Candidates for House Race 145 answer the questions on voters' minds based on Listening Lab Results

What would you say about the road conditions in the district?

Harbuck: "There are some bad roads. I don't believe it's particularly a state issue, it's mostly county and city governments that maintain a majority of the roads here in Middle Georgia. Of course, the state takes care of the highways. They try to take care of the interstate and I know they got a bunch of construction going on downtown. Once that's done, I believe it's going to look really nice. But I believe the state should do anything they can to help the local governments maintain their roads because that's what keeps constituents happy. That's what get you lo local business and trucks want to go up and down the road."

Herring: "I know people have been complaining about potholes for a couple of years now. I've had my share of driving over a pothole and having to have a front wheel alignment. So I do understand that, but I do understand also that our local government is working hard. Our mayor's office and the commissioners are working hard to address the issue. However, it does take time and I know that they have done some research trying to get the right companies to come in and fix our potholes and also looking at which ones need to be fixed first, right? So they are working hard on that. And as a state representative, I will make sure that I work with local government to make sure that I bring resources to help our infrastructure. I think that's important. I know we always look at the negative things but we also have great positives in our infrastructure here. I mean, you look at our flourishing downtown here in Macon and also in Forsyth and we also see how light houses have been torn down. So there are a lot of things that in involve infrastructure. Hopefully we can get those potholes fixed and I just tell people to be patient because it does take time and our local government is doing the best that they can to address the issue."

How do you plan to address the road condition issue?

Harbuck: "Like I said, it's mostly just local and city governments. I believe our highways look good. I believe the roundabouts are making them safer. I believe there's grants that Macon has applied for and they've gotten to improve the roads and anything that we can find for Macon and Monroe County, we'd love to find that for them, find the money for them that the state gives the opportunity to use."

Herring: "As a state representative, it is my job to make sure that I bring those resources back to my community, to District 145 and to Middle Georgia as a whole. So my job is to work with our local government and make sure that I bring resources that will help them achieve what they need to with the infrastructure issues and potholes."

Where do you think the funds to address the issue should come from?

Harbuck: "Mostly your city and county taxes. That's where most of it should come from. Of course, if there's any state highway issues, they should be addressed immediately. You can contact your local GDOT supervisor for that and they get on it pretty fast."

Herring: "I think working together collaboratively with our local government and as a state representative, it is important that we engage with each other, we communicate with each other and that I am there in the Capitol to bring resources here to make sure that we grow and we thrive and we do what's best for our citizens here in Macon-Bibb and also Monroe counties."

How would you propose reducing violent crimes in the district?

Harbuck: "First it starts off with having a DA that wins murder cases. There's a DA in Middle Georgia that has not won some cases and we've got to make sure that they're getting enough evidence to convict these criminals that have gone and killed somebody and to keep them off the streets and not just to let them go. I believe that's the first start for it, but we also have a sheriff's office. I believe they're doing a good job with what they have. We need to help them recruit better. We need to help them train their officers better. Right here in Forsyth, we have our Georgia Public Training Center, which has been a huge asset for Monroe County. We can't go to lunch without having a cop there, so it feels safe here. But at the training center, we just have to make sure our police officers and firemen are the best trained in the country."

Herring: "Violent crime is an issue. But I really think that here in Macon-Bibb, especially our mayor's office, has been working hard to address the issue. Along with Sheriff Davis, we need to make sure that we implement more pay for our officers and also provide them with more technology and all of the resources that they need to be successful and help our citizens stay safe. I think it is our responsibility to make sure that we are engaged with our communities, that our law enforcement officers are engaged with our communities so that they can build trust. But as a person who comes from a family of law enforcement, it is a very difficult job. And so making sure that we do pay them a sufficient amount of money to put their lives on the line to protect citizens every day. But not only that, that we support them in other ways by providing mental health professionals to possibly go out with them on some of these calls, that they have and de escalate situations because a lot of times we see that crime has to do with mental health or substance abuse. So I think that we need to look at that as well and I will make sure that I work hard to bring resources to address mental health and substance abuse issues here in Middle Georgia."

What role does firearms play in your district and what needs to be done to address it?

Harbuck: "I haven't looked at the stats. I've been interested in looking at it. I believe a lot of the murder cases in Macon are not just from registered gun owners, it's going to be guns attained illegally. We just have to make sure we have properly trained officers that can find those guns and get them out of the hands of criminals."

Herring: "We are gun owners, my husband and I. My husband loves to hunt. And so I understand people wanting to have their guns. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have our guns, I'm saying that we should have some safety laws passed. I think everyone can agree we want to make sure that our young people are safe and that our communities are safe. So I'm not saying that we should not have guns. We just have to make sure that we are being safe with our guns."

How would you ensure the measures you propose are implemented effectively?

Harbuck: "Just supervise them. Just make sure it gets done. Don't just listen to the word they give you. Make sure action is taken."

Herring: "I think that has to be a discussion between both the Republicans and the Democrats. We have to sit together and really look at it together with one eye. We're not going to agree on everything, but we all agree that we want our citizens to stay safe and we wanna make sure that our schools are safe and our children are safe. So passing some gun legislation, we have to make sure that those who have guns, like myself and my husband, we're able to have our guns, but also be safe and make sure we pass policies that keep all of us safe."

What do you think is causing inflation in Georgia? And what will you do about it?

Harbuck: "Inflation, most of it, especially groceries and gas going up, is a federal issue and it needs to be taken care of. The last four years haven't been the best for grocery stores and gas stations. But one thing I want to focus on here in Georgia is insurance rates. I'm an insurance agent, so I've seen our rates go up 40% in the last two years. I believe with lawsuit reform, we can lower the rates and I'd love to talk to people up in Atlanta that are smarter than me that understand how the rates work. So we can see what else we can do to lower our insurance rates because that affects everybody. Everybody has to have insurance to get in their car, go to work, go to the grocery store. That's where it starts."

Herring: "Oh, my, inflation is hard for everybody right now. I think when we're looking at inflation, we have to not only address the issue but also talk about solutions. And solutions that I'm looking at right now is making sure that we bring economic development to middle Georgia, Macon-Bibb and Forsyth so that young people can get jobs and be able to sustain a living here in our community and stay. But not only that, I don't know if a lot of people know that our minimum wage in the state of Georgia is $5.15. Yes, we do have the federal minimum wage rate at $7.25. However, we need to raise the minimum wage. Not only that, a lot of people are working jobs, they're working hard, they're working two and three jobs and they're hourly. So we need to make sure that we're bringing industry here where people can get a salary where they have benefits, and that's how we create generational wealth and also allow families to build a legacy for them themselves and for the next generation."

How do you plan to address inflation and its impact on expenses for people in the district?

Harbuck: "Like I said, it starts with insurance rates for me. If we can get your insurance rates back down, that'll help your wallet when you go to the grocery store. Most of that stuff is going to be taken  care of at a federal level I believe. And making sure Georgians, we keep cutting taxes, so Georgians still have more money in their pocket to help them pay for everyday things."

Herring: "We have to make sure that we keep our taxes low. Right here in Macon, our mayor and our commissioners have worked very hard to make sure that we can sustain a life here and be able to thrive here. We can continue to have the old laws which dropped our taxes by 50%. I will work with a Monroe County to if they're open to it to make sure that they do the same. But I think the point is we have to make sure that we're taking care of our middle class. We have so many families who are working hard every single day to take care of their families and we have to make sure that we are not lowering taxes for the rich, but we're taking care of the middle class by not putting tax hikes on them and taxing things from gas and groceries. And I think that's what my opponent -- he is a Trumper, he's a MAGA guy -- and those are some of the policies that he believes in. I really believe in taking care of our families by making sure that taxes are low and making sure that we raise the minimum wage, but also bring opportunities for them to thrive by having jobs come here to Middle Georgia so that they can have salaries and benefits."