douglascountysentinel.com
by Kelly Quimby/Times-Georgian
7 hrs ago

Today marks the conclusion of voting in the Georgia House District 68 run-off election, with the winner to take his seat under the Gold Dome when the 2012 legislative session begins next Monday.

While the county election office expects voter turnout for the run-off between Republican candidates Dustin Hightower and Alan Martinez to be low, all that is required for a win when the polls close this evening is a majority, no matter how slim the margin.

Hightower, a local attorney, has previously touted his extensive family history in the county as proof of his connection to the local community.

“I have family and friends scattered from North Villa Rica to Whitesburg and Fairplay, which allows me to know the concerns of the entire district,” he told Times-Georgian reporter Winston Jones last month. “Furthermore, with my legal background, I have knowledge of how legislation is drafted and a firm understanding of Constitutional and state laws.”

Hightower said as part of his platform, he is in support of zero-based budgeting, second amendment rights, and strict laws against illegal immigration. Specifically, Hightower said he backs the controversial House Bill 87, passed last year, which tightens requirements for local employers and law enforcement agencies in an effort to combat illegal immigration.

Martinez, a local business owner, has cited his personal business and finance experience, along with his own family’s roots and participation in the county to backup his candidacy.

“The core of our message is that we have two Republican candidates,” he said last month. “I have 20 years experience in business and finance, I’m a family man who is raising a family. All my kids go to county schools, and we attend church here. I’m [also] the only candidate who will live in the new district when the new lines go into effect next year.”

Martinez said that his platform consists of changing public education funding to support more equalization grants for the less-than-wealthy school systems, like Carroll County Schools. He added that if elected he plans to support tax reform and more stringent requirements for scrap dealers.

Participating precincts will be open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. They include split precincts Bethany, Bonner, Clem, EMC, Oak Grove and West Carrollton; and Center Point, Fairfield, Hulett, Sandhill, Temple City, Temple County, Villa Rica City, Villa Rica North, Villa Rica South and Whitesburg; along with Fairplay in Douglas County.

The county election office reported last week that when early voting wrapped up on Friday, Dec. 30, less than 1 percent of the more than 31,000 eligible voters had cast ballots.

Today’s run-off election is to fill the seat vacated last October by former Rep. Tim Bearden, who was tapped by Gov. Nathan Deal to serve as director of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, which provides learning to up-and-coming officials in law enforcement, corrections, fire service, communications and 911, coroners, emergency management, rescue and other emergency service personnel.

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