalding County.

Price, Charlie Harper, Dan Lakly and Mitch Seabaugh answered questions from the audience regarding Gov. Roy Barnes' recent education bill, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and the Georgia flag.

Throughout the forum Price asserted he is proud of his record during his two terms. He was challenged regarding his procedural votes on two main bills, the governor's education bill and creation of GRTA.

While Price ultimately voted against both bills, Harper, Lakly and Seabaugh indicated they would have voted against the bills throughout the process. Price defended his earlier votes to “study the issues” or to “bring them out of committee,” noting that it was his job to take poor legislation, that would pass with a Democratic majority in power, and make it better.

All four asserted that they would not support any legislation to change the state flag. Seabaugh said that proponents of taking the Confederate battle emblem off the state flag are trying to make it a racial issue. Harper stated that “pressure to change the flag is led by outsiders trying to drive a wedge.”

Price answered simply “No,” and gave a brief background on the recent history of the flag, and Lakly, referring to Zell Miller's attempt to change the flag in 1993, said, “They didn't change it then and they won't change it now.” He further noted that changing the flag “takes the focus off things that are important.”

Price was questioned regarding his stance on the Atlanta Regional Commission. He has been attacked recently by his Senate challengers regarding the vote to include Fayette County in the ARC during his term on the Fayette County Commission. Price said he abstained from the vote and did not vote to include Fayette as asserted, later noting he did not believe there had been sufficient information provided to the commission to allow him to vote in good conscience.

Lakly, who served on the County Commission at the same time, interjected that he (Lakly) had made the motion and voted for inclusion because, “We had two choices: to be part of the regional commission centered in Barnesville or in Atlanta.”

He said he felt Fayette was closer aligned to Atlanta than Lamar County. Harper continued to assert that Price had voted for inclusion, referring to commission minutes while Seabaugh, who lives in Coweta County, talked about positive leadership.

All of the candidates voiced opposition to GRTA and the ARC's current proposals regarding rapid rail, higher density and what they perceived to be a lessening of local government's ability to control local issues. Price said, “Local government is the best government.” Lakly spoke against the “usurping of county authority” and said, “No thank you to rapid rail and rapid density.” Lakly also said he would make his first campaign promise, which would be to “introduce legislation to repeal [regional development commissions].”

Regarding Bill 1187, the education reform bill, Harper said he was “opposed from beginning to end.” Lakly noted he would have “fought with every breath of my body [against the bill].” Seabaugh stated the bill did not help education and he would have voted against it. Price voted against the final bill.

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