Praised for his persistence, third-time Republican gubernatorial hopeful Guy Milner made a campaign stop in Fayette Monday.

Milner and former Tennessee governor Lamar Alexander spoke at what was called a "women's luncheon" at the Wyndham Conference Center in Peachtree City. Alexander said he believed that Milner's third try at the state's top post would pay off and that he would be elected Georgia's first Republican governor in 129 years.

Alexander plans to run for president in 2000. He commented briefly on Washington matters, saying, "Don't let anyone tell us that character doesn't count. It's up to us to accept our responsibility to create a new American century, and you can start by electing Guy Milner governor."

About 40 people from the south metro area sponsored tables of 10 places, filling the center's ballroom. Milner said he believed it was the largest group he had ever addressed in Fayette County.

His platform points included reduction of taxes, primarily "ad valorem taxes (in tag fees) on automobiles." He favors merit pay and performance evaluation for teachers, reductions in class sizes, and concerted early efforts to teach reading and prevent dropouts, because "our school system is failing our children."

He spent the most time talking about a proposal for emulating a "work in prison" program implemented in Texas, where prisoners are allowed to hold jobs through private industries at the prisons while they serve their sentences. He said he believed the program would work in Georgia, saying it would provide at least $100 million a year for the upkeep of prisoners.

"One-third of what the prisoner makes goes into savings for him," Milner said, "One-third goes to the families of the victims, and the other third goes to the state to pay his room and board."

Juvenile crime is a problem that can be overcome with the right combination of public and private services, and he said he will "not sleep well at night until I know that the young people winding up in our juvenile detention centers get a better shot at a good life."

Milner opined that "it's time" for a joint effort among the governor's office, Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Conservancy, and City of Atlanta to clean up air and water in the sprawling metropolitan area.