CHATSWORTH — Republican hopefuls vying in the July 15 primary made promises and stumped for votes Monday night around the themes of immigration reform, taxes and technology.

Nine candidates appeared at the Murray County Senior Center in a forum sponsored by the local party and moderated by Kevin Harris, chairman of the Ninth District Republican Party.

Sole commissioner candidates David Ridley and Ricky Leon Pritchett were first up, with Pritchett saying infrastructure is a key element for the county’s future, as well as “alleviating the tax burden on homeowners.”

“We need leadership to build infrastructure, for ourselves and to attract tourists,” he said. “Tourism will do much for our area and our people, and bring in needed funds while keeping taxes low.”

Ridley called for retail development in Murray.

“I’m sick of seeing our people going to Gordon County, Dalton, Cleveland (Tenn.) and Ellijay,” he said. “We’re losing thousands and thousands of tax dollars.”

He also called for “cost-efficient government,” not raising property taxes.

Asked about changes needed in the clerk of Superior Court office, Rita Winkler Hawkins mentioned putting historical and other data on a Web site.

“Most working people don’t have time to come down to the courthouse and search records,” she said. “We need to put certain records online and also stagger working hours to make the courthouse more accessible.”

Her opponent, Nancy Young, did not appear due to illness.

Sheriff’s office candidates Benny Davenport and Ken Smith agreed for the most part on drug enforcement, but sparred on how to handle illegal aliens.

“Any at all is too much,” Smith said of drugs. “Law enforcement doesn’t know where the drugs are — we have to depend on citizens and informants to find them. There are things in this county that need their heads knocked off, and I’m just the man to do it. We need a drug task force, and we need to kick down some doors.”

Davenport agreed there needs to be a unit to work with other agencies. “We need to go after those who make drugs and those who distribute drugs,” he said. “I would ensure there are deputies trained in the latest interdiction programs.”

Smith advocated letting ICE (the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement) know of the arrests of any possible illegal aliens. While waiting for ICE to come get them, he said, the county jail would be paid $109 a day by the state to house them.

“We may have to wait forever for the state to pay us,” countered Davenport, “and then we’d be feeding them out of the taxpayers’ pockets. Everyone is still protected by the Constitution, and I mean everyone. We could be sued in federal court (for a wrongful arrest), and that could be very costly.”