Immigration, gun control among issues addressed by candidates

Candidates who have announced so far for the 9th Congressional District seat addressed issues such as immigration, gun control and term limits Saturday morning at a political forum at the Nicholson Community Center.

9th Congressional District race candidates present were: Hunter Bicknell, Clifton McDuffie and Martha Zoller. Candidate Doug Collins was not present due to a military commitment as he is a member of the Reserves.

The candidates gave a brief opening statement. Their comments included the following:

•Bicknell: “I’m chairman of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. I have been a businessman all my life. Since 2002, I have been serving the citizens of Jackson County on various committees. From 2004 to 2008, I served on the Jackson County Water and Sewer Authority, the last three years as chair of that authority. That led me to running for board of commission chairman and that is the position I have held since January 2009. I have been married to my wife, Becky, for 45 years. We have three children and five grandchildren.”

•Zoller: “I think there are a lot of very important issues that we have to deal with but I think the most important things are to get the spending under control. That means everything has got to be on the table and we’ve got to talk about it like grown ups and we have to communicate it back to you. Secondly, I want to look at the tax code. I’m a fair tax supporter but I am happy that there are a number of different types of tax reform on the table. Finally, we have to get regulations out of the way. Business is afraid to get started again in a big way because of the regulations that have been put in place. There are a whole lot of regulations out there that have to be repealed.”

•McDuffie: “I grew up in Fitzgerald, Georgia, where I ran the Chamber of Commerce. We built one of the first industrial parks in the state of Georgia and it now has companies in there who are hiring people. I went from there to Albany, where I helped bring in Firestone, which was a $54 million plant and 1,500 jobs. Three years later, Proctor and Gamble, $35 million plant and 3,000 jobs. They hired me to go to Waycross to work in tourism. In 1981, I was hired to go to Hall County to run the Gainesville-Hall County Chamber of Commerce. During that time, we brought in over 54 industrial, manufacturing and processing plants, creating more than 5,000 jobs and $650 million in investment. My whole career has been spent in bringing jobs to Georgia.”

•Lisa Collins, on behalf of her husband, Doug Collins: “Doug is the state representative in the 27th District. He serves as a Major in the United States Reserve. We have been married 23 years and have three children, all who are teenagers now. Doug is a community service person. He has been a pastor for over 11 years. He served a tour of duty in Iraq in 2008. He is in his third term as state representative. Doug is a conservative.”

Audience Questions
More than 75 people attended the forum and questions were taken from the audience. Among the questions given to the congressional candidates were: Immigration, gun control, term limits and the energy policy. The comments from the three candidates on the issues included the following:

Immigration
Bicknell: “We have got to do something to seal our borders. For all too long, we have been suffering from the effects of people coming to this country illegally. I support the American dream and applaud those who want to come to this country legally. All of us, our families at one time or another, immigrated to this country. However, we have got to seal the borders. We cannot allow ourselves to become victims of illegality.”

Zoller: “House bill 87 was a necessary bill. Is it a perfect bill. No, it is not. I have talked to a lot of people in the agricultural field and I have listened to what they have to say regarding some of the problems with the legislation. Agriculture is the largest industry that we have in the 9th Congressional District. I believe we need an answer from the federal government. If you elect me to congress, I will advocate closing the borders and making sure the visa process is fixed. Finally, we need something called a work permit with no benefits attached to it.”

McDuffie: “I would agree with everything these candidates have said. Certainly, we have got to seal the board. I also believe that agriculture is our number one product in Georgia. There is no reason why we can’t issue a card to workers who want to work in this country that can be checked to make sure they are legal when they come to work.”

Gun Control
Zoller: “I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. I believe that personal responsibility ought to be a key of this. I don’t have a problem with requiring a background check. Yes, I will fight any limit to any Second Amendment rights.”

McDuffie: “I would agree with folks carrying guns. I grew up with guns in the house. I’ve never shot anybody, never threatened anybody. I think you ought to be able to carry a gun if you want to. I believe in the right to bear arms.”

Bicknell: “I believe in the Constitution, not only the Second Amendment, but all of the Constitution. One of the things that makes our country different from many is that anybody who wanted to invade this country, would have to think twice because of the number of guns our citizens hold. I think that in addition to a strong national defense, that is one of our strengths — that we have the right to bear arms and defend our families and our property. Nothing should ever be done to limit or take that away from us. I support the Second Amendment with every fiber of my being.”

Term Limits
All three candidates stated that they support term limits.

Energy Policy
All three candidates said that the XL pipeline project should have been permitted. Bicknell added that the federal energy department should be eliminated. Zoller said that that if a vote was taken in Congress on the pipeline, it would be passed. As for the energy policy, she said we need a policy to use all resources. “We’ve got to let the market dictate what is best and get the regulations out of the way,” she said. McDuffie added that, “We need to drill for oil on our own soil.”

United Nations 2021 Plan
Zoller: “I oppose agenda 2021. It is a plan to try and take control away from people and their property rights. I oppose it.”

McDuffie: “It is a plan for a few people to get together and plan how the rest of us are supposed to live. That’s exactly what it is — a planned world. It’s not good news for people who love freedom. I am against it.”

Bicknell: “I’m definitely against Agenda 2021. I’m against the United Nations trying to control my rights. We need to continue to be examples to the rest of the world. We can not be influenced by Western Europe and the things they do that bring the economy down.”

Presidential Preference
All three candidates said that they have not decided on their choice but that they would support the Republican nominee.