Carl Smith repeatedly blamed Democratic U.S. Rep. John Barrow for what he called “lack of leadership.”
Mike Horner called for solutions to a runaway national problem he said menaces America’s future.
George Grady said illegal immigration is behind many major national woes.
And Jeanne Seaver didn’t show up, saying candidates shouldn’t debate before qualifying, which starts April 26.
So it went Tuesday at the first forum for Republican candidates in Barrow’s 12th Congressional District.
Each participating candidate raised other issues but laid out a theme he’ll likely repeat as the campaign unfolds.
The winner of the July 20 GOP primary election – or a runoff, if needed – will face the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 9 general election. So far, Barrow has one Democratic foe – former state Sen. Regina Thomas.
Smith, the fire chief and a former town council member in Thunderbolt, zeroed in on Barrow at almost every turn.
He said the incumbent has done little to help win funds for the Port of Savannah or to create jobs.
“Our congressman goes out having meetings on the corner and talking about jobs,” Smith said. “I’m tired of talking about jobs.”
He also said Barrow’s taken campaign money from both sides on a controversial health care reform bill and waited “until the last minute” to say how he’ll vote.
He urged people to “flood his office with phone calls” to urge him to vote against it if – as is expected – it comes up for another vote.
A spokeswoman for Barrow, who already has repeatedly voted against the measure, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.
Horner, a retired Air Force officer and banker, said he knows how to reduce the national debt.
One way, he said, is revamping Social Security.
“If older Americans want their funds to be there,” he said, “they have to be willing to make sacrifices like the rest of us.”
Horner said another solution is to avoid duplication in the federal bureaucracy.
He said 352 agencies promote economic development, while 52 deal with fishing.
“Why not one?” he said.
He also said the “FairTax,” a plan to scrap most federal taxes in favor of a national sales tax, would increase revenue and help the economy.
When asked what the top issue is, Savannah restaurant owner Grady cited the economy, but said that’s linked to illegal immigrants.
He said unfair competition from them is a major source of unemployment.
Grady also said they are a major strain on government services, especially in California. That state, he said, should get no more federal transportation money until it does a better job of curbing illegal immigration.
And in Georgia, he said, the federal government should encourage cities to make it a misdemeanor to rent housing to illegal immigrants.
That, Grady said, “would deter …. (illegal immigrants) from coming to this town for work.”
Seaver announced her decision not to participate two and a half hours before the event.
She said she is “excited and anxious” to debate after candidates qualify “and we know who they are going to be.”
“We feel that it is premature to debate prior to qualification and not giving potential future candidates the opportunity to participate,” she said.
Seaver said she wasn’t aware it is common for debates to be held prior to qualification.
But Martin Sullivan, chairman of Savannah Area Young Republicans, which sponsored the event, disagreed.
Sullivan noted there have been several forums for Republican and Democratic candidates for governor.
