The Oconee Candidates’ Forum on Monday October 9th was, let’s be honest, a marathon: two races, six candidates, just under two and a half hours. Which is exciting in terms of civic engagement, but does make it hard to find the questions and answers you were looking for. So, while the full video of the entire evening is available here, this post gives you a question-by-question index into the video of the 119th district forum specifically. (We have a companion post for the 117 forum too.)
- Moderator Russ Page’s introduction
- Tom Lord (R) opening statement
- Jonathan Wallace (D) opening statement
- Marcus Wiedower (R) opening statement
- Steve Strickland (R) opening statement
- I have a question about our Monument Protection Act, not just for the Confederate monuments but for all war monuments for veterans. I’d like to know where y’all stand on that.
- What weapon if any do you own, what’s the last time you discharged it, and what you might think about possible legislation like stopping bump stocks, if any.
- With regards to Campus Carry, I want comments on it as an issue of representative democracy. Most of your district opposed it, most of you expressed support for it, and I want to know how that justifies with representing your district.
- I’d like to hear your opinions on whether we should allow the Georgia congress to do the redistricting, or whether it should be an independent counsel using computer models that can make close races.
- I believe that in the New Testament, Jesus, in the Gospels, said “no divorce.” So I personally have chosen in my law practice not to practice in the area of divorce. I want to know if you’re going to protect me from having to go against my religious beliefs.
- If the Presidential reelection were held tomorrow, would you vote for Donald Trump, or would you vote for, say, Hilary Clinton?
- To follow up on that, all of you have said that you want to represent everyone in your district, and three of you said that you would vote for Trump again. He made really very crude comments about women, and almost every disadvantaged group that there is. So, if you are elected, would you truly represent me? What types of women’s rights issues do you support, diversity & inclusion… where does that fit on your scale of importance?
- I know that it is possible to follow the money in the campaign chest, but it is not easy. Tell me how I can follow you campaign funding, both in and out, please. (Addendum: in real time, please.)
- I sit every day, all day, with people in my office who are drowning in medical debt, and making decisions to forego medical care that they need because they simply can’t afford it. How will you ensure that Georgians get the healthcare that they deserve? And I’m specifically interested in your ideas about Medicaid expansion.
- I’d like to know how you plan to communicate with us, both as a group and as individuals.
- Are there any committees within the General Assembly that you’d like to join, and as a first year do you see yourself sponsoring or co-sponsoring a bill, and what expertise would you like to lend in the General Assembly?
- At the state level, are there things you can do to preserve the rural character of the county? How do we get that economic growth that we need, and maintain the rural character?
- How do you see yourself, as a state representative, helping the local folk as well as the state goals of getting transportation and the ports, and handling that, particularly with regard to the Bishop bypass?
- This county is becoming more diverse, more diverse in religion, in the residents that live here. I would like to know what your response to Charlottesville is?