DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The standing-room-only crowd that attended Tuesday night’s candidate forum at the Lumpkin County Parks and Recreation facility learned a lot about the people asking for their votes in the May 24 Republican Primary.

One thing they learned was that political opponents can highlight their differences and make a case for their election without attacking one another.

In an informative,well-organized and respectful two-hour question and answer session, candidates for Board of Commissioners Chairman, Board of Commission Districts 1 and 2 and Board of Education District 1 put their best foot forward.

The evening began with Commission Chairman Chris Dockery and challenger Doug Sherrill front and center.

Sherrill said he decided to leave his Dist. 1 seat to run for chairman because he believes the Board needs new leadership.

“My number one leadership skill is I’m a father,” Sherrill said. “I’ve served as the District 1 commissioner for 3 and a half years, I chaired our Board of Health here, I’ve been pastor at a number of churches and been a youth pastor. I’ve also coached youth sports.”

Dockery outlined his military leadership. “I’ve commanded troops in peace time and in war time overseas,” he said. “That experience prepared me. There is nothing like leading men when their lives are on the line. I’ve also held leadership positions here in the county. I chaired the Development Authority for several years and served as Vice Chair of the Water Authority.”

Both believe the Comprehensive Land Use Plan needs to be updated and that private property rights are not adequately protected.

Bill Scott, who is running for the District 1 seat vacated by Sherrill, was out of town on business. His opponent, David Miller, joined District 2 candidates DJ Wight, Bobby Mayfield, Carlton Smith and incumbent Steve Shaw in answering questions.

Miller said if he’s elected, he wants to work with Northeast Georgia Hospital System and Chestatee Regional to develop a medical facility at the intersection of Hwy 60 and Ga. 400 where NGHS already owns 52 acres.

“Hospitals don’t just attract surgeons,” he said. “They also attract many support service jobs that pay $15 to $20 per hour.”

Wight, a former Army Ranger whose responsibility was to deploy a 12-man combat squad anywhere in the world within 18 hours, made a strong case for his ability to attract new businesses to the county.

“I own a real estate business that helps retail businesses find a place to relocate,” he said. “I have 2,000 customers, 200 of which are municipalities. I help them to recruit retailers to their area which is what I want to do as commissioner. For example, in the last 15 years, we haven’t had a good grocery store here.”

Shaw shrugged off that suggestion saying, “If grocery stores were going to come here they would already be here.” Shaw added that he and several commissioners had already recruited grocery stores unsuccessfully. “Not only can we not get a grocery store, we can’t even get a Firehouse Sub.”

Wight drew a laugh from the audience when he countered with, “If every time somebody told me I couldn’t do something I just tucked my tail, rolled over and peed on myself, I wouldn’t have accomplished anything.”

The laughter turned to tears when School Board candidate Mera Turner was asked if teachers should be held accountable for the success of their students.

“To a certain extent, yes,” she said. “But some students come with more skills than others. Some of them, because of their situation of being homeless and needing food, it’s very hard for them to concentrate on what you’re teaching. when they’re worried about where they are going to sleep that night or what they’re going to have to eat. That’s very sad to me.”

After a lengthy pause, tears streamed down her cheek, her voice cracked and she continued, “We can do better for our kids than what they’ve been getting. If I’m on the board that will be one of my passions.”

Her opponent Jay Sessions said, “There is a point where if there is a continuous departure and continuous flow of parents coming to the administration and the Board of Education with complaints about teachers, that’s when they need to be held accountable.”

Both said they opposed Common Core, but Sessions said it was something that teachers would have to get used to.

Catherine Ariemma was out of town and unable to attend.