Republicans

at the state and local level are gunning for the

only Democrat in Fayette County's legislative

delegation, Sent. Greg Hecht.

"With

two thirds of voters in Senate District 34

choosing Republican ballots in Georgia's recent

Presidential Primary election, Republicans expect

to pose a serious challenge to state Sen. Greg

Hecht in the General Election this fall,"

says a news release from the Georgia Republican

Party.

Eric

Dial, chairman of the Fayette Republican Party,

said the local party will be working hard to

unseat Hecht.

"We

are focused on bringing that [seat] back to a

Republican," said Dial. "A couple of

people have expressed an interest, and we are

committed to doing what we can to help

them," he said.

Hecht,

a Jonesboro lawyer, is serving his first term in

the district, which includes parts of Clayton,

Fayette, Douglas and south Fulton counties.

"That

wouldn't surprise me," he said when told of

GOP plans to target him for defeat. But he said

he is ready to defend his record.

"I'm

very fortunate in that I have a lot of support

among Republicans, Democrats and

independents," he said, "because I've

worked for tax cuts, long prison sentences for

criminals and support for business.

"I'm

looking forward to the exchange of ideas and a

positive [election] race," he added.

Among

possible Republican candidates, rumors are that

Pam Glanton is thinking of running for her old

seat. Glanton gave up the seat in 1998 to run an

unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor. Also

mentioned is Brian Hilton, mayor of Lithia

Springs.

State

GOP political director Scott Rials said Hecht's

election was a fluke. "Sen. Hecht was

elected to office in 1998 in what was a down year

for Republicans nationwide," he said.

"This election cycle our base is reenergized

as evidenced by the tremendous Republican turnout

for the Presidential Primary."

With

a strong presidential ticket for Republicans, and

with no gubernatorial race to energize Democrats,

Dial said he thinks Democrats in strong

Republican areas will be vulnerable.

Among

issues in 2000, Rials said Republicans will point

to ethics complaints filed against 14 Democrat

state senators. Though Hecht is not one of those,

Democrats held up ethics reform legislation in

the just-ending session, adding to their

vulnerability in general, he said.

The

34th Senate District is definitely in play,"

he said.

"We

appreciate the commitment and support from the

state party in targeting this seat," said

Dial.

Hecht

said even if Republicans turn out in strong

numbers, some of them will vote for him. Pointing

to his work on a sales tax cut for back to school

items, and his own bills targeting elder abuse

and cemetery fraud, and providing new tools for

law enforcement, he said he will fight to keep

his seat.

"You

just deal with that," he said, referring to

the fact that he will have to fight the state

party, not just local ones.

He

added a word of caution that Republicans

shouldn't boast too soon. "Horse races are

won at the end of the race," he said.

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