Pubdate: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 Source: Macon Telegraph (GA) Copyright: 2004 The Macon Telegraph Publishing Company Contact: http://www.macontelegraph.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/667 Author: Julie Hubbard, and Becky Purser Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) BROCHURES, HARDER TIME FOR METH CRIMES TOPICS AT HOUSTON DEBATE PERRY- State Senate District 20 Democratic challenger Dan King, looking at his opponent's campaign brochure, said Monday night that all of the things incumbent Ross Tolleson is fighting for this election were the same, untouched issues he fought for the first time he ran. In the flier, which Tolleson used in his 2002 campaign, King said there were promises from Tolleson of improved education, better jobs and better health care for Middle Georgians. "You allowed jobs to go to India, voted against smaller classrooms and dollars for schools," King said in a debate Monday night to a nearly full auditorium at the Houston County Board of Education offices in Perry. "I guess we are all pulling out fliers tonight," Tolleson, R-Perry, said in response, claiming that King's brochure contained meritless information and that King lacked the experience to serve Middle Georgians. The two agreed on many issues like tort reform, supporting Robins Air Force Base and supporting the protection of the state's natural resources, but they clashed on items like the state budget and job outsourcing. Also at the forum, in the hotly-contested race for Houston County district attorney, Democratic challenger Michael Moore accused Republican incumbent Kelly Burke of routinely letting methamphetamine users and dealers go free without jail time. Moore cited several cases in which those convicted of methamphetamine-related crimes did not receive prison sentences but probation instead. "The list goes on and on," Moore said. But Burke countered that Moore is presenting a classic case in which rhetoric doesn't match the facts. Burke said that when Moore was an assistant district attorney for Houston County, just as many defendants that Moore prosecuted received probation instead of jail time. Burke pledged to post Moore's cases in which drug defendants received probation on his web site today. Burke said Moore wasn't being reasonable, while Moore said he doesn't think it's reasonable to allow methamphetamine users and dealers back on the streets. Moore also hammered Burke on the use of public funds, TV commercials and felony conviction rates, many of the same issues that the candidates have been going head-to-head on in the last few weeks of the campaign. In a previous interview, Burke said it's difficult to get jail time for first-time drug offenders, but that a long probation period gives the district attorney's office the means to put offenders in prison if probation is violated. The forum also was to have featured candidates for State House District 136. Incumbent Robert Ray, D-Fort Valley, attended the event, but his challenger, Republican Carol Bird of Forsyth, did not. The event was sponsored by the Greater Area Perry Chamber of Commerce. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin