Who Will Represent District 53 In The Georgia State Senate?

By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor

Three candidates are running for the Georgia State Senate District 53 seat: Colton Moore (R – Incumbent), Angela Pence (R), and Bart Alexander Bryant (D). The Sentinel sent a list of questions to all three but did not receive responses.

The Sentinel has not had any contact with Bryant despite several attempts and could not find a website or any significant information about him online. In a May 6th article, the Walker County Messenger/Catoosa County News also noted that Bryant could not be reached.

On the other hand, more information about Pence and Moore can be found at www.angelapence.com and www.coltonmoore.com, respectively.

Both Pence and Moore spoke at the Dade County Primary Debate in April. In addition to the questions covered in the May 1st issue of the Sentinel, here are the other questions the pair addressed. While questions for the local positions were submitted by citizens, there were no submissions for the senate candidates, so these were prepared by the Dade County Republican Party.

First, Moore and Pence introduced themselves. Moore said he is a lifelong resident of Dade County and we are living in turbulent times. He highlighted illegal immigration, the fentanyl crisis, inflation, and Fani Willis’ prosecution of 19 people. He said, “It would be my great honor if you would send me back into that fight.”

Pence, a native of Chickamauga, said her husband is in the National Guard, she has nine children, and she owns a small business. She agreed with Moore that we are in turbulent times. “It is absolutely necessary to have somebody that can go to the capitol to represent you.” She wants to be this representative.

When asked, “What role do you think the majority caucus should play in a senator’s decision making process?” Pence explained that the caucus plays a large role but individual senators must still be able to make decisions on their own.

Moore said, “The importance is not there in this time as I’ve certainly been ousted from the majority caucus.”

When asked, “How would you, if elected or reelected, legislate to strengthen GA’s law enforcement response to the current wave of illegal immigration?” Moore said he believes the attorney general must tell the federal government to enforce the law and that the state of Georgia should sue the federal government for the expenses caused by illegal immigration.

He continued, “When it comes to public safety, we are far behind in this state.” He said Georgia state trooper salaries start at $60,000, while Tennessee’s start at $90,000. “Meanwhile, we can spend a billion dollars on the film industry and corporate subsidies like the $150 million spent with Rivian this past year. Corporate subsidies do not promote the proper role of government which is public safety.”

Pence believes funding sheriff’s departments is important. She noted that House Bill 1105 would have established penalties for sheriff’s who refuse to follow federal immigration orders but, “We cannot do that. As you see the tides turning with our federal government especially, we can’t rely on them to know exactly what we need here.”

When asked how representatives can help local farmers, Pence excitedly encouraged citizens to go to their local farmers and markets. “Support them because they are fighting for their life, quite literally…You’re getting better quality food, because let’s face it, our government sucks when it comes to our food industry.” She wants to work to remove the red tape that poses difficulties for farmers.

In a similar vein, Moore said, “Think about Tennessee, they’re a lot freer than we are. You can buy raw milk; you can’t do that here in Georgia. So, if we’re going to help our local farmers, we’re going to have to get out of the way.” He believes the PRIME Act which has passed in Wyoming is a solution.

When asked what the state should do with the growing budget surplus, Pence said she and Moore agree on the need for a balanced budget. She thinks there are places in north Georgia that could benefit from the surplus.

Moore said, “We have completely blown our surplus for the last couple of years.” He is upset that the state is giving money to corporate subsidies instead of firefighters and law enforcement.

When asked, “How do you plan to involve residents in the decision making process in Dade County?” Moore said that when shopping in Dade County, he speaks with citizens, and during the last campaign, he knocked on many doors and asked what residents needed.

Pence said she wants to know everything she can about communities and said she is very accessible. “I love talking with people, meeting with people, collaborating with people…My job is to represent you, it’s not just to represent me.”

Both listed their top three priorities, if elected. Pence listed: Bringing representation back to District 53; making sure tax money is coming back to the district; working with the education system.

Moore listed: Addressing illegal immigration; exposing corporate subsidies by requiring these items to be highlighted in the budget; continuing to “represent you and freedom.”

When asked, “How are you willing to be accountable to the people you serve?” Moore said he has had the same phone number since 2006 and anyone is welcome to call him.

Pence said, “Hold me accountable. Do it on social media, do it on the news, do it wherever you have to…If I’ve gone rogue and decided to legislate just on what Angela believes, go and blast me on it.”

When asked what constituents’ most pressing concerns are, Pence said everyone’s feeling the effects of the economy, and that’s what constituents are concerned about.

Moore said that during the last debate, he would have listed election integrity, but he believes that helpful steps have been made in that regard. Now, he said the economy, fentanyl, and illegal immigration are constituents’ biggest concerns.

When asked, “What do you plan to do towards making the lives of the people you serve better for all of them?” Moore said he plans to protect freedom. “What good is grant money to this library if you can’t speak freely inside of it?”

Pence agreed that freedom is important, but she added, “I would be one of many to help our government work…I have to be able to work with everyone else so that I can, in fact, fight for that freedom effectively.”