GUYTON — The question was hypothetical. The answer, however, was concrete,

During Thursday’s Effingham County Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum at South Effingham High School, Georgia House District 161 Rep. Bill Hitchens was asked what would top his agenda if he was handed Speaker David Ralston’s gavel at the start of the next legislative session in January. 

“Well, the first thing I would do ... is get Georgia Highway 21 six-laned,” Hitchens said.  I’ve been working on that for about five years now — myself, (House Majority Leader) Jon Burns and (former District 4 Sen.) Jack Hill before he died.”

Hitchens is frustrated that the project has not moved forward.

“We have done over $400 million worth of other projects in my district but that one seems to be a sticking point,” he said. “I’ve got promises and promises but ...”

Hitchens noted that he drives on the congested highway frequently. Part of his district is in Chatham County.

“My district was the third-fastest growing district in the state in the last Census,” Hitchens said.

The representative, initially elected in 2012, believes the Effingham Parkway will ease some traffic woes in Effingham County, especially in the western portion. Set to open in 2024, it is funded by a combination of state and local funds.

“Typically, we don’t get state money to do county roads,” Hitchens said. “Jon Burns, Jack Hill and I were able to get $43 million to get that going ...”

Hitchens said the ongoing suspension of the fuel tax is cutting into the state’s ability to fund highway projects.

“It’s 27 cents a gallon for gasoline and 35 cents a gallon for diesel,” he said. “When you’ve got 11 million people in your state and all the visitors are buying fuel, that’s a substantial amount of money.”

Hitchens said he understands Gov. Brian Kemp’s reasoning for suspending the tax.

“It was well intended,” Hitchens said. “He wants to, during these inflationary times — the cost of fuel has gone up substantially — look out for the citizens in this state and I understand that.”

In closing, Hitchens, a Republican, touted his commitment to transportation, law enforcement and veteran concerns. He serves on the Appropriations, Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Defense and Veterans Affairs committees. The former Georgia State Patrol adjutant, a Vietnam War veteran, was first head of the Georgia Department of Homeland Security.

“If we don’t support our law enforcement community, I don’t know what we have,” Hitchens said.

NOTES: Democrat District 161 candidate Margo Barbee didn’t attend the forum.

Election day is Nov. 8, Early voting is underway.