♪♪ >>> HELLO, I'M PAMELA KIRKLAND, THE HOST OF MORNING EDITION ON GEORGETOWN PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

WELCOME TO THE LOUDERMILK-YOUNG DEBATES.

THIS IS THE SIX AN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATES.

THEY ARE IN ALPHABETIC A ORDER.

LUCY McBATH REPRESENTING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7.

SHE DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATE AND IS REPRESENTED BY AN EMPTY PODIUM.

JERICA RICHARDSON IS A COBB COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT TWO.

WHICH INCLUDED SMYRNA VINING AND EAST COBB AND CUMBERLAND.

AND MANDISHA HOUSE REPRESENTS DISTRICT HOUSE 65 WHICH INCLUDES PART OF DOUG LUS AND COWETA COUNTIES.

JONATHAN O'BRIEN IS WITH WSB RADIO AND DOUG RICHARDS IS A POLITICAL REPORTER FOR 11ALIVE.

FOR COMPLETE RULES ON TODAY'S PROGRAM VISIT THE WEBSITE AT ATLANTA PRESS CLUB.ORG.

>>> TO START THE DEBATE, EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE ASKED ONE CANDIDATE AND THEY HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.

JONATHAN O'BRIEN, YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION TO JERICA RICHARDSON.

>> HI COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

I WANT TO DISCUSS AN ISSUE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE NEWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND RECENTLY ENDED UP ON OUR DOORSTEP AND THAT IS STUDENT PROTESTS OVER THE WAR IN GAZA.

THE HOUSE APPROVED A MILITARY FUNDING PACKAGE FOR ISRAEL AND AMID THE ONGOING WAR THERE.

IF YOU WERE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, WOULD YOU SUPPORT SENDING MORE MILITARY FUNDING AND MONEY TO ISRAEL?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

AND CERTAINLY VERY COMPLEX AND AS FAR AS THE PROTESTS ARE CONCERNED, I DO BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT TO PROTEST AND I THINK THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A REPEAT OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PLAGUED US IN THE '60s AND WE KNOW ABOUT THE UNFORTUNATE ASPECTS OF WHAT CAME FROM THAT AND HOW WE MAKE SURE WE'RE ENGAGING STUDENTS AND INCLUDING THEM IN THE CONVERSATION REGARDING SOME OF THESE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

AS FAR AS THE AID PACKAGES ARE CONCERNED, I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE IN HONORING THE TREATIES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.

THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR FOREIGN POLICY.

HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT I DO KNOW PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS TAKEN THE LIBERTY TO DO, TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE AROUND HOW WE APPROACH HONESTLY OUR DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.

THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IT IS NOT -- WE'RE JUST NOT SEEING THAT REAL PUSH TO MAKE SURE THAT TRUE HUMANITARIAN ASPECTS ARE BEING CONSIDERED.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER.

WE'RE AT TIME.

DOUG RICHARDS, PLEASE ASK A QUESTION TO MANDISHA THOMAS.

>> JONATHAN'S QUESTION IS SO GOOD, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A VARIATION OF THE SAME QUESTION.

U.S. POLICY SINCE THE 90s HAS BEEN FOR A TWO-STATE SOLUTION IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

IS THAT REALISTIC IN THIS DAY AND AGE GIVEN ISRAEL'S OPPOSITION TO IT AND, IF SO, HOW DO YOU FIX THAT OR IMPROVE UPON IT?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

YES, I BELIEVE IN PROTESTS.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

THE LAND OF PROTESTING.

WE DID SO MANY PROTESTS AND I DON'T THINK IT IS OUT OF BOUNDS FOR THIS SOCIAL TIME.

I AM IN FAVOR OF THE FOREIGN AID PACKAGE OF $96 BILLION.

AND PART OF MY LEADERSHIP IS TO ACTUALLY CONTINUE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND HAVING THEM COME IN AND VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THIS ACTUALLY WORKS.

SO I ACTUALLY HELD A TOWN HALL ON THIS FOREIGN AID PACKAGE ON TUESDAY.

TO GET WHAT THE CONCERNS WOULD BE.

AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT WITH YOU.

77-YEAR-OLD DEMOCRAT SAID THAT WE HAD NO CHOICE TO DO THIS.

THAT TRUMP WOULD BE THE FIRST PERSON THAT PUTIN WOULD COME OVER AND TRY TO GET RID OF IF WE DIDN'T PASS THIS UKRAINE PACKAGE.

AND ALSO A 65-YEAR-OLD REPUBLICAN OPPOSED SAYING THAT PEOPLE -- >> THANK YOU, WE'RE AT TIME.

THAT CONCLUDES THE FIRST ROUND.

THE CANDIDATES WILL ASK EACH OTHER A QUESTION.

THE CANDIDATE WILL HAVE A 30 SECOND REBUTTAL.

YOU MAY POSE YOUR QUESTION TO CONGRESSWOMAN McBATH.

MANDISHA, YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO POST THIS QUESTION TO THE HONORABLE LUCY McBATH, IT IS QUITE AWKWARD SPEAKING TO A PODIUM.

AND IN OUR LAST DEBATE, TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS NOT ABLE TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION BECAUSE IT ALSO WAS A BLANK PODIUM.

I LOOKED AT THE MAPS WHEN THEY CAME -- FIRST CAME OUT IN DECEMBER, WHEN THEY WERE FINALIZED.

I MULLED OVER THE MAPS, I ANALYZED THE MAPS, I PRAYED OVER THE MAPS BEFORE I DECIDED TO RUN.

AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW, BECAUSE I HAVE SIX CITIES.

>> THE TIME ON YOUR QUESTION.

DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN?

>> SURE.

BECAUSE SIX OF 16 CITIES THAT ARE IN THIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ARE -- WERE IN MY HOUSE DISTRICT, I HAVE MY PULSE ON THE PEOPLE.

I HAVE WORKED WITH THEM, I KNOW CONCERNS, I KNOW WHAT THIS DISTRICT LOOKS LIKE AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT NOT HAVING THE PULSE OF THE PEOPLE IF YOU'VE JUMPED FROM ONE DISTRICT, NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE, BUT AGAIN HERE IN THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6.

>> OKAY.

DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL TO YOUR QUESTION?

>> AGAIN, IT IS KIND OF HARD SPEAKING TO A PODIUM.

BUT DO YOU FIND THAT YOU DO HAVE VAST KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DISTRICT AND WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT AND WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6, WITH THE SAFE WATER DRINKING ISSUES, WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, WITH THE GLOBAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING ISSUES, WITH THE SQUATTER ISSUES AND THE FRAUDULENT TRANSACTION DEED ISSUES THAT ARE PLAGUING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6.

>> OKAY.

THAT IS TIME.

JERICA, IT IS YOUR TURN TO ASK A QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU.

I TOO WOULD LIKE TO POSE A QUESTION TO THE HONORABLE CONGRESSWOMAN McBATH.

KNOWING THAT WE ARE IN A TIME WHERE CONSTITUENTS ARE TRULY LOOKING FOR THAT DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, AND KNOWING THAT THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT IS VERY NEW FOR THE CONGRESSWOMAN, WHAT VISION ARE YOU LOOKING TO BRING TO THE 6th DISTRICT.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE A 30 SECONDS FOR A REBUTTAL?

>> YES, MA'AM.

HERE IS THE THING.

I HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR THE CONGRESSWOMAN AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT SHE HAS DONE TO SERVE US IN THE HOUSE.

BUT I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS NEW MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT, THE NEWEST ONE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE FOR PEOPLE, TO BE THERE TO LISTEN TO WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE BECAUSE THE COMMUNITIES THAT COMPRISE THIS DISTRICT IS DIVERSE WITH ALL KINDS OF NEEDS.

>> AND THAT IS TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT CONCLUDES OR SECOND ROUND.

NOW BACK TO THE PANEL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATE OF HIS CHOICE UNTIL WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

AS A POINT OF PRIVILEGE, I MAY ALSO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES.

I WILL DETERMINE WHEN A REBUTTAL IS APPROPRIATE.

JONATHAN O'BRIEN, YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION IN THIS ROUND.

>> WELL I'M GOING TO PIGGY BACK OFF OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT BOTH OF YOU SAID THERE.

AND IF IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THIS QUESTION TO BOTH CANDIDATES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT KIND OF THINGS, YOU TALK ABOUT AND WE SEE IT ALL OF THE TIME, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT GO TO WASHINGTON, THEY GET INTO A BUBBLE.

HOW ROU GOING TO STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> IT IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT I BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO LEAD.

IS CREATING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONSTITUENTS TO STAY IN CONTACT, ESTABLISHING A CABINET IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE DONE AS A COMMISSIONER.

KEEPING AN OPEN CALENDAR AND MAKING SURE THAT I'M PRESENT FOR ALL KINDS OF THINGS, HAVING TOWN HALLS AND QUARTERLY REPORTS AND DASHBOARDS WITH LIVE UPDATES AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND THESE ARE ING THISES THAT I DO IN MY ROLE AND SEEK TO CONTINUE TO DO AS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE.

IT HAS ALLOWED ME, BECAUSE YOU COULD SEE MY EXPERIENCES, THEY ARE MY OWN EXPERIENCES AND IF I'M GOING TO REPRESENT A DISTRICT, I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE ELSE'S EXPERIENCES ARE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> REPRESENTATIVE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I'M CURRENTLY A STATE LEGISLATOR.

AND THERE ARE OVER 20 STATE LEGISLATORS IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6.

I'M GOING TO UTILIZE THOSE STATE LEGISLATORS TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH PROPOSALS, SO WHEN MONIES ARE BEING FUNDED DOWN THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE'RE NOT JUST BRINGING A BUDGET SAYING THESE ARE THE PLANS TO THE TATE OF GEORGIA, I WANT TO KEEP IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH MY FELLOW LEGISLATORS SO THAT THEY COULD CREATE THE PROPOSALS THAT WE NEED FOR THE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6.

I ALSO WILL BE SENDING OUT FAST ALERTS.

SO THINGS THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET THAT AS QUICK AND FAST AS IN REAL TIME AS POSSIBLE.

I'M GOING TO MAKE IT A POINT TO SHOW UP IN THE COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THAT I'VE ALREADY BEEN SERVING AND GET TO KNOW EVEN MORE OF THE COMMUNITIES AND IN COBB AND IN FAYETTE.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, I'VE ALREADY BEEN SERVING SOUTH FULTON AND DOUGLAS.

>> DOUG RICHARDS, IT IS YOUR TURN TO ASK A QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU, I'D LIKE TO ASK THIS TO BOTH CANDIDATES, PLEASE.

AND WE'LL START WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

THERE ARE PEOPLE -- THERE ARE LINES OF PEOPLE IN CONGRESS LEAVING.

AND THE REASON THEY ARE LEAVING IS BECAUSE CONGRESS FUNCTIONS SO POORLY AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL YOU HAVE ADDED -- HAVE HAD PEOPLE ASK YOU QUESTIONING YOUR SANITY AS TO WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO GET INTO SOMETHING THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF IT.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS -- THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT CONGRESS, THEY THINK ABOUT THE WHY HE OR NO BUTTON, PRESSING THE BUTTON, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION TO THAT ROLE.

BUT THE BIGGEST ROLE THAT A CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE SERVES IS TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS THAT THEY REST AND THAT MEANS ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING, ONE THE CORE PARTS OF MY PLATFORM IS CONNECTING COMMUNITIES TO POWER.

AND SO A LOT OF THAT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT I AM BUILDING THOSE COALITIONS, CONTINUING TO BUILD THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND TO INVEST STRATEGICALLY INTO OUR COMMUNITIES FOR TRUE VISION AND STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION.

THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT FIGHTING THE PARTISAN BATTLES.

THANK YOU.

>> REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS?

>> WELL, AS A STATE LEGISLATOR, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TWO FUNCTIONS AND THAT IS TWO BALANCE, TO PASS A BALANCED BUDGET AND TO CREATE LEGISLATION.

DEMOCRATS THAT ARE IN NOT IN CONTROL HAVE A THIRD POINT WHERE WE NEED TO STOP BAD LEGISLATION.

SO THAT DOESN'T CHANGE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

NOW, IN PART TO YOUR QUESTION AND I'VE SAID THIS ON THE CAME TRAIL AND THIS MAY SEEM MINUSCULE, BUT THIS IS FROM MY HEART.

I'M ALREADY DOING THIS.

I'M ALREADY DOING THE STATE WORK.

IT IS NOW THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO DO THE FEDERAL WORK WITH MORE DOLLARS AND MORE RESOURCES.

AND RESOURCES ARE KEY FOR ME IN MY ADMINISTRATION.

THE MINUSCULE PART THAT SOME MAY THINK IS MINUSCULE IS THAT I GET A TEAM.

A CERTIFIED TEAM.

I GET ANALYSTS.

I GET PEOPLE THAT COULD TRACK BILLS AND THESE ARE INTELLIGENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE BACKGROUND AND KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE -- >> THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS.

JONATHAN, IT IS YOUR TURN TO ASK A QUESTION.

>> THIS IS A QUESTION FOR BOTH CANDIDATES.

CONGRESS JUST PASSED A BILL THAT COULD LEAN TO TIKTOK BEING BANNED.

IF YOU WERE IN CONGRESS AT THE TIME, WOULD YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THAT LEGISLATION AND DO YOU VIEW THIS SOCIAL MEDIA APP AS A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

SO, MY BACKGROUND, I DO A LOT IN CYBERSECURITY AND CERTAINLY IT HAS BEEN SHARED WITH ME SEVERAL YEARS AGO ABOUT THE ISSUES RELATED TO TIKTOK.

BUT THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE CON CURRENT WITH MULTIPLE MEDIA PLATFORMS AND CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY RIGHTS.

FROM A NATIONAL SECURITY STANDPOINT, THERE ARE SOME RESTRICTIONS THAT COULD BE IN PLACE.

BUT THERE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME ISSUES WITH WHAT WAS PASSED FROM A GENERAL COMMERCE PERSPECTIVE.

SO I THINK THAT THOSE CHALLENGES WILL COME UP.

BUT I AM AWARE THAT THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL BRIEFINGS GIVEN TO REPRESENTATIVES RELATED TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS AND SO I BELIEVE BEING PRIVY TO THAT INFORMATION, SHARING WHATEVER I COULD WITH THE EXTENT TO MY CONSTITUENTS, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT DECISION.

SO THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY SURPRISES ON MY FINAL VOTE.

BUT AS IT STANDS TODAY, AGAIN, THERE ARE ISSUES WITH MULTIPLE MEDIA PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU.

>> REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS.

>> I THINK THE SAME.

THERE ARE ISSUES WITH MULTIPLE MEDIA PLATFORMS.

I THINK WITHIN THIS BILL CONGRESS HAS DISCUSSED THAT -- AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN SENATOR MIKE LEE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THEY WANT TO EXPAND -- WANT TIKTOK TO EXPAND THE PLATFORM OVER NINE ADDITIONAL APPS.

AND I DON'T -- I HAVE NOT USED TIKTOK THAT MUCH UNTIL IT CAME TO THIS RACE.

BUT I LOOK UP TO MY COLLEAGUES AND IF THEY FORESEE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE, THEN THERE PROBABLY IS SOMETHING THERE.

BUT AS FAR AS THE ENTIRE BILL, IF I WERE IN WASHINGTON, I WOULD HAVE VOTED ON THE BILL, AS A YES.

>> DOUG RICHARDS, YOUR TURN TO ASK A QUESTION.

>> THIS QUESTION IS FOR BOTH OF YOU AS WELL.

I'LL START WITH YOU REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS, MANY VOTERS, WHEN THEIR TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS BOTHERING THEM THE MOST IN BOTH PARTIES, FREQUENTLY INFLATION IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

RECOGNIZING THAT THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE SORT OF LIMITED INPUT INTO THAT -- INTO FIXING THAT ISSUE.

WHAT WOULD YOU -- WHAT DO YOU TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE -- THAT YOU WOULD AIM TO DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THAT ISSUE, IF ANYTHING?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD AIM TO DO IS TO ALLOCATE OUR MONIES BETTER.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THERE ARE A LOT OF MONIES FUNNELING DOWN THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL HAS HAD SO MUCH MONEY IN WATER THAT WE'LL NEVER SEE BEFORE.

AND WITH OUR WATER ISSUES, THE TOXINS AND DELVING INTO THE SAFE WATER DRINKING ACT, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.

BUT I THINK IT IS MORE COACHING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

OR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND WORKING WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS TO ALLOCATE OUR STATE FUNDING BETTER THAN IS COMING DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT GOES BACK AGAIN TO WORKING WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, WORKING WITH OUR STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO HAVE THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS STATE BUDGET IS, WHAT THIS MONEY IS COMING DOWN AND HOW TO BEST SERVE IT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WHETHER THAT BE ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE STUDIES THAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT I THINK THAT THE FEDERAL PARTNERS NEED TO WORK MORE VASTLY WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS.

>> COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON?

>> I WOULD SAY I CONCUR WITH MUCH OF THAT.

FROM AN INFLATION STANDPOINT.

IT IS FUELLING THE HOUSING CRISIS AND INTEREST RATES AND THE CRUNCH THAT IS HAPPENING.

BUT SECRETING MARKET DRIVEN SOLUTIONS, BRINGING INDUSTRY PARTNERS TOGETHER.

ONE THING THAT YOU'LL HEAR KIND OF AS A THEME IS WHEN THE FEDERAL, STATE AND THE LOCAL ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE, IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT SUFFER.

SO MAKING SURE THAT THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND COALITIONS ARE REALLY, REALLY DEFINED AND INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY FLOWS TO WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO AND THAT THERE AREN'T LAWS THAT PREMATURELY SET ASIDE SOMETHING THAT DON'T -- THAT WASN'T -- IT WAS A CONSEQUENCE OF NOT THINKING THROUGH THE POLICY.

THOSE ARE ISSUES AND SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT LANGUAGE IS ALL CONSISTENT FROM EACH LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.

I THINK THAT WAS -- AND TO MODIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR SOME OF OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMS.

IT DOESN'T -- THEY DON'T KEEP UP WITH INFLATION AND THAT IS AFFECTING -- >> AND THAT IS TIME.

>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION.

YOU BOTH POSED QUESTIONS TO THE EMPTY PODIUM DURING THE SECOND ROUND.

THE ABSENCE OF CONGRESSWOMAN McBATH UNDERSCORES A GROWING TREND OF POLITICIANS DECLINING ENGAGE IN FORUMS LIKE THIS.

WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK THIS HAS ON THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS?

>> I JUST HEARD ABOUT THIS FROM A CONSTITUENT NOT TOO LONG AGO, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE AJC THAT PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE SAYING THAT A VAST NUMBER OF INCUMBENTS WERE NOT SHOWING UP TO THE DEBATES.

I READ IT MYSELF.

I THINK THAT THAT IS A SIGN OF IMMATURITY IN LEADERSHIP.

YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO REPRESENT.

IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP TO THE DEBATE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN HEAR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE AND HOW YOU WOULD REPRESENT THEM IN CONGRESS, OR ANY OTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU COULD SERVE THEM?

YOU CAN'T SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW YOU.

AND YOU CAN'T SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

>> TO YOU, COMMISSIONER?

>> THANK YOU.

ABSENCE HAS AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT.

I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING OUR NATION IS THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION.

IT IS UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHERE TRUTH EXISTS.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO OVERCOME THAT IS THROUGH REAL CONNECTION, REAL CONVERSATION.

IT GOES WELL BEYOND -- IT IS A DEBATE BUT THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT THIS ENGAGEMENT IS REQUIRED AND WHEN IT IS MISSING, CONSPIRACIES FESTER AND PEOPLE BECOME FEARFUL OF ONE ANOTHER.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE LEADERSHIP THAT IS PRESENT, THAT IS WILLING TO SPEAK, AND THAT IS WILLING TO SHARE, WILLING TO BE VULNERABLE.

BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE COMPLICATED AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT AFFECT PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO COME AND FACE THAT, IN EVERY FORUM POSSIBLE, THEN MISINFORMATION IS WILL TAKE OVER.

>> AND WE'LL GO BACK TO OUR PANEL.

JONATHAN, YOU HAVE THE QUESTION NEXT.

>> WELL I WOULD LIKE TO PIGGY BACK OFF OF THAT.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE RISE IN MISINFORMATION.

A CONCERN TIED WITH THAT IS THE RISE IN A.I., AND REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS, I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH YOU.

TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW CONCERNED YOU ARE ABOUT THE THREATS FROM A.I.

AND WHAT THINGS YOU MIGHT DO TO ADDRESS THAT IF YOU'RE ELECTED TO CONGRESS?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I ACTUALLY ON THE STATE LEVEL INTRODUCED AN A.I.

HEALTH CARE BILL.

I DO THINK THAT INDIVIDUAL STATES NEED TO LOOK AT A.I., BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OVERALL ARCHING A.I.

PRIVACY ACT AND FURTHER MORE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

I'M SEEING IN CONGRESSIONAL 6, IT IS THE REASON WHY I INTRODUCED THIS HEALTH CARE BILL, THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE RECEIVING SERVICES, MEDICAL SERVICES BASED ON AN A.I.

OUTCOME THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY COINCIDE WITH THEIR SITUATION.

SO AS FAR AS RECEIVING TREATMENT, MEDICAL TREATMENT, OR JUST THE CARE PLAN, THE A.I.

SHOULD NOT HAVE THE FINAL WORD.

AND THAT IS WHAT THAT BILL WAS ABOUT.

YES, THIS IS THE TECHNOLOGY AGE.

AND WE MUST USE TECHNOLOGY.

BUT WE MUST USE IT APPROPRIATELY.

AND SO, A.I., CANNOT REPLACE A HUMAN SKILLED WORKER.

IT CAN BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING.

BUT IT COULD NOT HAVE THE LAST WORD.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE -- >> I THINK WE'RE AT TIME.

>> COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

>> THANK YOU.

YEAH, A.I.

CERTAINLY A RAPIDLY GROWING INDUSTRY.

I PERSONALLY DO BELIEVE IN HUMAN INGENUITY, I BELIEVE WE WILL ADAPT APPROPRIATELY.

THAT IS THE POSITIVE NATURE INSIDE OF ME.

HOWEVER, WE CANNOT IGNORE THERE ARE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS TO HOW QUICKLY IT IS GROWING.

THERE ARE ECONOMIC IMPACTS AND AS YOU MENTIONED HEALTH CARE AND DATA BIAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN A DISCREPANCY IN HOW SERVICES ARE DELIVERED.

AND SO THIS IS A -- I HAVE A FORUM ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT BASICALLY WHAT IS THE NEW ECONOMY GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

AND HOW CAN WE PREPARE OURSELVES AS COMMUNITIES TO BOTH EMBRACE AND BE PREPARED FOR IT.

BECAUSE WITH ANY TECHNOLOGY, THERE COMES GOOD SIDE, AND A BAD SIDE.

BUT, AGAIN, I BELIEVE WE COULD PULL TOGETHER AND SOLVE SOME OF THESE THINGS.

BUT CERTAINLY RESTRICTIONS ARE IMPORTANT.

>> AND WE HAVE ONE FOR ONE FINAL QUESTION.

BOTH CANDIDATES WILL HAVE 30 SECONDS TO RESPOND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MY QUESTION IS ABOUT YOUNG VOTERS.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RELIES HEAVILY ON YOUNG VOTERS TO HELP THEM COMPETE WITH REPUBLICANS.

I HEAR YOUNG VOTERS WHO ARE DISGUSTED ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST, WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER PROJECT IN ATLANTA, SAY THAT DEMOCRATS ARE PART OF THE TWO-PARTY PROBLEM THAT HAS -- THAT IS NOT FIXING THINGS.

WHEN THEY COMPLAIN TO YOU ABOUT THAT, AS I ASSUME THEY DO, WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM.

I'LL START WITH YOU REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS?

>> THANK YOU.

I HAVEN'T HAD THAT COMPLAINT.

BUT THE COMPLAINT I HAVE HAD OR THE REQUEST THAT I HAVE WAS WILL YOU FIGHT FOR DACA PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.

AND SO THERE ARE MULTITUDE OF VOTING RIGHTS OR AS PECKS TO VOTING RIGHTS.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE DACA, MY ANSWER IS YES.

THAT 2012 PROGRAM PROVIDED THE PROTECTIONS FOR WORK AUTHORIZATION AND FOR ELIGIBLE IMMIGRANTS.

>> AND THAT IS ALL OF THE TIME WE HAVE.

ON TO YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>> YOUNG VOTERS ARE NOT A MONOLITH, YES.

BUT I WOULD SAY THERE IS A CERTAIN TREND OF FRUSTRATION AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS FUELED FROM THE DISCONNECTION.

MOST YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL SO DISCONNECTED FROM THEIR REPRESENTATIVE LEADERSHIP.

THEY DON'T FEEL HEARD.

AND JUST BY BEGINNING THAT BRIDGE OF SPEAKING WITH STUDENTS ACROSS DIFFERENT COLLEGES, JUST BY MAKING THAT INITIAL CONNECTION AND SAYING, HEY, COME IN, I'VE HAD OVER 60 INTERNS COME THROUGH MY OFFICE AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT IS ALL OF THE TIME WE HAVE TOER QUESTIONS.

CANDIDATES WILL NOW HAVE 60 SECONDS FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

MANDISHA THOMAS, YOU GET THE FIRST CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.

AGAIN, WE ACTUALLY FILED OUR FINANCIAL REPORT AT THE END OF THIS -- AT THE END OF MARCH, AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL.

THE INCUMBENT HAS $1.3 MILLION IN HER FINANCIAL REPORT.

I HAD A LITTLE UNDER $14,000, ALMOST $15,000.

WOULD I SO SAY ABOUT THAT IS THAT THIS CAMPAIGN IS CENTERED AROUND THE HURT AND PAIN OF GEORGIANS THROUGH FEDERAL POLICY SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT $1.3 MILLION, I THINK THAT $1.3 MILLION CAN ERADICATE HOMELESSNESS IN EAST POINT.

I THINK $1.3 MILLION CAN PAY FOR OVER 1,000 SENIORS ON A FIXED INCOME WHOSE RENT HAS DOUBLED OR TRIPLED IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6.

I THINK $1.3 MILLION CAN ERADICATE HUMAN TRAFFICS ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT.

WE'RE AT TIME.

JERICA RICHARDSON, PLEASE GIVE YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

AND APPRECIATE HAVING THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO VOTERS THROUGH THIS DEBATE FORUM.

JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WE HAVE MANY CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY.

AND NONE OF THEM ARE SIMPLE.

BUT ONE THING I DO LIKE TO BRING HOME IS THAT IN EVERY CHALLENGE, WE ARE GIVEN A CHOICE.

FEAR, OR LOVE.

AND CHOOSING LOVE MEANS YOU INTENTIONALLY CHOOSE TO CONNECT AND TO BUILD SOLUTIONS TOGETHER.

AND THAT IS WHY I'M RUNNING ON THE TOGETHER WE CAN PLATFORM IN ORDER TO TACKLE ALL OF THESE ISSUES.

BECAUSE I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THEM ALONE, BUT I KNOW WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, WITH ALL OF THE RESIDENTS, WE'RE ABLE TO DO SO MUCH.

AND YOU REFERENCED THE FUNDRAISING, PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME, DOES MONEY DETERMINE ELECTIONS, AND THE REAL ANSWER IS, THE VOTERS DO.

YOU DETERMINE WHO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS AND NEVER FORGET THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> I'M PAMELA KIRKLAND, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB LOUDERMILK-YOUNG DEBATE SERIES AND GOOD KNIGHT.