RINGGOLD, Ga. — More than two dozen candidates running for office in Catoosa County or to represent the Northwest Georgia community at the state and federal level talked about the issues and their qualifications at a Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce-sponsored rally.

Candidates for County Commission seats, Superior Court judge, the state legislature and U.S. Senate and House discussed the economy, education, crime and the future of the county.

Some said Catoosa is poised to benefit from the $1 billion Volkswagen assembly plant coming to Chattanooga.

“VW is a very important issue to this county,” said Lynn Long, a Democrat running for County Commission chairman. “But the most serious issue is, as always and even more so now, money. We need to generate commercial and retail growth to help alleviate property taxes.”

His Republican opponent, Keith Greene, said his short-term plan for economic development calls for identifying land for an industrial park.

“We need to set aside land to entice businesses to come here,” Mr. Greene said. “And we need to strengthen our education system.”

School board candidates, including District 3 incumbent Don Dycus and challenger Bud Jackson; District 1 incumbent Billy Joe McDaniel and opponent Pat Silcox, and the at-large candidates, incumbent Melvin Edwards, and challenger Brent Williams, agreed the district’s 33 percent dropout rate is a serious problem. The candidates said state budget cuts also are a challenge and pledged to work on funding, if elected.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., U.S Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., and state Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, who are seeking re-election, sent representatives to the forum.

Jeff Scott, the Chickamauga Democrat challenging Rep. Deal, said education and the Iraq war are among his top issues, adding that he supports a rational plan to leave Iraq.

Democrat Jim Martin, a former state representative from Atlanta who is seeking to unseat Sen. Chambliss, did not attend.

Sen. Mullis’ opponent, Bruce Coker, a Walker County deputy sheriff, sparred with state Rep. Jay Neal, R-LaFayette, who stood in for the state senator.

Sen. Mullis is in Spain with Gov. Sonny Perdue on an economic development visit. The federal lawmakers were in Washington, D.C., working on a bailout plan for national market.

“I think we all agree that these gentlemen are in Washington where they are needed to do work on this monumental problem the nation is facing,” said Martha Eaker, executive director of the chamber, referring to the financial disaster on Wall Street.

Other candidates at the rally included five candidates vying for Catoosa County Superior Court, four contenders for Public Service commissioner in District 4, and County Commission districts 1 and 3.

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