O-A News article: "Speaking their minds"
Jessica R. Elmore / Staff Writer
October 18, 2006
Dick Clark, the Libertarian candidate for Alabama House District 79, was the first candidate to draw an eruption of clapping from his supporters during Tuesday’s Lee County Candidate’s Forum at Opelika Middle School. Clark, who spoke very quickly during his three-minute pause-free introduction, informed the audience of his qualifications, constituent accessibility and possible office priorities—points each candidate was asked to address.
“I want to put my money where my mouth is and truly be a public servant,” Clark said.
An available parking spot was rare as approximately 150 people took a red seat in OMS’ auditorium on Denson Drive. Hosted by the League of Women Voters, the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, the forum was facilitated by a man who says he always votes the person, not the party.
Auburn University associate professor of political science Dr. Steven P. Brown controlled the evening’s conversation in a neutral manner, allowing each candidate one minute to respond. He even had to stop at one point to ask the “groupies” in the crowd to hold their applause.
“Our primary purpose is education ... an informed electorate,” said LWV President Marilyn Garrett. “We will have a much better government if people know who they are electing ... This is much better than fake television ads.”
A special committee formed by the LWV filtered through approximately 50 submitted questions, cutting the list of questions asked in half.
After Clark introduced himself, his opponent Democrat Carolyn Ellis said world-class education undergirds everything else done in the political field.
“I am running against two great guys, we just disagree,” Ellis said. “I want to move towards leadership that is different - not coercive, not party over people. I want to be a motivating leader.”
Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, offered his record as reason the electorate should re-elect him.
“I am a tireless advocate for this area ... one of the most aggressive areas in the state,” Hubbard said. “I stand on my record.”
Joining the District 79 trio on stage were: Rep. DuWayne Bridges, R-Valley, and his challenger Democrat Mark Carlton; Rep. Lesley Vance, D-Phenix City, and his challenger Republican Cindy Irvin.
The highlight of the night, according to Brown and the resulting audience laughter, unfolded as each of the seven vying for a state representative office were asked to define “liberal” and “conservative.”
Their answers were all over the map of political opinion.
“I’d like to think we don’t have liberals in the South,”
Vance said moments before Bridges told the audience Hillary Clinton and Ronald Reagan come to mind when he hears liberal and conservative, respectively.
Ellis declared the terms pointless, saying “I don’t know what I am.”
“First of all, it’s an incomplete question,” Clark said. “Liberals use individual rights to gain power; conservatives use property rights to gain power. A Libertarian cares about both and doesn’t want power.”
Hubbard was convinced liberals think the government knows how to spend taxpayers’ money better than citizens, saying conservatives believe just the opposite.
“Liberals push their agenda on everyone ... ” Carlton said. “Conservatives do what helps constituents.”
In addition to these seven candidates, Larry Patterson (D), Lee County Board of Education Place 6; Napoleon Stringer (D), Lee County Board of Education Place 7; Annell Smith (R), Lee County Commissioner District 4; and John Andrew Harris (D), Lee County Commissioner District 5, and his challenger William Dupree (R) rounded out the coverage of local elections.
Sen. Ted Little, D-Auburn, and Kim Benefield (D) were the last two politicians to take the stage. Little’s challenger Peggy Martin (R) and Benefield’s opponent Jim Ingram (R) did not attend the forum.
For continuing election coverage, visit www.oanow.com and click on “Campaign 2006.”
(Read the original story here.)
