http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/pol ... 902009.htm










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Posted on Mon, Jun. 26, 2006



Political newcomer faces stiff competition in Collins

By S. Heather Duncan
TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER

James Harris sees himself as David fighting Goliath.

The Gray resident, who works for the Bibb County Sheriff's Office in the jail, has raised no money in the 8th District Republican primary race for U.S. representative.

Mac Collins, the apparent front-runner, has touted his success at raising more money than incumbent Jim Marshall by April.

Collins served 12 years in Congress before losing a Republican primary for U.S. Senate in 2004.

But Harris says his own lack of funds makes him a better candidate: "I'm like everyone else. How can someone that lives up here," he said with one hand above his head, "connect with people that live down here?"

Collins' campaign materials never mention Harris and, during an interview, Collins repeatedly asked to be reminded of Harris' name. His news releases usually focus on Marshall's voting record.

However, Collins said, "Anybody that pays the qualifying fee and gets his name on the ballot is a viable candidate."

Collins emphasized that although his fund raising has been aggressive, many contributions to his campaign are not for the maximum amount.

"I get many checks for $10 or $25," he said. "I love those contributions."

From 1993 to 2005, Collins served as a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, the Intelligence Committee and subcommittees focused on social security and welfare reform.

His news releases continue to refer to him as Congressman Collins, "running for re-election." Collins said he does not think this implies that he is the incumbent.

"Once you're a congressman, you're always a congressman," he said.

The district Collins represented has changed shape and identity since his years in the House. The new 8th Congressional District extends farther north and south and includes Robins Air Force Base and many south Georgia farming counties.

The redrawn district lines also threw Harris into a race against Marshall rather than Lynn Westmoreland, the opponent he expected when he began campaigning last year.

Harris, who ran unsuccessfully for Jones County Commission District 1 and for commission chairman during 2004, has never held public office. When some friends jokingly suggested he run for Congress, he decided to take them up on it.

"I wanted to run for a federal position sometime because that's where all the real money comes from for accomplishing local goals," he said. If elected, Harris said he would quit his job at the Bibb sheriff's department to devote more time to representing the district.

Harris said he has campaigned for candidates on both sides of the political spectrum. "Some people have told me I'm considered a loose cannon and they're not sure where my loyalty lies," he said.

Collins enjoys a close relationship with Georgia's Republican leadership. Gov. Sonny Perdue and U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss have campaigned for him in Perry.

Harris said his three main campaign issues are support for a consumption tax, increased parental involvement in education, and a comprehensive retirement plan in addition to social security.

Harris said he is not sure whether the national consumption tax, charged when goods are purchased, should replace the income tax.

Collins said he would like the House to hold hearings on what type of tax system could best replace the current income tax system.

Harris said he wants all military staffing cuts and military base closures to be suspended while the Iraq war continues, and he wants to see U.S. troops - not just the National Guard - guarding the U.S. border with Mexico to prevent illegal immigration.

Collins favors using the National Guard and supports the House immigration bill.

Unlike the Senate bill, the House version cracks down on illegal immigration without adding benefits for undocumented workers who are already in the United States. But Collins said he does eventually want a work visa program for guest workers.

On energy prices, Harris criticized the federal response allowing gas prices to remain high. Collins said he wants to see oil drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, as well as development of biomass fuels using wood.

Although many of the programs Harris favors would be expensive, he said he has not yet figured out where the funding would come from.

Collins said congressional overspending has led to the current record deficit, but he says the country "grew itself out of the deficit" in 1994, and that is happening again as a result of President Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.

"With the war, we'll probably continue to have some deficits right now," he said.

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JAMES HARRIS
Party: Republican
Residence: Gray
Age: 41
Family: Single
Occupation: Deputy working in corrections for the Bibb County Sheriff's Office
Most important issue in race: The need for federal elected officials to provide more support at the local level, such as funding for public utilities and infrastructure.

MAC COLLINS
Party: Republican
Residence: Jackson
Age: 62
Family: Wife, Julie, and four grown children
Occupation: Retired from the trucking company he founded (still family-owned)
Most important issue in race: 'Representing the people you're serving, and you do exactly in Washington as you tell them you're going to do at home when you're looking them in the eye.'






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