BILL COWSERT

REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT

HIGHER ED IN THE BUDGET
I recently helped pass a funding formula for higher education which gained approval by the Board of Regents. The formula calculates the allocation of funds based on the amount of enrolled students, how many buildings are at the institution and factors that determine financial needs.

INCREASE JOBS IN GA
I plan to increase jobs in the state through promoting the development of various industries. I will work to increase new facilities while encouraging existing facilities to stay. I support the creation of UGA’s new medical school and believe it will provide high-paying jobs in various fields.

DEPENDENCE ON OIL
I highly promote the development of alternative fuels that utilize renewable resources. In Georgia, pine trees and timber products can be used to produce ethanol and are widely available. I also support the creation of new nuclear reactors that would provide clean and renewable energy.

THE DROUGHT
I have been very involved in the Georgia Statewide Management Plan which created 11 regional water councils, each located near water sources or basins. The councils work with Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division to come up with management programs.

SHERRY JACKSON

DEMOCRAT

HIGHER ED IN THE BUDGET
Education is a priority, kindergarten through college. We would hope to expand on the HOPE scholarship to make more funds available to students.
In the budget overall, we would certainly look at pork barrel spending, that would cut a few million.

INCREASE JOBS IN GA
As soon as we can get our budget prioritized then we can focus on economic development by providing incentives to businesses and giving tax breaks to new businesses … We would get in a reasonable transportation bill that would build our economy, starting with the infrastructure.

DEPENDENCE ON OIL
We have to be more conservation-minded. A bill would take cars off our roads and encourage public transportation. Shortages from last month came from lack of preparation. Supposedly we have an emergency preparedness plan. I would encourage the Governor’s Office to activate the plan.

THE DROUGHT
How we can manage water conservation is the key. I would encourage people to install low flow toilets in new construction and replacements. We need to be cognizant of when we use water. I would provide more education on gray water usage.

TIM RILEY

DEMOCRAT

HIGHER ED IN THE BUDGET
Riley believes that providing the necessary support for our public education system is the most important challenge facing Georgia today, understanding that all of the key issues confronting us are all tied back to properly preparing the next generation to take over the reins of leadership.
I’d focus on restoring full funding to our educational system that my opponent and the current administration cut from our childrens education.

INCREASE JOBS IN GA
The stakes are too high – a stagnant economy, a crippling drought, traffic congestion clogging metro Atlanta and an educational system that consistently fails to receive the necessary support to make adequate progress – and it’s time we hold those responsible accountable.

EDITOR’S NOTE:
Riley could not be contacted about issues regarding the dependence on oil and the drought. Riley told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he has promoted initiatives to improve senior citizen care, change transportation, spur economic development and fix trauma centers in the state.
He told the AJC he has not encountered issues running as an openly gay man.

RALPH HUDGENS

REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT

HIGHER ED IN THE BUDGET
Currently we spend 55 percent of the State budget on education and I don’t believe we can afford a higher percentage especially in this economic slump we are currently experiencing.

INCREASE JOBS IN GA
Eighty percent of the job creation is in the small business sector, so we need to reduce government regulations and reduce state taxes on these new ventures so employment will increase.

DEPENDENCE ON OIL
I am a State Senator and oil exploration and production is regulated by the federal government.

THE DROUGHT
Droughts are caused by lack of rainfall and that is entirely up to God. But we need to be good stewards of the rainfall we recieve and this can be done by building more reservoirs and also by implementing conservation methods.