Hometown Hall

Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute, called BULLI, will sponsor an open-to-the-public political forum Saturday, Sept. 13, featuring Democratic and Republican candidates for U.S. Senate, north Georgia posts in the U.S. House of Representatives, and candidates for the Georgia General Assembly.

Also surrogates for Republican presidential candidate John McCain and Democratic president candidate Barack Obama and candidates for the Georgia Public Service Commission have been invited for the event, which will be held in Thurmond McRae Auditorium adjacent to the Brenau Trustee Library on Academy Street on the Brenau Gainesville campus. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and the forum is expected to run from 9 a.m. until about 1 p.m. depending on the number of candidates who elect to participate.

"This is the first time BULLI has undertaken anything of this magnitude with such a wide range of candidates and surrogates involved," said Kathy Amos, director of the university´s non-credit adult learning program. "So far we have had great response from Democratic candidates, but now that the Republican National Convention is behind us, we are getting interest from the GOP candidates as well."

The program will be moderated by conservative radio talk show host and TV pundit Martha Zoller, who has participated in a number of Brenau programs over the years. BULLI credits Zoller for quickly assembling the program participants. As for format, candidates will split the 30-minute segments allocated to each office, and time permitting, answer questions.

"This is not so much a formal debate as an opportunity for people in this region to meet and get to know candidates that they might not otherwise encounter," said Amos. "It is also a chance for more people in the area to learn more about BULLI and the quality of adult learning programs it has put on for more than 15 years.

BULLI still is accepting new members who can sign up for available classes in its fall term, runs from Sept. 29 through Nov. 14. So far close to 235 students - including about 40 new members who have never participated in BULLI programs - have signed up for fall classes. The political forum, however, is a "bonus" offering, said Amos: you need not be a BULLI member to attend.

Although Amos cautioned that the exact times for presentations are subject to change due to candidate or surrogate availablilty, here is the tentative lineup for the political forum:

The 9 a.m. time slot is reserved for surrogates from the presidential campaigns. At 9:30 a.m., U.S. Senate candidates Jim Martin, a Democrat, and Libertarian Allen Buckley both have confirmed they will attend. Incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss has not indicated whether he will appear.

At 10 a.m. candidates in one of two Georgia PSC races will appear: Republican Doug Everett and Libertarian John Monds. At 10:30 a.m., however, Democratic 6th District Congressional District Candidate Bill Jones may have the field to himself: incumbent Republican Tom Price declined, but still could send a surrogate.

Doug Heckman, the Democratic challenger in the 7th Congressional District, has confirmed his participation during the 11 a.m. slot, but there is no word yet from incumbent Republican John Linder. For the 11:30 slot, reserved for the 9th Congressional District candidates, Democratic candidate Jeff Scott has confirmed; incumbent Republican Nathan Deal has not confirmed.

The noon slot is allocated to 8th Congressional District candidates. Incumbent Republican Paul Broun declined to appear or send a surrogate, but Democratic challenger Bobby Saxon said he will attend.

The program concludes following the 12:30 p.m. presentations by candidates for the Georgia General Assembly District 25 post in the House of Representatives. Both incumbent James Mills, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Chris Strickland confirmed that they will attend.