Candidates answer county's questions
The Columbia County News-Times offers questions and answers from the four candidates vying for the state Senate 24th District seat in Tuesday's special election. Those running are former state legislator Bill Jackson; Columbia County Democratic Party Chairman Scott Nichols; special needs learning specialist Lee Benedict; and former campaign manager for Jim Whitehead, Brett McGuire.
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Bill Jackson
1. Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross has hinted that the idea of consolidation could be revived in another year or two. With such a move requiring the area delegation's support, what would your stand be on the issue of a Columbia County consolidation?
"From what I know about consolidation right now, I would not be for it. That would have to be proven to me that we need it ... But I basically have been, it's nothing new to me, against consolidation. I believe that our cities and their charters are important and the history of those towns are important."
2. What do you see as the biggest issue facing the 24th State Senate District?
"We're a district that has tremendous growth ... and when that happens those other counties are growing as well, and we need infrastructure. We need some four-lane highways. We need to four-lane Highway 17 from Thomson up to Washington and open that area up. And just getting our fair share of the highway funds ... that is controlled by the state and the federal government."
3. What would you bring to the job that's different from your opponents?
"Experience and service in public life ... Being able to react quickly to realizing and knowing the members of the (state) House and the Senate and friendships and bonds built over a period of years, it could be useful and beneficial to the district.'
4. Are you in support of impact fees, and should state law be changed to allow such funds to be used toward school construction?
"I'd like to see what impact an impact fee makes, whether or not it's good for the taxpayer. And at the same time we have to have development, because that is the driving force of our economy. So just to be for something because it's a
cute name, I don't go for that. But we need to study these kinds of issues."
5. Do you see your beliefs as similar to those of Jim Whitehead, who is vacating the 24th District post to run for the late Charlie Norwood's seat?
"...We know the value of a dollar, and so with those kinds of things we're both conservative. Yeah, I think we have a lot (of similarities). I don't know if we've (agreed) exactly on everything, but we're very similar in our political philosophy, I can guarantee you that."
Brett McGuire
1. Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross has hinted that the idea of consolidation could be revived in another year or two. With such a move requiring the area delegation's support, what would your stand be on the issue of a Columbia County consolidation?
"I haven't seen anything in a proposal to date that would make me want to consolidate the governments."
2. What do you see as the biggest issue facing the 24th State Senate District?
"I would have to say economic development. We're the same as far as geography goes, but the diversity of the counties (in the 24th District) is about as diverse as you get ... A large part of economic development is an educated work force, so education systems have to be kept intact."
3. What would you bring to the job that's different from your opponents?
"Longevity... Seniority is very, very important in a state legislative position, and I can offer 15, 20 years ... I do have the time to devote to the job and I plan on devoting full time to it."
4. Are you in support of impact fees, and should state law be changed to allow such funds to be used toward school construction?
"I have to say no I am not. I've seen enough data, particularly in Columbia County ... There's other ways of funding schools, a lot of other ways of funding schools, and I've got some ideas to create some funds that the county that doesn't have the money to do it can borrow from that pool."
5. Do you see your beliefs as similar to those of Jim Whitehead, who is vacating the 24th District post to run for the late Charlie Norwood's seat?
"They're identical ... I worked very closely with him in the past three years."
Scott Nichols
1. Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross has hinted that the idea of consolidation could be revived in another year or two. With such a move requiring the area delegation's support, what would your stand be on the issue of a Columbia County consolidation?
"I would change the legislation that's currently in place ... The reason is to get those dollars from the utility companies, am I correct? So why don't we just change the language in the legislation so that unincorporated counties can collect that money? ... Unless there's another reason they want consolidation that they're not being forthcoming about."
2. What do you see as the biggest issue facing the 24th State Senate District?
"I would say education. We have got to increase the percentage that we graduate. If we increase the percentage of graduates, we raise the standard of living, we lower the potential crime rate and we increase the amount of employed people within the district, thus increasing our own tax revenue."
3. What would you bring to the job that's different from your opponents?
"What I would bring different is fresh ideas, unencumbered by the favors I would owe."
4. Are you in support of impact fees, and should state law be changed to allow such funds to be used toward school construction?
Yes, Yes.
5. Do you see your beliefs as similar to those of Jim Whitehead, who is vacating the 24th District post to run for the late Charlie Norwood's seat?
"There are differences. I believe in what's doing the most good for the most people in the 24th District, not a select few."
1. Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross has hinted that the idea of consolidation could be revived in another year or two. With such a move requiring the area delegation's support, what would your stand be on the issue of a Columbia County consolidation?
2. What do you see as the biggest issue facing the 24th State Senate District?
3. What would you bring to the job that's different from your opponents?
4. Are you in support of impact fees, and should state law be changed to allow such funds to be used toward school construction?
5. Do you see your beliefs as similar to those of Jim Whitehead, who is vacating the 24th District post to run for the late Charlie Norwood's seat?
Lee Benedict
1. Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross has hinted that the idea of consolidation could be revived in another year or two. With such a move requiring the area delegation's support, what would your stand be on the issue of a Columbia County consolidation?
"... I would need to really speak with those involved in the day-to-day operation of that because I could just rattle off an opinion, but I just want the voters to know that I'm just not going to give an answer for the sake of well, gee, I have to give one, a yes or no answer. I will just sit with Ron Cross, community leaders, business leaders, parents, you name it, to discuss the pros and the cons."
2. What do you see as the biggest issue facing the 24th State Senate District?
"... I would like to see a new hospital built in Wilkes County, I'd like to see a new one built in Elbert County. I'd like to see the governor give Columbia County the time of day. Not pork, but 'Mr. Governor, we need this.'"
3. What would you bring to the job that's different from your opponents?
"I'm just an average Joe. I'm a schoolteacher trying to make a difference, who wants to go to Atlanta to make a difference. Not that the other gentlemen don't, but I am from outside the system. I don't owe anybody any favors, any paybacks."
4. Are you in support of impact fees, and should state law be changed to allow such funds to be used toward school construction?
"I'm for impact fees, to an extent. I'm just not, oh you want to come here and develop, well, there's a million-dollar fee involved to build something and they're just going to pass it on to the person trying to live the American dream and own a home. So to an extent I'm for it."
5. Do you see your beliefs as similar to those of Jim Whitehead, who is vacating the 24th District post to run for the late Charlie Norwood's seat?
"Well, Jim's conservative. I'm conservative. Now, what he said during his congressional campaign, he hasn't been real consistent, but I will probably vote pretty much how Jim Whitehead voted in the Senate."