WEST COBB - In perhaps the closest race in the Cobb Republican Primary, small-business owner Lindsey Tippins faces incumbent John Wiles for the west Cobb, District 37 state Senate seat.

With no Democratic challengers, the race will likely be decided this month.

Politicos see Tippins, a well-known, three-time Cobb school board chairman and savvy businessman, as a serious threat to Wiles.

Tippins has the support of such heavyweights as former Cobb Sheriff Bill Hutson, who may still have the strongest political machine in the county with the annual, nonpartisan Cobb Sheriff's Corn Boilin' he started in 1989.

Sheriff Neil Warren also endorsed Tippins on Thursday.

"As a member of the Cobb County school board for 12 years, Lindsey was concerned with providing our children a safe and secure learning environment, and it was his vision and foresight that led to the implementation of the School Resource Officer Program."

But Wiles, of Kennesaw, also has a fan base. Wiles is endorsed by Georgia Right to Life and the National Rifle Association, as well as U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Moultrie).

"I am backing John not just because he is a leader for conservatives at the state Capitol, but because he is my friend," Chambliss said. "John has led the fight to keep state spending under control and to balance the budget in these tough economic times without resorting to massive tax increases."

Not all of Wiles' publicity has been flattering, though. Robert D. Ingram, former president of the State Bar, recently wrote to members of the bar's Board of Governors, asking them to help defeat Wiles. Ingram wrote that Wiles "has made the State Bar of Georgia and the judiciary his No. 1 enemy," in part by pushing legislation that would make membership voluntary for lawyers, according to the Fulton Daily Report. Wiles disputed the allegations.

He also drew criticism for comments reportedly made when police were citing teens for drinking alcohol at a Christmas party at a Marietta Country Club home. He is quoted in the police report as asking an officer not to give one of the teens a citation because it could jeopardize his baseball scholarship. Wiles was called to the scene of the December party to pick up his son and has said the police report is incorrect.

Wiles said voters should return him to office because he is "a consistent conservative with a proven record of reducing spending, reducing taxes and attacking the tough issues such as immigration and tort reform. My experience and leadership position as the Republican Whip of the Senate means that I can get done what I promise to do for the constituents of the district."

Tippins is running on his record of service on the Cobb school board and as a "bona fide businessman."

"I understand economic responsibility, and I understand economic accountability," Tippins said.

While both Tippins and Wiles are fiscal and social conservatives, Tippins said there's a great deal of difference between running a small business and practicing law.

"The incumbent is bragging that he cut $4 billion out of the state budget in the past two years. What he's not telling you is he was there when it was added three years prior to that. You always have to watch expenditures and continuation costs in business," Tippins said.

Both Wiles and Tippins oppose extending MARTA rail lines into Cobb.

Tippins sees no problem with banning all lobbyist gifts and has pledged to donate his Senate salary to scholarships for children, as he did while serving on the school board.

Wiles spoke of the big step the Legislature took this session on ethics reform.

"We passed an omnibus ethics reform legislation that establishes the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission and provides for more stringent reporting requirements on all officials and lobbyists, in addition to new provisions that limit the abuse of official power, conflicts of interest, improper conduct and sexual harassment," he said.