Cox: Special session on gay marriage OK

Secretary of State Cathy Cox, a Democratic candidate for governor, said Thursday she supports a special legislative session on Georgia's constitutional amendment banning gay marriage if that's what it takes for the state to move on to more important issues.

Cox was speaking during a forum in Savannah sponsored by the Georgia Press Association.

She said she doesn't believe the state needs the amendment because same-sex marriage is already against state law. But she said voters proved the issue was important to them when they voted overwhelmingly in favor of the ban in 2004.

Georgia voters approved the ban with 76 percent approval.

But Fulton County Superior Court Judge Constance Russell struck down the ban last month, saying it violated the state constitution by changing more than one aspect of Georgia law with a single ballot question.

The state has appealed the ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court. Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue has said he'll call the Legislature into a special session to rewrite the amendment before November's general election unless the court rules quickly.

Cox's main opponent for the nomination to challenge Perdue, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, did not attend what would have been the pair's first debate of the primary season.

Taylor spokesman Rick Dent said the campaign never committed to debate Cox in Savannah, but will face her in three televised debates before the July 18 primary.