The election for the vacant District 40 house seat is quickly approaching, and candidates are getting the word out on where they stand on the issues. Last week, the seven candidates met for a forum. The event was held at the Jacksonville Community Center and allowed area citizens to ask candidates questions. [view questionnaire]

The forum was sponsored by the Jacksonville Merchants Association and Lawson Veasey acted as moderator. The candidates had five minutes to explain their campaign platform followed by audience questions and a couple of pre-chosen questions that involve statewide issues.

K.L. Brown is the owner of K.L. Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jacksonville and K.L. Brown Memory Chapel in Anniston. Brown said that he hopes to use the relationships he has with the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Businesses and others to help bring industries and jobs to District 40. Brown also wants to see ethics reform bills passed. He wants to put a stop to double dipping and pac-to-pac transfers.

"Stimulus money has propped us up this year," said Brown. "But that money probably not be there next year. We need someone in Montgomery that will work hard to stretch dollars and budget money with a common since approach. I strongly feel like I am that person."

Carol Hagan, currently the only Independent candidate running, believes voters are ready for someone not labeled by a party. Hagan used a comparison of the fall of the Roman Empire to illustrate her point.

"They fell for two main reasons: immorality and heavy taxation," she said.

Hagen said that she is fighting immorality with information. She has made pamphlets for women to help them avoid immorality. As for taxation, Hagen has written a tax plan that would repeal all of the state and local taxes and replace them with a flat rate income tax.

Tom Shelton was a representative from 1974 until 1978 when he decided not to run again. Now, 31 years later, Shelton says he wants to continue what he started.

"I am the only one who didn't have to be imported here to run for this office," said Shelton. "I was raised here. This is my home."

Shelton said that since he left office, he has not seen a growth in jobs, something he hopes to turn around. If elected, Shelton said that he would work to bring doctoral programs in nursing and emergency management to Jacksonville State University.

Ricky Whaley, the only Democrat in the race, is currently an AG teacher at Jacksonville High School and has been teaching for 25 years. Whaley started the night off by discussing funding education. He said that when Jacksonville State, this area's largest employer, is cut the whole district bleeds. He said he wants to close loopholes that allow corporations to skip out on paying state taxes.

"Fighting for funding to overcome massive cuts should be our number one job as a state representative," said Whaley. "Let me make it clear, I will never, never ask for a penny from working families more than you're already paying. I will however go after the big corporate boys."

Jay Dill works with the family owned businesses of Miller Office Furniture and Miller Steel in Anniston, but says he is ready to be a full time representative.

"Business publications from across the country have recognized Alabama as a prime destination for locating new industry," said Dill. "But right now, like many other states, Alabama is experiencing an economic downturn that has caused our jobless rate to jump over 10 percent."

Dill said that economic growth would be his top priority and has a five-step plan to help boost the economy. Steps include: creating a small business task force, recruiting new business, keeping Alabama a right to work state, expanding the roll of the state workforce planning council, and allocate education dollars to classroom instruction to prepare new workforce.

Bill Lester ran for Congress in Texas in 2004. He says he is ready to try again to make the community a better place. Lester said that one of the reasons he is running is to shed light on the problem of the national debt. According to Lester, in the time it took to give his five-minute speech, the national debt increased by a little over $15.5 million dollars.

"We got to do better for our next generation," said Lester. "It is possible that we are dropping the baton passing it to our next generation. I am concerned. We are about to hand off an economy in shambles."

Debra Jones has been an attorney for 20 years and currently works in Anniston. She said that she has been serving the district in many different ways — from pushing bills to help children to starting up programs to give women and families a helping hand. Jones said she never expected to be asking for votes, but running for office was the next step in service.

"One of the top priorities for the state representative for this region is to bring jobs and industry into this area," said Jones. "I would like to work with the Economic Development Council and the Alabama Development Organization in Montgomery to represent this area to bring jobs and industry in."

The forum received over 40 questions from local citizens in attendance.

Gambling was the focus of the first question. Dill said gambling hurts society and at this point, not taxable, and therefore is opposed to gambling in Alabama. Hagen classified it as an immorality that hurts society and that there would be no need for gambling tax if her tax plan was enacted. Shelton said where it's legal we should tax it. Whaley said personally he is against gambling, but believes the people of Alabama should be able to vote on it. Lester said it's a poor tax, but where it's legal, tax it. Jones said that the past argument was with alcohol and it didn't work and would fight against gambling in any way shape or form. Brown is opposed to gambling saying that in many cases it raises the amount of crime.

Many questions asked candidates about the concept of home rule; should local government be given more responsibility?

Dill does not favor home rule, fearing property tax increases. Hagen said that her tax plan would let counties and cities have home rule without the power to raise taxes. Shelton believes that allowing home rule would hurt the state and needs more convincing on it. Whaley is opposed to home rule and property taxes, describing himself as a fiscal conservative. Lester says that he supports limited home rule, stating that the local cities and counties can be a liability to the state government and therefore must be limited on some issues. Jones is opposed to home rule, going with most everyone she has talked with. Brown says he has not found anyone in the district who would support it.

Education was a hot topic during the forum candidates not only took questions about proration and local dropout rates, but candidates we're also asked if they would enhance funding to K-12 education since students are a major source for colleges and universities. Hagen said that when she taught, she was able to get students to understand the basics by using her knowledge and if teachers focus on teaching students the first steps, they will learn the next. Shelton said that it's a fine line to balance between K-12 and higher education especially in a university town, but wouldn't cut either if possible. Whaley, a teacher in K-12, said he would never support cuts to Jacksonville State, and by cutting loopholes that companies use for taxes, the state can fund both K-12 and higher education. Lester teaches at Jacksonville State and considers K-12 and higher education systems the same, and being able to fund both requires tough cuts, but is necessary for the future. Jones said the real issue is how we fund education in the first place and that funding should come from a more stable source. Brown would like to get with superintendents and university presidents and set up a task force to help stop the two systems from fighting for funding. Dill said all available education dollars should go directly to the classroom in order to prepare a new work force.

Ethics and special interest groups were brought to the front thanks to many audience questions. Shelton's first move would be to ban pac-to-pac transfers. Whaley feels as if Democrats have been getting attacked because of ethics, but wants to get anyone unethical in politics out, starting with the chairman of the Republican Party, Mike Hubbard. Lester reminded everyone that it is a fundamental right for people to be able to join up in groups, but to stop corruption there needs to be complete openness. Jones would support a limit on special interest funding for candidates, and would support the Ethics Commission getting subpoena powers. Brown said we need honest people who will not embarrass us. Dill said when elected, he would work on legislation to stop corruption in ethics. Hagen would support term limits and believes that would cut back on corruption.

One question posed to the candidates asked them what they would do to encourage development at the former Fort McClellan. Dill said that the first step was to get everyone on the same page and stop the disagreement. He would like to see the site be used for entertainment businesses such as movies. Hagen said her tax plan would encourage businesses to come. She also added that businesses could utilize buildings already there to house employees. Shelton said by working together that the site would be a tremendous asset to the district. Whaley served on the Fort McClellan Development Commission and the Economic Development Board and would like to see it marked as a retirement community. Lester said that he could see many things flourish there, but it needs to have something. Jones agreed with past statements, saying that it is primed for development if only there was agreement. Brown would like to see the infrastructure improved, but knows that will be hard during the current economic times.

The focus then went national, with a question asking candidates their opinion of the National Healthcare Reform Bill. Brown said that the current bills are too long, changing day-by-day and difficult to understand. Dill thanked the two Alabama senators for not voting for the bill because of how it is being pushed though and said that no one fully understands this bill. Hagen said she does not think the federal government has any business telling the public what to do with healthcare. Shelton said that the public is going to be stuck with lower benefits and higher costs. Whaley said it is important to give the millions of people the insurance to help them and their families and said that this would be paid for by those making more than $350,000 a year. Lester disagreed saying that he has run the numbers and that there is not enough people in that range to pay for the healthcare reform and the cost will fall back on the middle class. Jones said citizens need less taxation and less regulation, and believes that the bill will raise both and does not support it.

The Republican primary election will be held on Jan. 5th, with a runoff to be held Feb. 16th, if needed and the election to be held March 30th. If there is no need for a runoff, the election for House Seat 40 will be moved to Feb. 16th. Independent candidates have until Jan. 13th to not only register, but also to collect 348 registered voters' signatures.