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GOP candidate Williams favors district voting; Democratic candidates Fludd, Biemiller agreeTue, 07/01/2008 - 4:34pm
By: The Citizen
Republican House District 73 challenger Rick Williams broke with other GOP leaders locally to favor a change to district voting for the Fayette County Commission. "We can establish a date after the November election that will provide three of the five commissioners to be elected district wide (three new districts, equal in population, which cover Fayette) and the remaining two voted on by the entire county," Williams said. "This would be a good compromise and allow us to evaluate the new system." He opposes long-time legislator John Yates (R-Griffin), who has consistently resisted the change to Fayette commission voting districts. "Rep. [Matt] Ramsey and I worked hard and successfully to keep Fayette operating as present, since this system works well and in accordance with the wishes expressed by my constituents," Yates said. Both incumbent Virgil Fludd and challenger Connie Biemiller in the Georgia House District 66 Democratic Primary favor changing the election of Fayette County's commission to district voting, the two said in their political forum replies. On the question of district voting for county commissioners, Biemiller said she held to the position she suggested to commissioners several months ago that Fayette be re-drawn with three districts and two at-large seats so that residents countywide would be able to have an equal vote for their representatives. Fludd — who has twice supported local legislation to effect the change — also said he supported the measure, advocating for the same three district, two at-large formula. Fludd said that with a currently population of over 100,000 such a measure is more desirable over the current system that is flawed. Fludd and challenger Biemiller responded to questions about the growing energy crisis, with Fludd saying the state could institute programs that include conservation, alternative fuels, mass transit and work at home initiatives. In her response, Biemiller said the legislature must first recognize the situation as a crisis and quickly offer incentives and cut the red tape so that local companies can begin implementing fuel alternatives and placing them in the marketplace. Asked what makes them the right candidate for the job, Fludd said he is caring, committed and compassionate. Having served Dist. 66 for more than six years, Fludd said he was elected because he cared, a reality that preceded his run for office. Biemiller said she was called into action when citizens representing all parties and demographics were poisoned by exposure to pesticides in mid-2006. A House seat, she said, will enhance her ability to carry the banner for the citizen rather than a corporation. In the House Dist. 73 race, incumbent John Yates said he would respond to the energy crisis by urging Congress to allow drilling in areas currently prohibited and would set up a van system in Georgia’s major cities. Challenger Rick Williams said, in the short-term, the state should reduce its tax on fuel, provide tax rebates to trucking companies that ship food, create tax break for companies allowing employees to work at home and those for those companies whose employes use mass transit. In the long-term, government should make use of and provide incentives for alternative energy development, he said. On the question of taxation, Williams said he would support the elimination of ad valorem taxes on cars, keeping property valuations for seniors on fixed incomes from increasing, reducing corporate taxes to stimulate more industry and reducing the use of property tax while increasing the use of sales tax. Williams also said he would consider supporting the elimination of state income tax. In his response, Yates said he always works to make government more efficient so that taxes can be lowered. Georgia is in the middle with other states, Yates said, but property taxes should be lowered locally. Candidates for the Georgia Senate Dist. 34 race, incumbent Valencia Seay and challenger Stephanie Campbell, did not respond to the forum questions. login to post comments
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