Dickey, Sellier meet in District 136 forum
FORSYTH -- Two candidates vying for the vacant state House District 136 seat faced off Thursday, less than two weeks before a scheduled special election.
Robert Dickey, from Musella, and Judye Sellier, from Fort Valley, participated in a candidate forum in Forsyth, each trying to drum up support as they inch closer to the Feb. 15 election. Early voting has already begun for the seat, which became vacant when state Rep. Tony Sellier, Judye Sellier’s husband, died Nov. 30 from congestive heart failure.
Nearly 50 people packed into Alderman Hall in the Forsyth welcome center Thursday evening to hear the candidates speak.
Dickey and Sellier -- both Republicans -- agreed that this election is a critical one because of a looming budget shortfall. Dickey said that although he and Sellier are running to represent the district, they have different approaches.
Dickey, co-owner of Dickey Farms, said this business experience running the peach and timber farm would lend a hand to his working in the House of Representatives, specifically when it came to budgeting.
“Government needs to run like I run these farms,” said Dickey, 57. “I don’t spend money I don’t have. I don’t waste money on things I don’t need.” Dickey also spoke in support of tax incentives for small businesses as a way to spur the local economy.
Sellier said that the time she spent with her husband in Atlanta showed her the ropes and prepared her to serves as a state representative. “Tony was the best one to be there,” Sellier said. “He’s not here anymore, and I’m the next best choice.”
Sellier, 61, is a former chairwoman of the Crawford County Board of Education. She focused much of her attention during Thursday’s forum on the topics of increasing the state graduation rate and preparing a work-ready work force throughout Georgia.
Both candidates said they would approve giving voters the opportunity to decide if they want Sunday alcohol sales in areas of the state.
They also agreed on most other topics that surfaced Thursday. They’re both pro-life, and both are against gay marriage and federally imposed health care reform. They’re also against high-speed rail for the foreseeable future, in part because of funding concerns and questions of whether it would garner enough riders to make it a worthwhile venture.
The lone Democrat in the race, Sharon Howard, also from Fort Valley, did not attend Thursday’s forum. Howard, who lost the Nov. 2 election to Tony Sellier, had suspended campaigning due to health concerns, but her name will remain on the ballot.
The district covers Crawford County and parts of Bibb, Houston, Lamar, Monroe, Peach and Upson counties.
This story was originally published February 4, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Dickey, Sellier meet in District 136 forum."