Georgia: Battle for House District 3

The candidates in the race for the open District 3 Georgia House of Representatives seat are similar on the surface. Both are family men who are active in their churches and who said they support education and the Second Amendment.

But Democratic nominee Ralph Noble and Republican nominee Tom Weldon take different stances on many issues that affect the District 3 constituents in Catoosa and Whitfield counties.

Mr. Noble is a longtime teacher who said he believes in reaching across party lines to solve problems.

He has worked in other political campaigns and is a former president of the Georgia Association of Educators. In that role he worked with members of the Georgia General Assembly on behalf of teachers and children, he said.

A Ringgold attorney, Mr. Weldon said he is skilled in the art of negotiation. Life experience, a personal investment in the area and schools and experience working with Catoosa and Whitfield residents have given him insight into what is needed in Atlanta, Mr. Weldon said.

The District 3 seat will be open because incumbent Rep. Ron Forster, R-Ringgold, first elected in 2000, did not seek re-election for a fifth term.

District 3 includes most of Catoosa County, except for small portions on the west and east sides, and a strip along the western border of Whitfield County. There are about 22,000 voters in Catoosa County and 7,000 in Whitfield, Mr. Weldon said.

Rep. Forster said, for him, the biggest challenge that came with the job is the time commitment.

He has endorsed his fellow Republican and noted characteristics he said a House member needs.

“What I look for ... is a man of character, not one that would blow in the wind or be swayed by lobbyist organizations, ” he said.

ralph noble

Chris Scott, chairman of the Catoosa County Democratic Party, supports Mr. Noble and said it is important to get a Democrat in the post Republicans have held since 1996.

“I think Ralph Noble is much more qualified for the position than his opponent,” Mr. Scott said. “Before he decided to run for the position, he had done a lot of homework.”

Mr. Noble said when it comes to the issues, he goes beyond the generalizations he accused his opponent of resorting to.

“I’ve seen nothing more than catch phrases,” Mr. Noble said. “I don’t think anyone would know where he stands.”

Mr. Noble said he decided to run because of his frustration over the way the legislature has operated in recent years, he said.

“The way politics has worked down there in the last several years is powerful people helping powerful people,” the Democrat said.

Mr. Noble said this election is about issues such as education, transportation and health care.

He said he wants the state to stop the cuts to education funding.

“They started those cuts in 2002 when the economy was in trouble,” he said. “They continued the cuts even when the economy recovered and there were surpluses.”

Mr. Noble said he opposes the water conservation legislation passes last session, which he said allows the transfer of water from Northwest Georgia to the Atlanta area.

He also wants to see a transportation bill that would rebuild the state’s transportation infrastructure and provide regions the option of approving a regional sales tax to fund transportation projects.

“Northwest Georgia desperately needs a corridor across the northern portion of the state,” Mr. Noble said.

Reallocating the 4 percent sales tax on gasoline entirely to fund transportation, with the stipulation that it be spent on rails, roads and access lanes, is essential to the growth of Northwest Georgia, Mr. Noble said.

He said does not support a voucher system for private school students because it would hurt public schools, and he said he will not be swayed by money or politics, which he said has led to the problems now in Georgia’s government.

“It is time for some common sense and time for a change, and that is why I’m offering myself,” Mr. Noble said.

tom weldon

Catoosa County Republican Party Chairman Brad Scott, who is not related to Chris Scott, said his party needs someone to carry on Rep. Forster’s conservative values.

He said he thinks Mr. Weldon could bring most state funds to Northwest Georgia, would support the school systems and work well with local officials.

“He is a good man,” Mr. Scott said.

The Republican nominee said he is very connected to District 3. As the leader of his own law firm for the past four years, Mr. Weldon said he can bring business savvy to the elected position that his opponent cannot offer.

“On a daily basis, I negotiate on behalf of my clients,” he said. “I’ve got roots and a connection to the district and to the community.”

Mr. Weldon also said he has a plan to move forward on restructuring the state’s tax system.

“He just wants to take a deconstructive view of what is going on, but he hasn’t offered any plan to resolve issues like the state budget deficit,” Mr. Weldon said. “If he wants to take the deconstructionist view — anybody can go in and blame somebody else. It doesn’t take a leader to do that. It takes a leader to have a plan.”

Regarding the state’s gas tax revenue, Mr. Weldon said he wants to see a flat, per gallon tax on gasoline and diesel fuel, rather than the current state and local sales taxes and per gallon excise tax. He said a flat tax would bring more revenue into the state, he said.

Mr. Weldon wants to see Georgia improve health insurance for small-business owners, modeling after Washington state’s system.

Mr. Weldon said he is against a school voucher system for Catoosa or Whitfield counties. But he said the law should be changed so that a decision on allowing vouchers for students who attend private schools can be made by the counties and local school boards, not at the state level.

“I am for local control of schools,” he said, adding that education is always a top priority.

Mr. Weldon said his goal is to be an advocate. He is pro-gun and against abortion and said he opposes burdensome government regulations.

“The less intrusion that the individual has by the government, the better,” he said.

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WHEN TO VOTE

Absentee balloting is under way through Oct. 31, and advance voting will take place Oct. 27-31.

Election Day is Nov. 4, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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ON THE WEB

For more information about Tom Weldon visit http://www.electtomweldon.com/.

For more information about Ralph Noble visit http://www.electralphnoble.com/.

* Name: Ralph Noble

* Family: Married with three grown children

* Education: Graduated from Shorter College in Rome. Received masters and specialist degrees from West Georgia College.

Occupation: Teacher at Eastbrook Middle School in Whitfield County.

* Characteristics that qualify you? I’m committed. I’m knowledgeable and I’m caring.

* Your priorities if elected? Supporting our children — both in education and health care — and preventing gang involvement. Protecting our resources, such as water, state parks and stopping pollution. Caring for our seniors.

* What’s your philosophy on government? Common sense. Coming together to work toward solutions.

* Name: Tom Weldon

* Family: Married with four school-aged children.

* Education: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for undergraduate, law school at St. Thomas University in Miami.

* Occupation: Attorney in Ringgold.

* Characteristics that qualify you? Negotiation skills and life experience.

* Your priorities if elected? Dealing with Georgia’s budget deficit, re-prioritizing transportation taxes.

* What’s your philosophy on government? Government is to provide opportunities for citizens, not to be a burdensome tax problem.