Issues

Education

Educating our children is a local responsibility. The state government must support but not interfere with the educational process. Bureaucratic requirements from Atlanta and Washington placed on local officials will hamper, not improve education.

First hand, I know the value of an education. At the age of fifteen, our lives changed over night. My mother received her teaching degree when she was forty-three years old. She taught for twenty-eight years. Our quality of life was greatly improved through the value of her education. I believe that education is the great equalizer in life. Every child deserves an opportunity to learn, and every teacher needs sufficient time to prepare and teach.

Together, let's stop blaming our teachers for the problems in our schools. When I was in graduate school twenty years ago, we learned that some children learn best by reading, others by listening and still others by doing. I believe every child can learn, but they don't. Every child has his or her own special talents. Ford Motor Company builds a car almost untouched by human hands. With this type of technology, we can build an educational system that will teach to the individual child's talents.

Education goes hand-in-hand with economic development. With an educated work force, we can attract new and vibrant industries. With a local team partnership between parents, the community, teachers, and students, we will ensure that House District 137 offers the best education in the state of Georgia and throughout America.

Join me in taking our educational system into the computer and technological age where we can focus on developing each child's individual talents.

Family Values

Darrel with his daughters at his Granddaddy and Grandmother Bush's log home. Darrel and his brothers still own the home site. A portion of the home still remains.

As I travel the district and speak to you, the voters, I am often asked, "Darrel, what is the most important issue facing our country today?" Terrorist attacks from abroad are a major concern. I know President Bush is working very hard every day to resolve this extremely difficult problem, and I know he will succeed. But, I feel the most serious problem we face to day is the erosion of the family values on which this country was founded.

A deep-seated faith in God and the family, of which you and I were raised, seems to be slipping away. The American family is losing its impact as the foundation of our society. Just a few short years ago, the single most important element of our society was the family. The reduced importance of the family seems so gradual that as it slips away, we may never miss it until it is gone.

The great Roman Empire, the greatest political and economic power the world had ever witnessed until its day, collapsed due to weakness from inside the empire itself. The moral fiber of the empire began to decay, and their impact on the world began to wain. Over a thousand years the Roman Empire gradually disintegrated.

Let's not allow this to happen in America. For this country to continue to prosper and remain a viable power in the world over the years to come, we must keep the American family strong. In every legislative piece that I consider, I will evaluate the impact it will have on the family and the family values we hold so dear.

Economic Development and Taxation

Economic development and taxation are subjects that should be discussed simultaneously. Positive economic development will increase tax revenue. Over taxation will stifle economic development. What is the balance, and how do we reach that balance?

Our district is one of the fastest growing districts in Georgia. We will continue to grow quickly over the next ten years. As our area grows, we will need a sound infrastructure to meet the demands of the future. New roads, greater water supplies, and efficient waste facilities are just a few concerns we must address. We will need dollars for these projects. Policies for pro-growth will produce those dollars that we will need to build for tomorrow.

There are several ways to raise funds to improve our infrastructure and ensure we are prepared for the massive growth that is coming our way over the next ten years. First, we can send our tax dollars to Atlanta and hope that we get some back. Secondly, we can create tax incentives for our taxpayers, local businesses and local governments so they can generate the required capital. Thirdly, we can reduce taxes, keep your dollars in our district and improve our infrastructure through local programs.

Number one is a poor solution. Why should we send our tax dollars to Atlanta and allow them to choose if they should return our dollars back to us? But, no matter what we do, Atlanta is going to take some of our dollars. My commitment to you is this. For your dollars that Atlanta takes, I will work hard to ensure that our district receives our fair share of dollars back into the district. Preventing the Atlanta bureaucrats from squandering your tax dollars will be a top priority.

The second method of raising funds is acceptable but not preferred. Tax incentives effectively offered to tax payers, small and family business, and large businesses will produce the revenue that we need to improve our infrastructure.

The third and best way to build our infrastructure is to keep our dollars right here in our district. As a major priority, I will work hard to reduce your taxes and keep your dollars right here at home. We, the workers and the small and family business owners, know best how to invest our dollars in our community.

Both here and in Atlanta, I will strive to do what is right to improve economic development. I want our children to be able to find jobs when they graduate from high school or when they return home from college. I want our children to start talking about staying in southwest Georgia. That will start when we create jobs for their future.

Security

In these difficult times, our state government must work with the federal government to stop the spread of terrorism across our borders. A joint effort between the local, state, and federal governments is required to ensure the safety of all Americans. We must coordinate with the federal government to ensure the safety of our district.

With the Marine Base in the heart of our House District 137, we have a special security concern. As a prior Marine Officer, my military experience and knowledge will be valuable in understanding and coordinating our local efforts with the Marine Base to address the issues of terrorism in our area and throughout Georgia.