Bumpy Campaign Trail for District 18 Seat | Politics

Senator Cecil Staton and his opponent Spencer Price say it's been a bumpy ride along the campaign trail for the District 18 seat.

Both agree on many of the issues facing central Georgia including healthcare, jobs, and the future of Robins Air Force Base, but they don't see eye to eye when it comes to campaign tactics.

Staton ran unopposed in 2006, 2008, and 2010.

Price says after several years in the military and working as an emergency room doctor that he wanted to continue serving but now on a political platform.

He also says he did not agree with the incumbent's behavior in office and that he's disturbed by reports that Staton allegedly sent out attack emails under a false name. He also expressed concern that Staton's company oews more that $50,000 to Georgia Southern University. Price believes Staton has continued that kind of behavior into the race.

He says, "My opponent has been very scarce, very unavailable, very dishonest in his campaign tactics in terms of his personal attacks on me, unethical, and simply not dependable. The voters of central Georgia, the citizens of central Georgia deserve better."

Price said his opponent crossed the line by digging up his old tax records and creating false Facebook accounts to spread information about him.

When 13WMAZ's Katelyn Heck spoke with Staton, he did not respond specifically about the Facebook account accusations but did say Price has attacked him personally from the start of the race.

Staton says, "When someone else is doing that, don't assume, given the fact that I've been here for eight years, I've invested eight years, and I have significant leadership within the state senate, that we're not going to respond, especially when it's someone throwing stones who lives in a pretty big glass house."

Price says he has several things he would like to discuss with his opponent surrounding the race. He says he has tried to contact Staton several times to arrange a forum or debate, but never received an answer.

"I would like to begin with asking him how he justifies to himself his campaign style. Why he felt it was necessary to attack me personally through his minions," says Price.

Staton says that isn't true.

He says, "At least if you're going to make an allegation, let's hope there's some truth behind it. I have not heard from his campaign. There's been no effort to do anything that we have not responded to period, end of sentence. Anything else is a complete fabrication and is not the truth."

Central Georgia voters will make their selections between the two candidates on July 31st.