GAINESVILLE – When five men attempt to lay claim to just one seat, things can become tense. Such was the case - in part - at Saturday morning’s Republican Party debate sponsored by the Hall County GOP at their headquarters on Queen City Parkway.
That one seat being contested is metaphoric, a metonymy for the right to represent the 9th congressional district of Georgia in the U.S. Congress.
The five men hoping to be chosen to represent their party are: incumbent congressman Doug Collins, former 10th congressional district congressman Dr. Paul Broun, Roger Fitzpatrick, Bernie Fontaine, and Mike Scupin.
Party officials estimated the audience at 162, a sign, they said, of the elevated interest in the race leading toward the May 24th primary. The level of energy and spirited enthusiasm evident in the room, however, were not as easily calculated.
As each candidate was allowed to respond to questions on topics covering international, national and state issues, it was the two experienced politicians, Collins and Broun, who got the exchange of verbal barbs underway.
“I don’t think we can afford Paul,” Collins said, referring to Dr. Broun.
“Doug, integrity matters,” Broun responded. “And you just spouted out some things that were either distortions or not truths to begin with. We can’t afford Doug Collins.”
“It’s a ‘fitness-to-serve’ issue,” Collins said about Broun.
Collins and Broun were both attempting to explain recent matters related to their times in office: Collins explaining why he voted for the omnibus budget and Broun explaining campaign and other finance concerns.
Candidates Fontaine, Fitzpatrick and Scupin took a more subdued tack with their comments and question responses (being neophytes to the campaign trail and this being one of the first public debates), quite often agreeing on issues.
Retired General Bernie Fontaine said, “We have two career politicians that are going at each other over here.”
“What you’ve just observed is what the liberals really want to see; they want to see the conservatives beat each other up,” Fontaine added.
In a seaon where "playing nice" is not a part of the campaign landscape on a national level, will local contests become contentious? Will things change at the next scheduled debate? Will the concord remain with Fontaine, Fitzpatrick and Scupin? Or will all five men “drop their gloves”, as they say in hockey circles, and will the next debate be more piquant?
Audience members Mark and Faith McDonald of Clermont said they enjoyed the debate and the questions that were asked covered their areas of interest.
Faith said, “I learned a lot about the candidates that I didn’t know. I have a clearer idea of who I’m going to vote for now.”
Mark was as not as influenced, saying he is still undecided which candidate he favors. “I’m keeping an open mind.”
When asked whether anything said at Saturday’s debate changed his opinion of the candidates, Paul Pickering of south Hall County said, “I see most things with very little gray; I see most things black and white…so my position has not changed.”
Access-WDUN and The Times will be hosting that next debate, as a town hall meeting scheduled for Monday, May 9th, at the Brenau Downtown Center. It is open to the public, all are invited and it begins at 6:30 p.m.
