Candidate Q&A: Geraldine Wade

Dr. Geraldine Wade, who has practiced medicine in Cobb County for more than 20 years, is no fan of President Obama’s health care reform. “It is totally unaffordable,” she says, “and has been rejected by the majority of Americans.”

Wade, 57, is one of five candidates running in a special election for the District 43 seat held for 15 years by Rep. Bobby Franklin, who died in July.

The election for the northeast Cobb County seat is Tuesday, Sept. 20. If a runoff is needed it will be help on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The winner will represent northeast Cobb in the 2012 legislative session.

If newly drawn legislative maps 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.

Early voting continues through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at two locations: the East Cobb Government Service Center, 4400 Lower Roswell Road; and the Cobb Elections Main Office, 736 Whitlock Avenue.

On her website, Wade’s main headline under her priority issues is “Defund, Repeal and Replace Obamacare.”

She also says she would like to “stop the class warfare,” adding that “the ‘rich’ are productive American citizens and businesses. We are the taxpaying, working class, backbone of this country and are fed up with ‘spreading the wealth around.’ ”

Wade, in her first race for public office, graduated from Emory University School of Medicine. She has practiced internal medicine and pediatrics and has served as medical director for WellStar Family and Urgent Care in Marietta. She is currently specializing in health care information technology.

Wade answered questions about her campaign for Patch:

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: The economy and jobs; we must create incentives for businesses to invest in Georgia, such as eliminating corporate taxes and excessive regulations that constrain growth; our businesses must be competitive with those in other states; we should utilize all of the intellectual capital within our pool of universities and partner with industry for new development.

Q: If elected, you would be one of the few medical doctors in the House and Senate. Where do you see Georgia heading in regards to health care reform? What do you think is needed?

A: We must direct our efforts to constrain the implementation of ObamaCare (aka “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”) in Georgia. It is totally unaffordable and has been rejected by the majority of Americans. Legal challenges are underway. Health care decision-making should be made by patients with their doctors. Yes, reform is needed for sure, but not prohibitive regulations and penalties that will adversely affect patient care. We must have targeted solutions based on specific populations of the uninsured (i.e. illegal aliens, high-risk pool, and the young, predominantly healthy group). Efforts such as tort reform and the purchase of insurance across state lines should be pursued as additional measures.

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

A: I don’t at all. I am my own person. I am an independent thinker with a conservative core.

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

A: My thoughts are that Representative Franklin likely considered the views of his constituents along with his personal convictions.

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

 A: No, not in its current form. People throughout the district are concerned that there was very little input from the community and that a non-elected board has been making the recommendations. Another tax increase is a big negative at this time. More study and input from the local community is needed.

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: Legal challenges are ongoing. The state should enforce all components currently in place including eVerify, use of 287g, etc. Our top leadership should assert that illegal immigration is a crime and send a clear message that illegal persons are not welcome in our state.

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: I will need to study this further to assess the impact.

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

A: We need more debates and more people may enter the race. We need someone who is not only conservative but who is the most electable.

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

A: Jeff Sessions, the senator from Alabama. He is a dedicated statesman and does not waiver from his convictions.