Four of five Republican candidates in the race for Georgia’s 12th District Congressional seat visited Statesboro Thursday, meeting and greeting a group of about 60 citizens at RJ’s Steak and Seafood.
Rick W. Allen, Georgia State Rep. Lee Anderson, Wright McLeod and Maria Sheffield answered questions and spoke at the forum sponsored by the Bulloch County Republican Party. Candidate Brian Nafarrete did not attend.
The candidates are vying for the chance to oppose incumbent Congressman John Barrow, who spoke to citizens Friday in a visit to Statesboro. The primary is set for July 31 and the general election is Nov. 6.
Barrow, a Democrat, was first elected to Congress in 2004. He is seeking a fifth term, but the 12th District he won reelection to in 2010 was redrawn last year following changes in population and Georgia adding a 13th Congressional district.
Barrow’s home in Savannah was taken out of the new district, but he said he plans to move into the new district.
Thursday, it was standing room only in the restaurant’s Oyster Bar room. Each candidate spoke briefly in an introduction before fielding questions, moderated by Bulloch County Republican Party member Lawton Sack.

Rick Allen
Allen, who has run R.W. Allen and Associates, a construction company based in Augusta since 1976, was raised on a farm, said he believes “it is best not to look out for your own interest but the interest of others.” He told the group “Washington, D.C., is broken and needs to be fixed. I’m praying there will be a transformation in 2012.”

Lee Anderson
State Rep. Lee Anderson, who represents District 117 in the Legislature and lives in Grovetown, also has experience as a school board and county commission member.
He said: “I love helping people who want to help themselves.”
He said balancing the budget and returning to “common sense” is what the state and country needs. “I am pro life, pro gun and believe marriage is between a man and a woman,” he said.

Wright McLeod
McLeod is an attorney who lives and practices in Augusta also is a former Navy pilot.
“I believe the rule is the rule,” he said. “If you don’t like the rule, you can change the rule, but you can’t make your own interpretation of the rule.”
He said he believes in “a strong sense of family. I like NASCAR and football.”

Maria Sheffield
Sheffield also has a law degree and has been working in the Republican Party since age 15. Sheffield lost in the Republican primary in the 2010 race for Georgia attorney general. An attorney who lives in Cobb County, Sheffield said she plans to move to Laurens County in the newly redrawn 12th District.
“As I travel around this district I see a lot of people who are really hurting and want a change,” she said. “My parents taught me the value of public service and the value of hard work.”
While facing a challenge from four others who seek the Republican candidacy, “the real opponent in this race is John Barrow,:” she said.”We can’t have a Congressman who says one thing and goes to Washington and votes another.”

Term limits
The first question asked of all candidates was whether they support term limits for congressmen, representatives and senators.
All four said they support term limits. Also, all four said they did not support the Patriot Act as it stands. Anderson said it “violates the constitution.”
All four said they are TEA Party supporters, too.
Anderson said he supports the work the TEA Party is doing towards bringing about a stronger ethics bill. Allen said
“What we need to do is empower the people of this nation. I’m with the TEA Party on this.”
Sheffield said she is “100 percent behind the TEA Party,” and McLeod said “I’m for anything and anybody that believes in the principles I believe in, and the TEA Party is a central part of defeating the current administration.”
One woman asked the candidates which private charities they support. McLeod said “Navy Relief means the most to me,” because it helps those who serve their country.
Sheffield listed the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Multiple Sclerosis Society and American Diabetes Association. Wounded Warriors also is close to her heart, she said.
Allen said any military projects or programs for at-risk children are important to him, while Anderson listed mentoring children, church missions, American Cancer Society and Wounded Warriors.
They also addressed transparency, or lack thereof, in government. One man asked how each candidate would keep the public informed.
“Transparency is the key to democracy,” McLeod said. “Closed door and special meetings are wrong.”
Sheffield said “I think we have to remember this is a House of Representatives. How can you effectively represent people in your district if you don’t listen to what the people have to say?”
Representatives need to be active in social media and in contacting and informing citizens, she said.
Allen touched upon another point an audience member made about the higher number of veteran suicides, and that number not being accurately released.
Misinformation is wrong, he said, adding that the number of veteran suicides has increased.
“There is no greater thing one can do than lay down your life for another,” he said. “I regret not having that opportunity.”
Allen has had no military experience, he said.
Anderson stressed the importance of thanking veterans.
“I go up to them and thank them, because freedom is not free,” he said.

Presidential preference?
One question each candidate seemed to hedge on was which current Republican seeking the presidential candidacy they supported.
Anderson said if he had to choose today, he leans towards Newt Gingrich because “We’re all here to beat Obama” and he feels Gingrich can do just that. He feels Gingrich can “go straight to work and get the country turned back around.”
Allen said Mitt Romney is “a business guy,” but also praised Rick Santorum and Gingrich. He never committed to one particular candidate, and neither did Sheffield.
“No matter who (is chosen), I will 100 percent support that person, who will be better than Barack Obama.”
McLeod said Gingrich is “not who I think I’d vote for,’ but stated he has strong points. Then again, “character counts,” he said, adding he doesn’t think he has ” gotten around” the controversy about Gingrich’s past. Romney is a great political leader, he said.
On tax reform, McLeod said “The tax code is 100-percent broken. We absolutely need to shift to a more user-based model.”
Sheffield said “We absolutely need tax reform. Fifty four of us pay taxes and support 100 percent of what goes on in this country.”
She said she supports the Fair Tax and said “will be a leader on tax reform. We should not be taxing what makes this country great – work and productivity.”
Tax rates “need to come down,” Allen said. “It needs to be fixed. Every election, we talk about this, and I don’t see why we can’t fix it.”
Tax forms need to be shortened and tax cuts should be made for businesses so they can create more jobs, Anderson said. “When people believe in greed more than serving their country, we’re going to have this problem,” he said.

Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.