With early voting already under way, and barely a month before the general primaries are conducted, local voters will have their first opportunity to hear from candidates for Georgia’s U.S House 12th District seat Friday night.

The Effingham TEA Party is holding a forum that evening beginning at 7 p.m. at the Effingham County Board of Education auditorium in Springfield.

“There is no other debate I have found of 12th District candidates before the primary, and this district runs from Augusta to Savannah,” said forum organizer Ken Baxley. “I think it’s important, and I hope it will be well-attended. It’s not a TEA Party thing, it’s a 12th District event.”

So far, all four Republican candidates — Mike Horner, Ray McKinney, Jeanne Seaver and Carl Smith — have agreed to take part in the forum. Baxley said Democratic candidate Regina Thomas is reviewing her calendar for her availability but he has not heard from U.S. Rep. John Barrow’s campaign if the current 12th District Congressman will be on hand.

Baxley’s goal is to have a pool of questions, about nine or 10, and pull them out of jar before asking them to the candidates.

“So we won’t know what questions will be asked,” he said.

The candidates will get a few minutes to respond, and Baxley said he will allow for rebuttal time. Each candidate will get a set number of rebuttals to use, probably about five, to use when they choose.

“I hope it will be a little more spirited since we will have rebuttals,” he said.

Baxley has relied on social media to help compose the questions, using Facebook to connect with other TEA Party members about potential questions. He’s also e-mailed several others to discuss questions.

He wants the questions to be on the issues themselves and not delve into the personalities.

“All of the questions will be aimed at fiscal responsibility and the roles of government,” he said. “I want them aimed at an issue and not at any one particular candidate.

“This is strictly 12th District, so hopefully all their responses will be relevant to the 12th District,” Baxley added.

The Effingham TEA Party is not an official organization with dues or fees, and it also had to secure the use of the auditorium with a $1 million liability policy. Baxley is seeking help from individuals to defray the costs.

He’s also on the search for a moderator.

“That is my challenge right now,” he said.

For more information:
E-mail kenbaxley@yahoo.com
Or find the Effingham TEA Party on Facebook