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Politics & Government

State Rep. Candidates Talk Transportation Tax

Candidates vying to represent Midtown, Virginia-Highland, Morningside, Poncey-Highland and surrounding neighborhoods participated in an open forum Tuesday night about local and state issues.

Candidates vying to represent Midtown, Virginia-Highland, Morningside, Poncey-Highland and surrounding neighborhoods participated in an open forum Tuesday night about local and state issues.

Questions ranged from healthcare reform in Georgia to how both parties can work together in the state legislature, but most of the discussion centered around the proposed transportation referendum up for vote July 31.

"If the TSPLOST does not pass next week, what is your vision of how Atlanta should proceed in improving transportation in the city?," the moderator asked the five candidates: District 57 candidate Rep. Pat Gardner (D), District 57 candidate Rep. Rashad Taylor (D), District 58 candidate Ralph Long (D), District 58 candidate Simone Bell (D) and District 58 candidate Earl Cooper (R).

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Audience members submitted questions before the forum and had the opportunity to ask questions directly to the candidates.

The Democratic candidates are set to face off in the primary election also on the July 31 ballot.

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Watch the video posted above to hear from the candidates.

Check back with Patch throughout the week for more clips from the candidate forum.

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