Low Attendance for League of Women Voters Candidates Forum in Walhalla

Only a few of the 800 or so seats in the spacious Walhalla High auditorium were occupied during the League of Women Voters’ forum last night for the two men bidding for the Republican nomination for Seat #1, State House of Representatives from Oconee.

Gun restrictions was an early question posed to Bill Whitmire, the incumbent, and Wally Sparks, the challenger. Each candidate spoke for nearly four minutes about the problem of mass shootings and what can be done to stop irresponsible individuals from accessing military-style weaponry.

Another topic the candidates addressed was what actions can be taken to have a positive impact on climate change. Whitmire has heard an earful from investors near the shore who are concerned about erosion, and the long-time state representative promised the audience at last night’s forum that he and the rest of the legislature will address the issue when they return to session.

But his opponent, Sparks, questioned whether or not climate change is simply a cyclical change in weather patterns, and called climate change being “more political than really caring about the environment.”