Democratic incumbent Alisha Thomas Morgan has served four terms representing this south Cobb district. Betty A. Gray is a teacher of teachers who previously served 16 years on the Cobb school board. Barring an upset by a last-minute independent candidate, the winner of this primary will win the seat, as there is no Republican candidate.

Q. Do you favor extending MARTA rail lines into Cobb?

Morgan: Yes. Collaboration with metropolitan Atlanta's largest public transit system would provide much need relief to Cobb citizens whose commute to and through the metro area is hindered by traffic congestion and other infrastructure woes. While there is a need to investigate and find solutions to improving transportation overall within our county and the metro region, we know that now more people in Cobb are in need of a reliable transportation system than ever before - I believe that a more robust transit system that features light rail would provide the most immediate benefit for residents of my community and across the county. The benefits of an integrated public transit system are broad, and could potentially provide unparalleled long-term economic, environmental, and quality-of-life benefits for the citizens of Cobb County.

Gray: Not until a total plan is in place.

Q. Are you in favor of light-rail lines for Cobb? If so, where?

Morgan: Yes. I believe that a light rail system would increase access to businesses and other attractions for people across Cobb and throughout the metro Atlanta region, boosting our economy and appeal. While I would leave the designation of such locations for potential light rail lines to our competent county and state departments of transportation, I would love to see a significant portion of these new lines dedicated to serving the businesses, attractions and people of the South Cobb community.

Gray: Yes - consider the northern portion of I-75.

Q. Do you think Cobb's light-rail lines should link up with MARTA trains? Where?

Morgan: Yes. I believe that it would be most beneficial for a light-rail system in Cobb to connect with MARTA. It would increase access to our county to the hundreds of thousands of metro Atlanta citizens who use MARTA, and connect important activity centers of commerce and population throughout the metro region, funneling more economic stimulation to our county.

Gray: Yes, link to downtown area.

Q. Do you favor adding or converting Interstate lanes to toll lanes?

Morgan: I do not. While I understand the purpose of leveraging public-private partnerships to finance immediate transportation needs, I believe the citizens of Cobb County give their fair share through the taxes we pay, and should not be obligated to pay extra to travel our streets and roads.

Gray: No.

Q. Do you support adding reversible lanes to I-75 through Cobb?

Morgan: No. Congestion relief on our major thoroughfares in Cobb, particularly I-75, is certainly a priority for improving the quality of life of our residents and supporting a more solvent environmental sustainability and effective economic flow. There are areas of the metro Atlanta area that employ reversible lanes to great success, but to my knowledge there is no precedent for how this system would work on a Georgia interstate. The safety of our Georgia drivers is the most important imperative, which may be comprised under this scenario - I'm not convinced that they heavy, highspeed traffic of an interstate is amenable to a reversible lane. I understand the purpose behind adding reversible lanes, but I believe that the resources spent to build four-way lanes would be a better, more efficient long-term investment.

Gray: No.

Q. Should reversible lanes be built before or after light rail lines?

Morgan: I believe the most significant use of our state and county resources would be dedicated to the construction of a comprehensive light-rail system that increases mobility for Cobb County citizens and links Cobb County with other activity centers in the metro Atlanta area.

Gray: Light rail is urgent.

Q. Do you plan to vote to approve and fund the Transportation bill in 2012?

Morgan: This past session, the legislature passed a transportation bill that, while not perfect, finally begins to address our county statewide needs in the areas of traffic congestion, infrastructure, and regional cooperation. Currently, I do plan to vote to approve and fund the Transportation Act of 2010, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this legislation in the coming years. I also think it is prudent that we explore additional options to help our state survive in what is literally a transportation crisis, including finding solutions to empower our State Department of Transportation to create more light rail systems throughout our state, and redistributing our statewide fuel tax so that those regions in the most need of transportation development receive the most funds.

Gray: Yes.

Q. Do you favor more restrictions on lobbyist gift to legislators? Exactly what type of gifts and what amounts would you ban?

Morgan: No. While I support efforts to hold our elected officials in the legislature to a more stringent ethical standard, I have utilized donations from lobbyists in the past to fund events and initiatives to benefit my constituency. My youth leadership program, "Saturdays with My State Rep", for instance, just graduated its third class this past spring, and since its inception has been financed with lobbyist support. While I do not condone the personal use of gratuitous financial gifts and favors from lobbyists, I do believe limiting the amount that lobbyists can contribute to an elected official may unintentionally circumvent community projects and initiatives sponsored by elected officials, impeding one's ability to respond to the needs of one's constituency.

Gray: No gifts would be my choice.

Q. Do you favor legislation that would deny admission to state universities to all illegal immigrants, even those who graduated from a Georgia high school?

Morgan: I believe that our educational institutions are tasked with educating those students who take up the charge of scholarly endeavor. Over recent years, our schools have become the administrators of a hodgepodge of additional responsibilities by the mere convenience of their position within our communities. There are agencies and departments in place that handle issues related to immigration status, and I believe that those institutions should continue to do that work. I also believe that, as Americans, we should take a serious look at the history of immigration in our country, and how the promise of liberty and freedom should be made accessible today to those who wish to become legal citizens.

Gray: Illegal must be defined and enforced.

Q. Would you vote for an immigration law similar to the one recently passed in Arizona?

Morgan: No.

Gray: Specific well-crafted laws that can be readily enforced are essential.

Q. Do you favor a state law that would outlaw furlough days for teachers in the future?

Morgan: Georgia's corps of dedicated public school teachers stand everyday on the front lines of our battle for the future of Georgia's children, and should be commended for their commitment. Adequately funding our education system is critical to ensuring that our kids enter the adult world college and career-ready, and our budget should reflect that creed. However, while I do not support the furloughing of any governmental employee, I do recognize in these difficult economic times that municipalities, counties, and our state governments need the flexibility to make these fiscal calculations for situations as they arise. I believe it's premature to codify a long-term "solution" for a short-term problem, and that we should focus our energies instead on how best to support our most constrained systems in their time of financial crisis.

Gray: Yes.

Q. At what point would you consider increasing taxes in Georgia?

Morgan: Our nation's recent financial crisis has brought detrimental effects to Georgia. On the state level, we've tried to buoy a budget shortfall of billions of dollars to continue providing the services that Georgians depend on. However, balancing the state budget on the backs of hard-working citizens is not the answer. I would consider increasing taxes only after we had exhausted every viable option that would increase our state's revenue stream, such as an increase on the excise tax for cigarettes, to fund those services that are necessary to support the livelihoods of all Georgians.

Gray: When local support DEMANDS it.

Q. If Georgians elect a governor from a party that is not your own, do you think you can work constructively with that governor?

Morgan: Yes. As a Democrat, I have served most of my time in the House of Representatives as a member of the minority party. I have passed three bills in a legislature controlled by members of another party, and all three of those bills have been signed by a Governor who is not a member of my party. I have and will continue to work constructively with the chief executive of our state because I believe in working across the aisle and building coalitions around points of agreement to conduct the business and improve the quality of life of Georgians, no matter who is sitting in the Governor's office.

Gray: Yes, collaboration is essential.

Q. What do you think will be the biggest issue facing the General Assembly in 2011?

Morgan: I think that optimizing our shallow state budget to continue meeting the needs of Georgians, and finding solutions to fill the hole left by a persistent drop in state revenue, projected to be even worse next year, will be the paramount objective of next year's legislature.

Gray: EDUCATION.