PERRY — Gubernatorial candidates debated tax bills, political influence, commuter rail service and keeping Georgia students in school as promises to voters who will send one of the three to Atlanta.
Democrat Roy Barnes, Republican Nathan Deal and Libertarian John Monds dodged and parried in front of about 600 people at Reaves Arena at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter on Thursday night.
All promised to make a thorough review of garnering federal funds for commuter rail and preserving tax dollars for education.
An issue that cropped up just hours before the debate was an improper tax filing Barnes made on a house he gave to his daughter and son-in-law in 2008.
Barnes owned up to the mistake, and said he owned 60-70 parcels of land. He said a mistake in accounting records allowed deductions to be claimed on the property over the past two years.
However, during the same year, the former governor overpaid taxes on Habersham Bank stock he owned and should “be getting back around $20,000 in a refund,” Barnes said.
Sparks flew when Deal accused Barnes of using political influence in about 37 cases that his law firm — The Barnes Law Group — has handled in front of judges the former governor sent to the state bench. These cases resulted in favorable rulings for Barnes’ clients.
“You said you tried only one case in front of a judge you appointed to the bench,” Deal said to Barnes on the forum dais. “Now, we see there are 36 additional cases. My question to you is why didn’t you disclose that?”
Barnes countered that his firm sent those cases to judges, but the 36 in question were motions and cases Barnes excluded himself from working on.
“In fact, Nathan, I appointed your son as district attorney. He ruled in favor of me. Are you saying your son is corrupt?” Barnes asked.
Jason Deal was a district attorney in Hall County until 2005 when he became a Hall County Superior Court judge.
Deal said his son is a “district attorney that tries cases and not a judge.” Deal added Barnes’ firm has made more than $430 million for its clients in front of judges the former governor appointed.
Time limits kept the two candidates from pursuing the issue further.
Commuter rail — specifically rail lines from Macon to Atlanta, and Atlanta to Athens — cropped up in the debate.
The candidates generally supported expanded commuter rail, but Barnes said Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue, who beat him in the 2002 election for the office, never acted on plans to develop high-speed rail service.
Deal said high-speed rail and improved interstates to relieve congestion in metro Atlanta were a must, “but we have to realize there are limited resources now within the economy.”
Monds was asked whether illegal immigrants should enjoy the same education benefits from state funded scholarships as residents. Monds said state resources should not be spent on those in the country illegally.
The libertarian candidate could push the election into a runoff, and Monds was asked who he would vote for in a runoff.
“I’m focusing on my campaign right now until Nov. 2,” Monds said. “I will deal with that decision when it comes up.”
To contact writer Shelby G. Spires, call 744-4494.
