Six Candidates For Two Open Georgia House Districts Get Chance To Restate Positions At Athens-Clarke County Forum

Responding to fixed questions they had received in advance, the six candidates running in the special elections for Georgia House District 117 and District 119 Monday night offered largely familiar responses on campus carry, redistricting and other issues.

One question not asked so simply and precisely in earlier forums did help to underscore the differences among the candidates.

Athens Clarke County Federation of Neighborhoods moderator Wendy Moore asked what the state of Georgia can and should do “to assure that as many as possible of its citizens have affordable access to the health care they need?”

Democratic candidate Deborah Gonzalez, running in the 117th District special election, said the state should expand Medicaid.

Republican Houston Gaines said Medicaid expansion would be “fiscally irresponsible.”

Steven Strickland, a Republican candidate in the 119th, said the state has done a good job of keeping the number of Medicaid participants per capita “at one of the lowest levels nationwide.”

Jonathan Wallace, running as a Democrat in the 119th, said expanding Medicaid would make the state’s population healthier and more competitive in the future.

Marcus Wiedower, also a Republican in the 119th, said the problem with health care is “too much government involvement.”

Tom Lord, the third Republican candidate in the 119th, said he would oppose the state making major policy changes in the medical area until the federal government acts.

For more on the story, including video of the session, please go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Gaines and Gonzalez.