Candidates kick off political season at forum

ALBANY — The chase for three local offices and a couple of state House seats kicked off in earnest Thursday night at the first candidate’s forum in advance of the May 24 primary elections.

Held at the Albany Civil Rights Institute before a standing-room-only audience of around 100, candidates for the Dougherty County Commission’s District 5 seat, the Dougherty School Board’s at-large seat, the coroner’s office, and the District 153 and 151 House seats made cases for their candidacy.

There was an air of civility during the forum, moderated by Albany Herald Editor Jim Hendricks, with only occasional mild shots taken by the candidates.

House District 153 candidate Muarlean Edwards called incumbent Rep. Darrel Ealum “one of the few in the House who voted against local control,” sitting County Commissioner Harry James slyly referenced challenger Gloria Gaines’ unsuccessful run for the commission chairmanship two years ago by saying “the District 5 seat is the only one I’ve ever run for,” and Coroner Michael Fowler brought attention to challenger Donchester Johnson’s inexperience with the comment, “I am licensed, not serving an apprenticeship.”

Candidates opened the forum with three-minute introductions, then answered three rounds of questions from Hendricks. Some of those questions were submitted by audience members. The 10 candidates each closed the forum with a final appeal to the audience.

Ealum said he’d been largely responsible for “bringing $30 million back home to Albany” during the previous two legislative sessions, indicating funding allocated for construction of a Fine Arts building at Albany State University, for moving the Albany National Guard armory on board Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany, for funding of the Commodore Conyers Career Academy, for teacher pay raises and for improvements on the county’s Northwest Library branch.

“I love you, I love your children, I love Dougherty County, and serving you has been the greatest honor of my life,” the retired Marine, who recently completed his first two-year term in office, said. “Being a state representative is about delivery, and I’ve delivered.

“I’m a proud Democrat, but the way you get things done in Atlanta is to work across the aisle. The Republicans are in control, and you have to work with them. We can’t afford to have the same kind of mess like they have in Washington, where nothing gets done.”

Edwards said she wants to improve the state’s education system by building on her study that links truancy with recidivism.

“We need to look at an alternative sentencing program that will allow these young people who make mistakes to remain productive members of society,” the former Dougherty County commissioner said. “We need to improve health care and veterans services and work to decrease incarceration. My campaign is about accessibility, accountability and visibility.

“I’m ready to think globally and act locally. I want to represent your house, my house and the state House.”

The third candidate in the District 153 race, businessman/pastor Antonio Screen, said he wants to address the “disconnect” that has left a large portion of the region in poverty.

“I developed my work ethic as a teen,” Screen said. “I discovered that if you want to do something, it’s up to you to do it. When I came to Albany three years ago and saw the poverty here, I wanted to do something. I started an organization called The Alive Center, and we’ve helped more than 8,000 families through our various outreach programs.

“I believe God is ready to make some changes in our community, to put some people in the right place to bring about those changes. He does His job well, and I want to have a hand in what He’s doing in our community. Yes, I want to be y’all’s man in the state House, but I will be God’s man first.”

James Williams, an Albany Democrat who is embroiled in a controversy over his eligibility to run against Republican Rep. Gerald Greene for the House District 151 seat, came to the forum to address the issues that surround that controversy.

“As a police officer, I’ve always dealt with facts,” Williams said. “The fact is, I voted in (District) 151 in 2010, 2012 and 2014. All of a sudden, now that I qualified to run in the district, they’re saying I’m not in 151. Trust me when I say there is some evidence that will come out soon that will surprise a lot of people.

“The Bible reminds us that without vision you will perish. I have a vision for all nine counties in District 151. I stand on my principles and values.”

Gaines said she wants to return to the County Commission seat that she vacated for her chairmanship run so that she can “pay forward” the strong foundation she received in the county.

“My priority is to bring jobs — and good jobs — to Dougherty County,” she said. “When a man can feed, clothe and take care of his family, it eliminates so many of the problems that we face in society. We can help bring those jobs to our community by becoming more closely involved with what the EDC does. We need to hold their feet to the fire.

“I’ve been afforded an opportunity to live a wonderful life, to touch all parts of our world. Those experiences have helped me form a strong bond, a commitment, with my community. I believe I owe this community a lot, and I want to repay that debt with my service.”

James, who was elected to serve the final two years of Gaines’ term on the commission, pointed to accomplishments he said the commission has achieved during those two years.

“We were able to bring our employees COLA and merit raises for the first time in eight years, we provided the funding to re-open the (formerly closed) Southside Library branch, we’re pushing to get the 85 acres of land at the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport GRAD-ready for development,” he said. “We’ve set goals and standards that are moving our community forward.

“District 5 has always been the crown jewel of Dougherty County, but it’s a diamond in the rough that’s never been polished. The future is much brighter than the past in the district and in our county. Let’s move forward together, not backwards.”

Political newcomer Susie Ealum, Darrel Ealum’s daughter, stressed her technical know-how as vital to the educational future of students in the Dougherty School System.

“I served with one of the most technologically advanced organizations in the world, the United States Marine Corps,” Susie Ealum said. “Right now, with the introduction of tablets and computers in our schools, we’re doing some good things. But a term on the School Board is four years, and in four years the technology being used today will be dinosaurs, will be obsolete. We have to continue to push the technology forward.

“Our children deserve to start their educational experience prepared for the 21st century. We could have a huge impact on that experience by implementing a K-4 program in our system. Our children deserve the tools to help them achieve their dreams.”

Geraldine Hudley, who touted her 40-plus years of experience in education as a primary qualification for a seat on the board, said she will promote policies that allow students to “reach beyond their expectations.”

“It’s easier to build strong children than it is to repair a man,” Hudley said. “We must provide opportunities for each individual child to achieve academic excellence. What that means is we must provide the funding that keeps us on the cutting edge of technology.

“In order for our students to succeed, we must attract and retain the best educators. As President Obama said, ‘A high-quality education is a prerequisite to success.’”

Fowler said he has worked as hard to help prevent deaths in the community as he has to respond to them, saying the coroner’s office has “advanced to a higher scale than it’s ever been before.”

“I have paid for a PSA about the dangers of texting and driving out of my own pocket, and I have three more PSAs (about the dangers of prescription medication, drinking and driving and the importance of learning to swim) ready to release soon,” Fowler said. “I go into the schools and try to educate our students. I love dealing with death, but I love working to prevent death even more.

“I am a licensed mortician who has worked more than 17 major disasters worldwide, and I have worked with the GBI crime lab. Since I am licensed to collect and analyze urine and blood samples rather than having the state crime lab do it, I save the county money. The people of this community deserve someone who comes to the table with the knowledge God has blessed me with. If your child is sick, do you want him under the care of a doctor or a nurse?”

Johnson said his desire is to “bridge the gap” between the coroner’s office, law enforcement agencies and the community.

“I have always reached out to young people in the community, and I will continue to do so in the coroner’s office,” he said. “But I want to remind everyone that the coroner’s job is to determine the cause of death and get an answer to the family of the deceased in a timely manner. No matter what profession you’re in, you’re sent to school to learn the latest technology. I will attend classes and learn to do things the right way.

“You here in the community know me, but you don’t know me. I am someone who is dedicated to serving this community. A vote for me is a vote for you.”

Civil Rights Institute Director Frank Wilson encouraged the attendees to vote in the May 24 primaries and the Nov. 8 general election.

“If you vote, you have a voice,” Wilson said. “If you don’t, you have an opinion.”