Candidates to talk taxes, jobs at Tea Party forum
by Diane Wagner, staff writer
May 31, 2012 | 1542 views | 0 0 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend | print
(File / RN-T.com)
(File / RN-T.com)
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Questions at tonight’s candidate forum are certain to revolve around money, organizer Mike Morton said Wednesday.

“I think we’re going to have an awful lot of questions about the likelihood of millage rate increases,” he said. “And about regulations — zoning, permitting — all the things that exist when you want to build a home, remodel, put a sign up. When you’re required to maintain your property to a certain standard.”

The Rome Tea Party is spon­soring the forum, which will feature the candidates for the four open Floyd County Commission seats.

The event is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Charles C. Parker Center at Etowah Park, 1325 Kingston Road.

Two vacant board seats will be filled in the July 31 election. The winners will serve the unexpired terms of Eddie Lumsden and Chad Whitefield, through Dec. 31, 2014.

Republicans Rhonda Wallace and Nathan Roberts are vying for the Post 1 seat. Republicans Jerry Lee and Larry Maxey are seeking the Post 4 seat.

Two Commission races for full, four-year terms will be on the November ballot.

Post 2 incumbent Garry Fricks is being challenged by Roger Wade in the Republican primary. The winner will go up against Democrat Gary D. Harrell in the general election.

Incumbent Irwin Bag­well, a Republican, is unopposed in the July primary for the Post 3 seat but will face Democrat Rick Garrett this fall.

Morton said all seven Republican candidates are expected at the forum. Harrell is out of town on vacation, and Garrett, a firefighter, will be working.

Plans are to accept written questions from audience members before the event starts, for use after a panel asks four questions.

“Everybody will get the same questions,” Morton said. “They won’t be able to avoid an issue.”

He’s expecting a good turnout, he said, because of the number of calls he’s received about the event.

A recent re-assessment of commercial property, following the expiration of a three-year freeze, has generated a lot of debate, Morton said. And, although the T-SPLOST transportation sales tax package is not a county issue, he’s also expecting the issue to come up.

“Things like that are more and more on people’s minds,” he said. “Taxation, the economy and jobs, small business and what the government is going to do about it, that’s what people want to know.”
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