— With the days between now and the Nov. 2 General Election running short, both local and state candidates used Tuesday night’s chamber-sponsored political forum to drive home what they can do for the electorate in relation to jobs, education and school safety.

Former Limestone County Commission chairman Stanley Menefee, a Republican vying to regain his old job, led out the forum at Athens State University’s McCandless Hall in his bid to unseat two-term chairman David Seibert and regain his old job.

“There’s a lot of talk about 1,900 jobs being gained since 2002, but there have been 3,000 lost,” said Menefee.

He touted his experience in economic development circles in being able to recruit new jobs to the area and he came down on the present commission’s use of inmate labor on county construction jobs at the cost of hiring local workers. “It’s killing the private sector,” he said.

He also vowed to “eliminate wasteful spending” through “simple policies to save thousands.”

Seibert stressed the county’s financial stability, with being fifth in growth in the state and having maintained a AA financial rating.

“In 2002, we had tax revenue of $5.7 million and now it is $10.6 million,” said Seibert. “We’ve established a Revenue Enhancement office, an IT department and video arraignments,” he said.

In the District Attorney’s race, Republican challenger Brian Jones, an 18-year local attorney, said along with predicted record growth will come increases in crime and he called for tougher penalties and more jail time to combat crime.

“I don’t like what I see going on around me,” said Jones.

He spoke of his concern for a 12-year-old daughter growing up where there isn’t community involvement. He touted his work with several community groups.

“We can stop crime in the high chair and not in the electric chair,” he said. “I want to stop the cycle of crime, because if we don’t we will pay for it the rest of our lives.”

Democratic incumbent Kristi Valls cited her 20 years of experience in the District Attorney’s office with nine of those years being served as an assistant D.A. and the remainder as D.A.

“I have devoted my entire career to the District Attorney’s office,” said Valls.

She said it isn’t just a “9-to-5 job” and she said she works many nights and weekends prosecuting cases.

“I think my record attests to my dedication to justice with a 99-percent jury trial conviction rate,” she said.

She said 85 percent of her caseload is drug related and she said she was instrumental in bringing the 0-Meth Program to the county and establishing a Worthless Check Unit, which has recovered $4.7 million in fines and restitutions for local businesses.

In the District 2 Limestone County Board of Education race, Jason Dugger said the safety of students would be paramount if elected to the board. He said he would also stress technological education to prepare students both for college and the job market.

“I will work to secure money to enhance our children’s education,” he said. “I will be accessible to parents. All cost-saving measures should be exhausted before we cut services to our children and schools.”

District 2 BOE candidate Bret McGill said he would focus on curriculum, especially dual education programs that would allow high school seniors to earn college credits.

“A board member just doesn’t serve District 2 but all the children in the system,” said McGill.

He said with the potential new federal stimulus money he would like to see more of it going into teachers’ hands to make a difference in education.

District 3 BOE candidate Chris Looney said school safety tops his priorities and he would appoint an advisory committee to meet with principals, counselors and school resource officers to identify needs and what can be done to fund them.

“The schools should have $8.3 million left in reserves when they are only required to have $6 million,” said Looney. “With 3-to-5-percent proration predicted for 2012, we must keep finances in check while advancing the school system.”

Looney’s opponent Marty Adams was not present for the forum.

On the state level, District 8 State Board of Education candidate Mary Scott Hunter cited her experience as a 10-year member of the Air Force and as a practicing attorney. She said she is concerned with four areas: Safety. “Teachers shouldn’t have to be truant officers,” she said.

Secondly, teacher quality. “Teachers need the training to do the job,” she said.

Third, she stressed a “challenging, relevant curriculum,” and fourth, “great leadership.”

Dr. Mary Ruth Yates, who is seeking the District 8 State BOE job on the Democratic ticket, cited her experience as a retired 40-year educator and two-time interim superintendent for Huntsville City Schools. She said when policies and procedures are discussed on the board, she could make “relevant contributions.”

Alabama House District 5 independent candidate Jerry Hill said the most important thing is to “grow the economy and get people back to work,” but partisan politics are “crippling the Legislature year after year.” He said he has not taken contributions so he will not owe special favors when he gets to Capitol Hill.

Athens Mayor Dan Williams, who is running on the Republican ticket, said he does not support the Washington agenda of “Obama Care.” He said the Ethics Commission should have subpoena powers to clean up corruption and that he favors a similar illegal immigration legislation to that proposed in Arizona.

District 5 Democratic incumbent Henry White said jobs are the top priority, and although Limestone County with 8.5-percent unemployment is better than counties in the southern part of the state, “it could be better.”

He said the enacted BRAC Bill and Highway Bill should ensure better schools and roads for his district. He said he would place special emphasis on widening U.S. 72 West and placing a traffic signal at the new Blue Springs Elementary. He said his experience in the Legislature would benefit the county more than a “freshman” legislator.

District 4 State House candidate Vaughn Goodwin, who has served as Trinity mayor for 10 years, said he supports tax breaks for small businesses that increase hiring and that he would work with economic development to retain and recruit business.

Goodwin said he would work to change the formula of education funding that depends on sales tax projections.

District 4 Republican incumbent Micky Hammon was not present.

District 2 House Senate Republican challenger Bill Holtzclaw said “career politicians are at the root of a lot of problems. The system is designed for the people to lead the people.”

He called on a “caucus of Republicans” to break up the Democratic power in Washington because he said there is a “straight line” from Washington to Montgomery.

District 2 Democratic incumbent Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, spoke of the economic opportunities available in the “Golden Triangle” formed by the boundaries of Decatur, Huntsville and Athens. He told the audience to look for a “dynamic and earth-changing announcement” soon to come for our region.

He said $175 million for new schools and a $1 billion for roads can be matched with federal dollars to the benefit of the area.