You should’ve Been There

For nearly three hours this past Thursday, July 31, candidates running for county offices and Circuit Judge met with voters at the Franklin Square Recreation Center for a political forum sponsored by the H’COLA group.

Pastor David Walker, from Covenant Word Christian Center moderated the event and fielded questions from the more than 100 people present at the forum. The questions covered a broad range of subjects from stability in our public school system to equity in the enforcement of drug related crimes.

Walker allotted each candidate two-minutes to introduce him or herself and to share their positions with the voters.

Beginning the evening were the candidates that are running unopposed for reelection, in attendance were - Clerk of Circuit Court, Marcia Johnson (Dem) and County Commission Chairman, Noah Lockley, Jr., (Dem).

Also in attendance were three nonpartisan candidates for Circuit Judge for the Second Judicial Circuit, which include Franklin County, Group 3- David Frank and Group 16– incumbent Judge Angela Dempsey and Bill Miller, both Frank and Miller are practicing attorney’s.

In the County at-large races attending were all three candidates for Sheriff – Bruce Barnes (Rep), incumbent Sheriff Mike Mock (Dem), and Skip Shiver (Dem). The two candidates present and seeking the office of Supervisor of Elections were - Ida Cooper Elliott (Dem) and Renee Shiver Griffin (Dem). Those candidates present and running for Property Appraiser were - Richard Harper (Rep) and incumbent Property Appraiser Doris Pendleton (Dem). Lastly, three of the four candidates vying for Superintendent of Schools, Denise Butler (Rep), Nina Marks, (Dem), and Temolynn Wintons (Dem) attended. The fourth candidate Will Kendrick (NPA) was out of town and could not make the forum.

You should have been there as each candidate shared enough about himself or herself and their vision for the offices they are seeking to arm the 100 plus crowd with the necessary information to make informed decisions come Election Day.

However, you may have yet another chance to attend. At the conclusion of the forum Elinor Mount-Simmons, President of H’COLA announced plans for a similar forum for candidates that remain in the race after the August 26 primary.