Sheriff Graham Atkinson and Eddie Harris, who is seeking a seat on the Surry County Board of Commissioners, kicked off one of four political forums sponsored by the Surry Tea Party Patriots Monday night.

The format for the event reflected a conscious attempt to avoid candidates for the same office meeting head to head, according to Paula Stanley of Pilot Mountain, a Surry Tea Party Patriots member involved in organizing them.

Each candidate had a maximum of 30 minutes to respond to prepared questions along with ones suggested by audience members. The moderator for the event was Scott Cumbie, who previously ran for the 12th District of Congress.

The four-part forum series was planned in order to help voters make informed choices in the November election, which will highlight races for sheriff and three seats on the Surry County Board of Commissioners.

Atkinson is a Democrat seeking his second four-year term as sheriff. His opponent, Dan Kiger is scheduled to appear at the Sept. 13 gathering.

Atkinson started off the forum by saying that he has worked in the sheriff’s office for the past 25 years. He was elected as sheriff in 2006.

“My life in law enforcement has been spent on drug enforcement and that is what I think is the most important thing that we do at the sheriff’s office. We have been successful with that over the last four years,” said Atkinson.

Atkinson was asked, first, to state his two main goals for the sheriff’s office in the next four years. He responded that he only has one main goal.

“It’s the same goal we started with in 2006 and that is to start every single day trying to make the Surry County Sheriff’s Office the best sheriff’s office that it can be. No matter how well we do or no matter how proud we are since 2006, we can always improve. We start every day with that goal in mind.”

To a question posed by an audience member through the moderator, about whether or not Atkinson would mirror Sen. Don East’s proposal Arizona’s law. Atkinson said, “I love it.” The answer drew a round of applause from the crowd.

Arizona’s law orders immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there’s reason to suspect they’re in the United States illegally. It also targets those who hire illegal immigrant laborers or knowingly transport them.

To a question concerning what the sheriff’s office is doing about illegals in the county, Atkinson said there is a lot of red tape standing in his way.

“There are several things that are going to have to happen to really get serious about immigration and until that happens federally, we are not going to be able to get a lot done locally,” said Atkinson.

In closing, Atkinson asked the crowd to look at each candidate’s history before voting.

“Look at the person, look at their history, look at their career, look at what kind of job you think they can do and vote that way — if you do that, I’m satisfied.”

Harris is a Republican challenging South District Commissioner Jim Harrell. Harris is the chairman of the Soil and Water District in Surry County. He has been on that board for 12 years.

When asked what his two primary goals are for the county during the next four years, Harris said job creation and better managing of the county’s budget.

“I think the best thing I can do for this county right out of the gate is try to facilitate bringing more industry into this area. I’m talking about industries that will be a good part of Surry County and not just come and fly by night and leave,” said Harris. “I’ve talked to people all over this county. The thing that I hear is from people who are unemployed and how they need jobs. It is chronic, and it is grievous. It just wrecks my heart to go out in the county and see what we have. That has to be priority number one in this county.”

His second priority if elected is to give the citizens of Surry County the best government for the least amount of money.

“I realize that I am a guardian of the taxpayer’s money,” Harris said.

Harris stated firmly that he is 100 percent against giving companies incentives to move to Surry County.

“I never have liked incentives. I wish the federal government would outlaw them,” said Harris, which garnered a round of applause from those in attendance.

To a question about the county’s budget, Harris said he is an outsider, and while he has been studying the budget every night, he is still not as familiar with it as he would like.

“I must confess, as a commissioner, I’m not as familiar with the budgets and that sort of thing. I will say that as a small businessman and as someone who tries to pay his bills as he goes and manage his employees, I can do that,” said Harris.

On a question concerning Fibrowatt’s failed attempt to move to Surry County, Harris said while he could not answer for the commissioners who were in office at that time, he was opposed to the company’s moving to the county.

Harris was asked if he thinks Surry County property taxes are fair. To that he stated that he would prefer to raise sales tax first. He said raising property tax would only be a last resort.

The local Tea Party is an offshoot of the national grassroots movement that sprang from concerns about governmental spending and other issues.

Later forums, also to be held on Monday nights, are set for Sept. 13 and 27 and Oct. 11.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.