Donna Sikes (L) said she is the only candidate who can restore public trust in the District Attoney's office and Brad Smith (R) says his federal training in death penalty cases, which he said his opponent lacks, will serve the Piedmont Circuit well

The Barrow County Republican Party applauded for candidates at its Monday meeting, including some who locked in their positions in the July 15 Primary.

The Republican Party meets the third Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Winder Woman's Club. Monday's meeting featured brief remarks from candidates in Aug. 5 runoff races and Martha Zoller, political talk show host and commentator. More on Zoller's "post-Primary booster shot" administered in an upcoming edition.

Also recognized at the Monday meeting were current office holders Board of Education Lynn Stevens, who was unopposed in her re-election bid, Commission Chairman Doug Garrison, who is in the Aug. 5 runoff with Danny Yearwood, Auburn Mayor Linda Blechinger and Auburn Council member Dorissa Shackelford.

Also applauded were Republican candidates who already know they will take office in January since they have no Democratic challenge. They are District 1 Commissioner-elect Larry Joe Wilburn, District 2 Commissioner-elect Eva Elder and Clerk of Superior Court-elect Regina McIntyre.

Republican nominees facing a Democratic candidate in November include Steve Worley for Commission District 3, who'll challenge incumbent Commissioner Bill Healan, Chief Magistrate June Davis who has an opponent in former commissioner Johnny C. Smith, Sheriff's candidate Jud Smith who is running against James B. Bonnemer Sr., and incumbent State Sen. Ralph Hudgens, who is challenged by Democrat Tim Riley. Only Worley was in attendance.

Local Republican Party Chairman Ken Young reminded of the financial support, prayers and manpower the Republican candidates would be needing between now and the Nov. 4 election. He said purchase of tickets for the Republican BBQ on Aug. 26 would help the party support its candidates.

Young said he was "pleased with the Party effort but very disappointed with the turnout being so low."

He shared the results of the three Republican straw poll questions the Party asked to be placed on the ballot. The nonbinding results show that Barrow Countians favor ending the "death tax" and favor having English as the official language of Georgia. With 30 percent of the voters saying Yes to be taxed for the funding of the "Brain Train" through Barrow, Young said he has much to do as leader of the Lower Taxes Party.

Young asked for good applause for the courageous people who put their name out as candidates. He introduced Chairman Garrison as the first Primary runoff candidate to have two minutes to speak.

Less than 10 percent of the registered voters, who represent a too small of percentage of the total Barrow County population, went to the polls on July 15 and Garrison agreed with Young, saying it was disappointing.

As an incumbent commission chairman who brought experience with the Board of Education including serving as that board's chairman, leading and being actively involved in the Chamber of Commerce and working with the Extension Service, Garrison said he given a life of service.

"I want the job," said Garrison. "I really do want to be your chairman."

Pledging to continue to keep taxes low, Garrison reminds that Barrow Countians pay less county tax than any of the adjacent counties except Oconee which does not offer fire or EMS service.

"I support economic development and growth and I support public safety," said Garrison.

Danny Yearwood assures county employees that he does not favor any jobs cuts as a part of his pledge to reduce county spending.

"We have to get back on track with spending and spend on what we need and not what we want," said Yearwood. No more "wish list projects," he said.

By running the county as a business, there would be checks and balances, according to Yearwood. "We have to control our spending and have a conservative government which is back to basics." Those basics are roads, water and sewer.

"Spending has got to be controlled and the focus must be on infrastructure which helps create jobs and generates revenue," said Yearwood.

"I want to be your voice," said Yearwood. "It would be an honor to serve as your chairman."

Candidates for District Attorney were introduced next by Chairman Young with Donna Sikes as the first to speak.

With 17 years of experience as an attorney - longer than her opponent, Sikes said she is the only candidate who can "restore the public trust in this office."

Sikes said her opponent has claims he ran the Jackson County office and was later a lead assistant district attorney in the Barrow County office under now-jailed former DA Tim Madison, who was indicted for theft and fraud of funds in Banks County.

The Piedmont Judicial Circuit includes Barrow, Banks and Jackson counties. Smith was the top voter-getter in Barrow's Primary while Sikes won Jackson County and current District Attorney Rick Bridgeman was the top vote-getter in Banks. Voters in the three counties will determine the next District Attorney in the runoff.

Sikes said Smith is attempting to speak of his leadership within the DA's office and then claiming he was not aware of or involved in the Madison corruption. Madison's wife and former assistant DA Anthony Brett Williams were also sentenced for their role in the conspiracy to defraud the circuit.

Sikes suggested that someone should take responsibility for the "fancy new vehicles and furniture" purchased after Madison had left the office and for the "thousands of cases which went unprosecuted or were dismissed."

Sikes pledged to take charge of restoring the public trust and be aggressive and tough in prosecution of cases.

Brad Smith took issue with what he said was a campaign full of mud-slinging and now baseless rumors and conspiracy theories which are causing voters to lose sight of the real issues of the campaign.

The real question is which candidate is best qualified to be the next District Attorney, said Smith.

The law enforcement officers from county and city departments put their lives on the line day and night to protect and serve. Their efforts should not be in vain, said Smith, who stresses the importance of having a qualified District Attorney.

With a triple murder case in Hoschton likely to be among the first cases - a death penalty case - which will be tried when the new District Attorney takes office, Smith said he is the only candidate with death penalty litigation experience and training.

"My opponent is not death penalty qualified," said Smith.

While there are currently no other political forums on the schedule, the candidates on the Aug. 5 ballot will be interviewed for upcoming editions.

Registered voters who did not vote in the Primary can vote in the runoff. Those who voted in the Democratic Primary will get a Democratic runoff ballot which will determine the nominee for the U.S. Senate race to face Saxby Chambliss. Vernon Jones and Jim Martin are in that runoff. Look for sample ballots in an upcoming edition.

Originally published Wednesday, July 23, 2008