How the questionnaires were scored:
Each answer was awarded a score on a scale of 0 to 2, based on the level of agreement with Grow Green's position on that issue, for a maximum score of 8 points.

Water
Scientific research shows that in order to protect water quality, all streams should be protected by undisturbed buffers of at least 50 feet in width. During the last legislative session, several bills were introduced that would have decreased the width of some stream buffers. Will you support such legislation if it is introduced again? Why or why not?

I do not support legislation to decrease the width of stream buffers. It is important for the protection of water quality to provide for stream buffers and the current law seems to be a fair compromise balancing property rights with the public’s concern for water safety.

I will not support any bill that decreases the width of any stream buffer as currently regulated by law. I was a strong opponent of SB510 which attempted to locate septic tanks within the stream buffers of a drinking water reservoir. I will work to sponsor and support legislation that will strengthen stream buffer regulations to insure protection of water quality in Georgia.

Inverse Condemnation
During the last legislative session, several bills were introduced that would have required local governments to pay landowners if environmental or zoning regulations reduced the potential value of their property. These bills were modeled on Oregon’s Measure 37. Will you support such legislation if it is introduced again? Why or why not?

This is a very complex issue which would require the balancing of land owner’s property rights with the public interest affected by the specific environmental or zoning regulation involved. It would be unlikely that I would support any legislation as comprehensive as Oregon’s Measure 37. I would, however, consider limited legislation to protect land owners from drastic measures which greatly restrict the use of private property. This is something that I would have to review in detail if any such legislation is introduced again.

Energy
Georgia’s heavy dependence on fossil fuel – coal and oil – has implications for our environment, public health, economy, and national security. What, if any, policies would you support to reduce Georgia’s reliance on fossil fuels?

I would support any efforts to encourage the production of bio-diesel fuels from renewable resources. This state is blessed with a strong agriculture industry which produces a variety of potential sources of bio-diesel. We should promote research and development to discover new sources of bio-diesel and new methods of production which are cost-effective. I am particularly intrigued by the potential to convert pine trees and other timber byproducts into bio-diesel.

Transportation
As Athens-Clarke County grapples with its poverty problem, the need for increased public transportation service has become evident. Other states provide much more funding for transit than Georgia does. The Georgia Transit Association has proposed changes to Georgia law that would improve state funding for transit, including a one-quarter-of-one-percent sales tax for metropolitan transit authorities outside of Atlanta; a state transportation infrastructure fee on fuel purchases; and making state funds available for operating expenses for transit systems. Will you support these initiatives? Why or why not?

I am a supporter of public transportation as a means of reducing gridlock on Georgia’s roads, and reducing the volume of pollutants emitted by automobiles. I would support initiatives to provide additional funding sources for mass transit systems outside of Atlanta provided that any such proposed tax increases would be submitted to the voters in a referendum.

I was a co-sponsor, along with Athens Representative Keith Heard, of a bill to create a metropolitan transit authority for areas outside of Atlanta. Though we were successful at getting the GMA and ACCG to support our efforts, the chairman of the sub-committee of the House Ways and Means Committee refused to bring the bill to the sub-committee. I believe I would have much more success in the Senate by building a coalition of Senators representing the major metropolitan cities in Georgia outside of Atlanta, to build support for an authority or another mechanism by which cities can use special sales tax revenue to support transit systems in those cities.

I support the “Brain-Train” project and will work to secure Federal and State funding for this effort.