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Politics & Government

Candidate Q&A: Don Hill

A profile of another candidate running in the Sept. 20 special election for state House District 43.

Former Cobb County Republican Party Chairman Don Hill knows Georgia House District 43 like the back of his hand. He helped draw its boundaries in 1990.

During that redistricting and subsequent court challenges, Hill testified before the U.S. Justice Department, and he has been a guest lecturer on the process for political science classes at the University of Georgia.

Hill, 69, is one of five candidates running in a special election for the District 43 seat held for 15 years by Rep. Bobby Franklin, .

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The election for the Northeast Cobb County seat is Tuesday. If a runoff is needed because no one wins a majority, it will be held Tuesday, Oct. 18. The winner will represent the district in the 2012 legislative session.

If are approved, the district will get a new number, 46, and will stretch into Cherokee County to pick up additional voters. But voters in the current district will go to the polls Sept. 20.

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Early voting continues through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the , 4400 Lower Roswell Rd., and the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration,

Hill is an Army veteran who became a police officer in Delaware. After moving to Cobb County, he started an information technology company.

He worked for 15 years at the Georgia Department of Insurance as chief information officer, assistant commissioner of insurance and deputy industrial loan commissioner.  

Hill is on the Cobb County Library Board of Trustees and served on the Facilities and Technology Committee of the .  

On his website, Hill says unnecessary and burdensome regulations are “strangling the business sector and creating an atmosphere of uncertainty,” and he says he will focus on eliminating such laws.

Hill answered questions about his campaign for Patch.

Q: You've lived in Cobb for more than 30 years and have always been politically active here. Why have you now decided to run for office for the first time?

A: I have been very active in party politics for many years, beginning as a young volunteer for the Eisenhower campaign in 1956. I have worked closely with and supported a good number of our elected officials at the federal, state and local level. I recently retired from the state of Georgia after 15 years of service. As a state employee I was precluded under state law from running or holding elective office.

Q: If elected, you’ll have a short learning curve before the start of the 2012 legislature. What do you think will be the two or three biggest issues facing legislators in January, and how do you think they should be addressed?

A: As always the budget will be a major issue. With very slow to stagnant growth forecasts, a rapid recovery in our economic situation in the near term does not appear likely. Revenues will be scarce, which will require some tough decisions regarding funding priorities. Transportation will be on the agenda. The TSPLOST issue is cause for concern to many Georgians in the metro Atlanta area. Raising taxes in a time of high unemployment, record foreclosures and economic uncertainty is not a wise move. Additionally, the mass transit provisions of light rail and the integration of MARTA into existing county transit systems has raised questions and concerns.

Q: How would you compare yourself, politically, to the late Rep. Bobby Franklin?

A: Bobby Franklin was certainly a dedicated conservative, as am I. Politics is a lot like football. The goal is the touchdown. However, not every play gets you to the goalposts. So the team keeps advancing until the goal is reached. Likewise in politics, a touchdown is not scored on every play. Politically, Franklin Roosevelt perfected the art of “incrementalism.” That is, if you get half a loaf the first time around, then you only had the other half to go after. So each time you get the “ball,” you try to move closer to the goal. I understand the concept of not always trying to swallow the whole apple on the first bite.

Q: Rep. Franklin voted no on most bills that came up in the legislature. Was he representing the views of his Cobb constituents?

A: Bobby was elected and re-elected. He apparently represented the views of a voting majority of his constituents. I understand that had he not tragically passed away, there would have been a primary challenge in the 2012 election. Whether the challenger would have prevailed is a moot point.

Q: If the metro sales tax for transportation projects vote were held today, would you support it?

A: No.

Q: Given a federal judge has ruled parts of the state's new immigration reform law unconstitutional, what should the state’s next move be?

A: There are a couple of possible alternatives. The attorney general should review those aspects of the law ruled unconstitutional and see if it can be amended to conform to federal law and still meet legislative intent. If in his opinion the federal court ruling could be challenged and he feels there is a significant possibility it could be overturned, then he should file an appeal.

Q: How would the proposed reapportionment plan outlined by the Republican leadership of the House and the Senate impact the current House District 43? Do you believe it is a plan that is fair?

A: Under the new district lines, District 43 will become District 46 and will encompass approximately two-thirds of the existing district and one-third will extend up into the southeast corner of Cherokee County. The new ideal population for all state House districts is approximately 53,800. The legislature established certain criteria to be followed in the design of each of the districts. They included equal representation, compactness, contiguity and communities of interest. Georgia is a Sections 2 and 5 state, which requires that any changes with regard to voting and elections must be precleared by either the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals or the Department of Justice. The legislature must meet the requirements of the Voting Rights Act and follow the above established criteria. Fairness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. With every previous redistricting cycle, someone or group felt that the districts were not fair, and court challenges ensued. I suspect this cycle will be no different.

Q: If the Georgia presidential primary were held today, who would you support?

A: I have not yet decided who I am supporting for president.

Q: What current politician nationally or in Georgia do you think you are most like? Why?

A: Georgia has a number of very capable and talented politicians at every level of government. I am a lifelong conservative Republican who believes that while not compromising principles, pragmatism, not radicalism, is a winning combination. Most people are looking for common-sense, not knee-jerk, solutions to the issues important to them. Throughout my 55-year working career in both the private and public sector, I have held responsible management and leadership positions. I believe the experiences, challenges, opportunities and exposure to most aspects of life has prepared me well to represent the people of the district as their representative in the state House.

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