Candidates for House Race 150 answer the questions on voters' minds based on Listening Lab Results
In sit down interviews with each candidate, 13WMAZ asked about issues important to you: Inflation, Taxes and Gun rights.
13WMAZ is bringing the answers to questions you have for candidates for House Race 150 based on our Listening Lab survey.
This election cycle, we're incorporating the results we gathered from the Listening Lab surveys Central Georgians filled out earlier in the year.
In the Macon, Dooly, Peach and parts of Taylor counties, the top 5 issues participants pointed out were: inflation, immigration, taxes, gun rights and housing costs/good paying jobs.
We sat down with the two candidates in the race for House District 150: Democrat Patty Stinson and Republican Cary Moore.
In separate sit down interviews, we discussed the issues you said were most important to you when it comes to the this race: inflation, taxes and gun rights.
Here is what the candidates had to say:
Inflation Listening Lab Issue 1
What role has the state played in inflation and as representative how would you address it?
Moore: I don't feel the state has played as big a role as in inflation as the federal government. I feel like fuel prices drive the cost of almost everything and be energy independent. Once again, I would address that on the state level though. You wanna reduce unnecessary taxes, you wanna reduce unnecessary restrictions on small business then of course, a balanced budget and I would support all those measures.
Stinson: Just doing what I can as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives to support legislation that will help reduce those cost of daycare, childcare and medicine and food and gas (and) just supporting legislation that will reduce the high cost of inflation in the state of Georgia.
Taxes Listening Lab Issue 2
Do you believe there should be a change to the state's current tax rates?
Moore: They've already cut that. I believe that most of that stuff is pretty fair. Maybe cut taxes on manufacturing for a certain period of time in order to draw industry to rural areas. I also believe that international money transfers between individuals should be subject to sales tax.
Stinson: There's always work going on at the General Assembly relating to providing tax relief for all of Georgia. For instance, during the 2021 general assembly session, House Bill 265 was passed and I supported that legislation which includes an increase in the deductibility of medical expenses, charitable contributions and business meals to help with the tax relief for Georgians.
Gun Rights Listening Lab Issue 3
What role do fire arms play in your district and what needs to be done to address it?
Moore: I feel that while protecting the Second Amendment right that people have to self-defense and defense of their families and personal property is protected. I feel strong penalties should be enforced for people that misuse firearms and obtain them illegally. I also believe that there's a need for more mental health resources in the district.
Stinson: For gun rights, I support the second amendment, I want people to be able to bear arms to be able to protect themselves but I want people to have new knowledge about how to safely handle a gun, especially leaving weapons in their vehicles where children and other people can get their hands on them and definitely making sure that weapons stay out of the hands of people that are criminals.
Meet the Candidates Background
Patty Stinson, the House District 150 incumbent, lives in Butler and has held the seat since 2013, even before redistricting when House District 150 was originally House District 130. Prior to serving as representative, she served on the Taylor County Board of Commissioners for eight years. Stinson has five children and eight grandchildren.
Cary Moore lives in Americus; this is his first political campaign. He currently owns a insurance company, specializing in Medicare products. Before that he owned an extermination business and managed a restaurant. He has two step-children.
This election cycle, we're incorporating the results we gathered from the listening lab surveys you filled out earlier in the year and curating a list of questions to ask candidates in Central Georgia.