Ten Georgia candidates paid the required qualifying fee of $4,950 this week to run for the 10th Congressional District seat, formerly held by Charlie Norwood.

Qualifying ended at noon Thursday. Of the 10 candidates, six are Republicans. They include Erik Underwood of Atlanta, Paul Broun from Athens, Ga. Sen. Jim Whitehead from Evans, Mark Myers of Loganville, Bill Greene from Braselton and retired U.S. Army officer Nate Pulliam from Conyers.

Three Democrats have qualified. They are James Marlow Jr. from Lincolnton, Denise Freeman from Augusta, and Evita Paschall from Evans.

One Libertarian also qualified. He is Jim Sendelbach of Conyers.

A “Pie and Politics” forum was held in Toccoa recently at Toccoa Falls College and featured seven of the 10 candidates. Most spoke on four main issues they say are of most concern to voters — the war in Iraq, education, healthcare and illegal immigration.

Mr. Marlowe said if elected, he plans to continue the late Charlie Norwood’s efforts to make healthcare affordable. In his 10-minute speech, Mr. Marlow also outlined his views on the war in Iraq. He advocates a three-pronged approach.

“We need to be prepared to strike our enemies here and abroad whenever necessary,” Mr. Marlow stated. “We secondly need to truly support and honor our troops. We need to do that in several ways. The first thing is when they do come home we need to take good care of them. The second thing is that when they are in the field, we need to provide them the body armor that they need. We need to put the shields on the Humvees when they need it, and we do not want to put them in the wrong place, at the wrong time, at the wrong numbers. And lastly, I say the quicker we can have an honorable exit from Iraq, the better.”

Mr. Pulliam echoed most of the candidates’ concerns about shoring up America’s borders. A West Point graduate, he also had other ideas about amending immigration laws if elected.

“I’m not a Mexican, I’m an American,” he said. “I believe a country that does not take care of its borders is in trouble. I also think that the Constitutional Amendment that says the children of illegal immigrants who are born here are American citizens should be repealed.”

So far, neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party has officially endorsed any candidate, but Mr. Marlow appears to be the Democratic front-runner. Sen. Whitehead has raised the biggest war chest of any candidate on either side — more than $265,000 dollars. He is the Republican Party favorite.

The election is June 19; there will be no primary beforehand. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will take place July 17.

M.J. Kneiser is news director of WNEG radio in Toccoa