Qualifying Candidates will answer questions tonight at the Political Forum

The Government Affairs Committee of the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, Stephens County Farm Bureau and WNEG Radio are sponsoring a political forum scheduled for tonight.

Come out to the Historic Ritz Theatre, located in the Schafer Center, to hear qualifying candidates for the forthcoming general primary election, answer questions from the public.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the program beginning at 6 p.m., and admission is free.

Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President Julie Paysen told WNEG News about tonight’s political forum.

“We have heard back from State Representative Dan Gasaway and his opponent Chris Irwin who will be attending the forum,” Paysen said. “We’ve also invited all of the candidates in the race for the two Stephens County Commission seats and for the one race that has opposition in the School Board. So, hopefully we will have good attendance from those candidates and we look forward to having challenging questions from voters so we can get some answers before voting begins.”

Paysen added that voters attending will be able to submit questions at the forum and ahead of time.

“We will have the opportunity for voters to write out questions for the candidates. They can either turn them in to the Chamber office ahead of time. Then, the evening of the event, before we start we will have an opportunity for them to write out questions as well.”

Vying for District 28 of the Georgia House of Representatives, is incumbent Dan Gasaway and Chris Erwin.

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners has two chairs up for grabs.

James Addison, Melvin Barrett, Bryan Dooley, Jim Ledford, and Henry Moore are all contesting to fill Post 4, currently being held by Commissioner Stanley London who did not seek re-election.

Incumbent Dean Scarborough will defend his Post 5 chair against John Smith.

For the Stephens County Board of Education, Joel Blackwell and Kay Reed will be vying for Board member David Fricks’ District 3, Post 1 seat which will be vacated by Fricks at the end of his term.

Again, the political forum takes place tonight, in the Ritz Theatre at 6p.m.

If you cannot attend in person, WNEG Radio will be airing the political forum live.