Civility: The number one issue of this campaign would be to restore civility to politics.  Can you remember the time when two people could have healthy debates about political issues and still go home as friends?  That scenario doesn't exist anymore.  We have been taught to keep our politics to ourselves, and this year we saw that taken to a new level when two individuals so power hungry that they would not find a way to work together. This campaign will be about promoting good ideas.  We have no desire to engage in a power grab, but instead work toward smart solutions to real problems.  Our General Assembly has gone beyond partisan politics and has moved to a new level of personal sniping between members of the same party.  If you elect me, I will return us to the days when we could have healthy discussions, promote the best ideas that are out there, and still go home as friends. 

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Family Values: This campaign beleives that family is the most important structure in our society. Family plays a vital role in every culture that exist in South Hall, and for that reason legislation that deals with family values should be crafted carefully. My position is that goverment should interfere as little as possible in our family lives. We must understand that these issues are not black and white. There are ways that our goverment can help with family values. Instead of building airports in the speaker's back yard, we can develop parks and other places for families to enjoy each other's company. We can strengthen the Department of Family and Children's Service to make sure no child is left in a home where he is abused or unwanted. We need to work on adoption laws to make the path easier for those adults that want to provide a loving home for another child. We need to stregthen our own moral code so that our students do not hear about their leaders engaged in inappropriate and illicit relationships.

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Education:

Over the last six years, we have seen the legislature of Georgia reverse the positive education reforms set forth during the 1990's.  We have watched a Governor cut education funding and by giving less than adequate raises he has decreased the pay of our Georgia teachers.  I believe that we must work to restore the past pay raises for Georgia's teachers which have been gobbled up by inflation and health care costs over the last several years. We must restore funding cuts, address the teacher shortage by offering scholarships to future teachers, and help forgive student loan debts to those teachers who are willing to teach in difficult areas.

At the middle school level, we should increase funding for after school programs.  These programs would help accelerate students in the areas of reading and math.  We should also work to extend the educational hours so that administrators would not have to choose to cut fine arts and physical education in order to increase student time on academics. At the high school level, we must not abandon vocational programs, so that students who want to learn a trade could also get a great education.  The HOPE scholarship must be protected for all students and fully cover a student's in-state tuition.  Our students also deserve a state of the art education; therefore, I would work to give businesses tax breaks that donate to schools and offers educational experiences outside of the classroom.

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Immigration:  There is no doubt that we need to reform our response to illegal immigration; however, until our federal government decides how it would like to secure the borders, our state efforts will be futile.  My opponent's legislation that addresses immigration reform in our state does little to help with the problem.  Instead it helps create a wedge between members of the electorate, and it breeds fear and racism.  What I will do is to work to establish a citizenship identification program and a better path to citizenship..  Similar to our driver’s license, we should have a national identification card.  This card would help cut down identity fraud and the problem of undocumented workers.  I also believe we have to try to help all immigrants and decide if these persons are positively contributing to our society.  If so, let's cut the red tape and help them toward citizenship, if not they need to go.

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Crime: Our state needs to take a more serious look at gang violence and other related crimes. Groups with a criminal purpose have no place in our state. We must pass stiffer laws and enforce those laws. We must encourage local law enforcement to promote stopping gang-related crimes to priority number one. This can be accomplished by programs that focus more on crime than on ethnicity and racial differences.

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 Mortgage Crisis: The state of Georgia needs to take a serious look at the foreclosure crisis.  This does not need to be a bail out program, but one that offers help to those who truly need it.  There are those people who tried to game the system taking interest-only loans in the hopes of turning a profit. However, there are many first time homebuyers that got caught in a cruel system that offers no relief during the economic crisis created by our own federal and state governments’ misguided policies.  I am not one who believes that government exists to solve all of our problems; however, I do believe it is government's job to help citizens who are in a state of crisis through no fault of their own. 

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Tax Reform:  First let me say, I enjoy driving on paved roads, sending my children to good public schools, using 911, and all the other services provided by my government. However, we must look at the way we collect revenue.  During this last legislative session we saw the Speaker of the House try to wrest authority away from the local governments with his “GREAT” plan.  This plan would have been detrimental to local school systems.  Other legislation exists to limit ad valorem taxes , which will create a major budget deficit.  I agree with homestead exemptions and I am for tax relief in hardship cases; however, I believe that the problem lies in the assessment process.  I support legislation that would rein in (or limit) assessment increases.  I oppose the flat tax and other attempts to tie tax reform to statewide sales tax.  I believe the sales tax system is a regressive tax that adversely affects the poorest of our society, and eats into the limited savings of our elderly who should not pay taxes on their formerly tax-free retirement savings.  I believe any addition to the sales tax should be voted on in local elections such as the current SPLOST programs that have been implemented.

I will work to provide tax incentives to businesses that help fund public education and provide educational opportunities outside of the school.  I would support tax rebates for green initiatives such as businesses that show a reduced use of energy, and work to use alternative forms of energy.  I will work to offer a tax credit for Georgia citizens who participate in recycling programs, car pool programs, and would offer additional credits for those who purchase alternative-fuel vehicles.  We should continue the exemption of income tax to those citizens who are below the poverty limit, and should decrease the tax burden of middle class families. 
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