For the second time in as many days, the four Republicans running for Cobb Commission Chairman sounded off on what appears to be the most pressing issues during their two-month primary campaign -- property tax increases and the upcoming TSPLOST regional transportation referendum. 

In a Wednesday forum at the East Cobb Library sponsored by the East Cobb Civic Association, the three challengers to incumbent Tim Lee all took aim at his vote last year to raise the county's millage rate. They also questioned his general support for the TSPLOST referendum, which is included on the July 31 primary ballot. 

Former chairman Bill Byrne, Mike Boyce and Larry Savage, who ran against Lee in 2010 in the Republican race to succeed Sam Olens, all said the property tax increase was an affront to Republican values. 

Lee defended his vote as fiscally necessary given Cobb's economic situation and suggested that "no is not an option. No is moving backward."

There are no Democrats who qualified to run for commission chairman. 

Also invited to the forum was District 2 commissioner Bob Ott, a Republican nearing the end of his first term. He is unopposed in the primary and the general election and will continue serving East and Southeast Cobb. 

The candidates were asked about a variety of other issues in written questions from the audience, including possible future budget cuts, solutions for Cobb's aging senior population, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce's role with county government and cooperative efforts with other metro Atlanta jurisdictions. 

More on those topics and others from The Marietta Daily Journal.