The District 4 race for Alabama House of Representatives pits Democratic challenger Sue Mitchell, 58, of Limestone County against one-term Republican incumbent Rep. Micky Hammon, 49, of Decatur.

Mitchell, a Calhoun Community College teacher who lives at Paradise Shores, is a newcomer to politics as well as to the Democrat ballot. Limestone County Democrat Executive Committee Chairperson Pam Wallace nominated Mitchell to replace former District 4 candidate Steve White, a nomination that was seconded by Democrat Morgan County License Commissioner Sue Baker Roan.

White withdrew his name from the ballot in August.

This is a series of questions on some of the issues to which Mitchell and Hammon responded. Because of space limitations some of these answers have been shortened or condensed, but The News Courier has tried to retain the candidates’ essential meaning.

Q. Do you believe eminent domain is fair to property owners?

Mitchell: Eminent domain should only be used by government when property is needed to serve the needs of all of the community. When eminent domain is used by local and state government in the appropriate way, and the property owners are offered a fair price, then I believe that it is fair to property owners.

Hammon: Eminent domain should never be used for private business or private individuals or to create more tax revenue. I co-sponsored the new eminent domain law that strengthens the rights of property owners. It should be fine-tuned and put in the form of a constitutional amendment so the people can approve it and place it into the state constitution. We must make sure that the highest value appraisal is used to compensate the landowner.

Q. Do you think Limestone County Superintendent of Education should be an elected position?

Mitchell: I believe that the people of Limestone County are very capable of choosing their Superintendent of Education through the elective process. I am in favor of electing the Limestone County Superintendent of Education.

Hammon: I think it is important to allow the people to vote in a referendum and decide if they want an elected or appointed superintendent.

Q. Alabama Department of Transportation says it will be 2012 before work is completed on widening of U.S. 72 West. Would you work to try to move that date up?

Mitchell: Absolutely. This is one of my top priorities. Not only the widening of U.S. 72 West, but also the other Limestone County corridor of U.S. 20/Alternate 72. Both of the highways are dangerous and need immediate attention.

Hammon: Sen. Tom Butler and I have worked together diligently on this project. We have been successful in making this a priority for the Department of Transportation and Gov. Bob Riley. I believe if we continue to work as we have been and make sure progress is being made on a monthly basis, that we can exceed this deadline and finish the project sooner.

Q. Are you for tougher immigration laws, and if so, how would you change them?

Mitchell: If we are to stem the tide of illegal immigration, then we must give the local police and state highway patrol the tools necessary to help enforce present immigration laws. The required five-week training must be provided to all of our law enforcement officers so that they can recognize and handle these immigration problems. In addition, we must find the money to hire more officers.

Hammon: I introduced a package of bills that would have discouraged illegal aliens from coming to Alabama and those who are already here from putting down roots. These bills would: prevent illegal aliens from receiving public benefits; impound vehicles of those who do not have driver licenses or insurance; empower law enforcement to seize personal property; make it a felony to register to vote or attempt to register to vote. These bills easily passed through committee in the last session of the Legislature, but were denied a chance for a final vote by the leadership.

Q. Are you for a new constitution?

Mitchell: Yes, I support our Lt. Gov. in calling for a Constitutional Convention to create a new state constitution.

Hammon: I do think we need a new constitution. However, it must be written article-by-article and then voted on by the people one article at a time. I am against a Constitutional Convention because it could very easily be controlled by the liberal special interest groups. There is no existing provision in the constitution that would allow a vote on a new constitution if it is drafted by the constitutional convention method. When it was finished, it would become law.

Q. Are you for term limits for elected officials?

Mitchell: We already have term limits for the Governor’s office and for the President’s office. The voters determine the term limits for the remaining offices. Our senators and representatives use their years of experience to develop good bills for the benefit of our citizens. Let the voters decide when an elected official needs to step down.

Hammon: Yes.

Q. Do you think legislators should be able to distribute “pork?”

Mitchell: If the discretionary funds are equally distributed among our elected officials, and each elected official chooses where these funds go in a fair and unbiased manner, then I support the fair distribution of these discretionary funds. I would support legislation that limits the amount of discretionary funding and provides for accountability for how these funds are distributed.

Hammon: Pass-through pork must be stopped. The old system of placing money in an agency and later dictating where it is to be spent is wrong. Discretionary grant money is used for political purposes by many legislators. I have given all my grant money back to K-12 schools for the Reading Initiative Program and other special needs.