Albany forum gives look at Democratic hopefuls

ALBANY — Voters in Albany and southwest Georgia were given an opportunity Wednesday to assess some of the Democratic candidates for state political office, but few took advantage as the crowd numbered barely more than a dozen people.

The open forum, presented by the Dougherty County Democratic Committee, was held at Darton State College and hosted by Darton Democrat Independent Republican Team (D.I.R.T). It featured candidates facing opposition in the coming May 20 Democratic Primary Election in races including United States Senate, Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia State School Superintendent and Georgia Commissioner of Insurance.

Constance Burkes, chair of the Democratic Committee of Dougherty County said the real purpose of the forum was to present the candidates for voters to “put faces with names.”

“This is so significant,” Burkes said. “We want to address our concerns that if a person goes to the polls and sees names for the statewide races — where there is opposition — they may vote for the first person named, they may go ‘eeny meeny miney mo’ or they may vote for that person because their mama gave them a pretty name.”

Burkes said questions were posed to help voters assess the candidates’ analytic and critical thinking skills and their positions on relevant issues.

“All my questions are relevant to the issues and directly related to the particular candidate,” Burkes said.

Burkes added that the questions were kept under lock and key until just previous to the forum.

“I just want to see what the candidates have to say about their platforms, and become better informed,” said Gregory Crews, an attendee of the forum.

Crews said he wasn’t bothered that two of the four senatorial candidates were absent from Wednesday’s forum, including Democratic front runner Michele Nunn.

“I heard the other three on May 1,” Crews said, “and I’m sure it’s going to be one of them.”

Sabrina Hayes was in the audience Wednesday because of her concern for public education in Dougherty County, she said. She hoped she’d get some answers from the school superintendent candidates or even in the senatorial race.

“I’m a parent with a school-age child,” Hayes said, “and I’d like to make sure our children are given an education that prepares them for their future. We need a candidate who supports a win/win situation that balances academics with discipline.”

Senatorial candidates in attendance for the forum were O. “Steen” Miles, Branko and “Rad” Radulovacki.

Stumping for Georgia Secretary of State were Doreen Carter and Gerald B. Beckum. Candidates for state school superintendent were Tarnisha Dent, Marion Spencer “Denise” Freeman, Jurita Forehand Mays and Valarie D. Wilson.

Also present was Keith G. Heard, running for Georgia Commissioner of Insurance.