Candidates in State Senate, House Square Off

Veteran legislator Tom Knox and first-time candidate Geoff Duncan found a lot to agree on last night during the final Forsyth County Republican Party debate at the county's Administration Building.

Competing for Forsyth County's new District 26 seat in Georgia's House of Representatives, the two conservative Republicans agreed that President Barack Obama must be defeated in the November election. They both support a cap on lobbyists' gifts to legislators, vouchers for school children and charter schools. And, they both oppose same sex marriage and civil unions.

But Knox drew a hard line in the sand to differentiate the difference between himself and his opponent. That difference, he said in his opening statement, is experience. The veteran legislator was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives five times between 2001 and 2010 where he served as chairman of the Judiciary and Insurance committees.

"I have experience doing what everybody else is talking about doing," Knox said in his opening statement.

"I've helped reduce the size of government by millions of dollars. I've helped balance budgets dozens of times, and while I was in the House, I’ve been applauded for my work on illegal immigration and my work on the toughest sex offender bill in the United States. I've been recognized by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce for my work on behalf of businesses and making Georgia a business friendly state."

In his first campaign for public office, Duncan said his passion and perspective make him the best candidate.

A Georgia Tech graduate and former major league baseball player with the Florida Marlins, Duncan said, "I've got the energy necessary to move the ball forward, not to just go down to the capitol and play the part. I want to be part of the solution. That's important to me."

He added that what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in perspective.

"I've lived the life everyone one of you lives," he said. "I have three kids in public schools. It was difficult for me when the economy turned down. I learned how to cut the budget and to manage our business to help my employees continue to live the American dream."

The second debate of the evening featured opponents in the District 27 state Senate race, incumbent Jack Murphy, who has served five terms in the General Assembly including three in the Senate, and Steve Voshall, founder and former chairman of the Forsyth County Tea Party.

In his opening remarks, Murphy said there are still many things he would like to get done, including ending the property tax.

"The next thing I'd like to do is do away with the income tax and replace it with the Fair Tax or some kind of consumption tax," he said. With a consumption tax, we will probably pick up the extra revenue we need to do away with the property tax or some of it."

Murphy said his credentials include being endorsed by Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Georgia Right to Life. He also said he had received an A+ rating from both the National Rifle Association and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

Voshall, a small business owner and Financial Planner, is in his first campaign for political office. He is a Rotarian and a United Way Board member and has served the community in a variety of volunteer roles.

"I want to clean things up and bring honesty integrity and ethics back to our state senate seat," he said. "I want to focus primarily on jobs and taxes. We need to make Georgia competitive by lowering taxes, cleaning up the debt and making it a magnet for businesses to move here."

The two also found common ground on their desire to see Obama defeated in the presidential election and on ending Agenda 21, a United Nations initiative that both said is aimed at promoting one world government and usurping private property rights.

Early voting for the General Primary is set to begin on July 9. The last day to register to vote is Monday, July 2.

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