ATLANTA - No other race in the upcoming primary will showcase two candidates with such opposite approaches as the Republican choices for state labor commissioner.

On one side is Brent Brown, an Atlanta businessman, with ideas on how to expand the agency's scope. On the other is state lawmaker Chuck Scheid from Woodstock, who wants to get rid of the very office he is running for as a way to downsize the government.

The winner of the July 18 primary will face Mike Thurmond, a Democrat who has held the post since 1998 and is unopposed in his primary.

….Mr. Brown said Mr. Scheid's plan is full of holes.

"By simply suggesting that we're going to abolish this department and those problems are going to be magically fixed is absolutely ridiculous," he said.

This will be Mr. Brown's second attempt at facing Mr. Thurmond; in 2002, he lost the Republican primary, capturing 48 percent of the vote.

Georgia's Department of Labor is responsible for administering unemployment insurance, providing job placement help and overseeing vocational rehabilitation programs. It also provides information and analysis about the state's work force.

Mr. Brown said he thinks the department should take a stronger role in pushing economic development and vocation training among students.

"You protect the work force today to make it the most educated, skilled work force available," said Mr. Brown, who thinks the labor commission should have a permanent seat on the State Board of Education.

He also said he has a way to cut payroll taxes for companies by cracking down on unemployment fraud.

Reach Vicky Eckenrode at (404) 681-1701 or vicky.eckenrode@morris.com.

Brent Brown

Party: Republican
Residence: Atlanta
Age: 35
Political experience: Ran for labor commissioner in 2002 but lost in the Republican primary
Profession: Businessman
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in management from Georgia Tech and Master of Business Administration from the University of Georgia
Family: Wife, Pamela