GOP women host candidate forum

A candidate forum sponsored by the Houston County Republican Women was an opportunity to speak to a full house of registered voters and reach thousands of others through the media.

All 19 of those seeking public office on either the city commission or city school board, were given four minutes to speak, with the two mayoral candidates given five minutes each. Three candidates were no-shows. One came and left early and another was out of town and had someone speak for him.

Thirteen of the 14 candidates who took part in the forum made the most of their time, speaking quickly, in an attempt to convey as much of their platform as possible. One used his time to blast the newspaper. Their comments follow:

Mike Schmitz, mayoral candidate, said he is running on a platform based on fiscal responsibility, improving education and expanding economic development.

“As a businessman, I know the value of cutting the fat and reserving the meat – what’s essential versus what we don’t have to have. We must keep essential services . ... We must maintain jobs and get more. Aviation and the medical field are two areas where we bring folks in from all over to fill these jobs. We need to do more training here.”

Schmitz favors downtown revitalization, retiree recruitment and working to reduce the high school drop-out rate.

Keith Seagle, mayoral candidate, promises to remove the tax on groceries, which will save households an estimated $29 per month.

“This is the first time any commissioner has brought it up. I’ve already made history. I want to replace the liberal tax and spend mentality with responsible growth. The grocery tax is 3 percent of a $184 million budget. Saying this will bring a cut in police and a cut in fire services is a scare tactic.”

Seagle said voters can continue with more of the same “progressive movement” or have a tax cut.

District 1 candidate Kevin Dorsey said he wants to reduce the high school drop-out rate, reduce unemployment, enhance the appearance of the community and alleviate drugs; Larry Matthews wants to continue progress started with the wastewater treatment plant, water solutions, and an I-10 connector; James Reading said he agrees with removing the tax on food and will never vote for a garbage collection fee; George Williams Jr. wants to continue the sewer project started under his administration to bring growth to the district. Earnest Rhodes did not attend the forum.

District 3 candidate Paul Lee said the city must continue its long-term plans of resurfacing roads, providing for future water and sewer needs, and replacing fire trucks, garbage trucks and police cars, as needed. He said he wants to see the city continue to grow.

His opponent, Kenneth Everett, utilized his time by calling for the resignation of Dothan Eagle publisher Jim Whittum, saying the community’s only newspaper violated his right to free speech by refusing to run a newspaper ad submitted by Everett. The content of the advertisement, which is not protected by the Constitution, was deemed as misleading.

District 5 candidate Taylor Barbaree wants to continue to provide support to public schools, add more police and safeguard Fort Rucker’s presence; David Cornelius said the government must manage its responsibilities well before it can ask more of the people; Paul Ferrell favors keeping a closer watch on the way Dothan schools spends the money given them by the city, and investing more money in city employees.

Gayla White, school board chairman candidate, said as a parent of two children in city schools, she feels vested in public education. She said there is more work to be done. One of her opponents, Harry Wayne Parrish, attended the luncheon, but left prior to speaking. The other candidate for school board chairman, Barry Farmer, did not attend.

District 3 school board candidate Terry Laseter, who has a foster son in middle school, said he wants to do more to give back to the community. His opponent, Charles Woodall, did not attend, but an associate in real estate spoke for him. Donna Reetz said the perception of city schools remains poor and the graduation rate must be improved.

School board candidates in District 1 and 5 are unopposed. Brenda Guillford did not attend, but new District 5 board member Ben Armstrong said he wants to make a difference in the community and address issues with the youth.