Facing the voters

From staff reports

CARNESVILLE – The many candidates who seek local office will meet the public together Saturday at the Franklin County Republican Party’s political forum.

The forum will be Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Franklin County High School cafeteria.

The forum had originally been advertised to be held at Franklin Springs City Hall but has been moved to FCHS.

Candidates from six Franklin County races have been invited, as have the candidates for Northern Judicial Circuit district attorney.

Candidates will face questions submitted by the public before the forum.

“Basically, we will have each of the contestants running for that office up front together during the Q-and-A time,” John Hylton of the Republican Party said.  “We are asking for citizens to submit questions ahead of the forum that we will sort through and ask each of candidates during the Q-and-A.  Due to the number of seats contested and the number of individuals running for each seat, we will probably limit the total questions per race to around five questions and will not have any public Q-and-A.”

Questions for the forum can be sent to fcgop1@gmail.com.

Races will be called for the question-and-answer sessions in the following order:

•  Chairman of the Franklin Couny Board of Commissioners – Colt Hart, Courtney Long, Joe Greene and Nic McFarlin;

• District 1 Commissioner – Tim Crunkleton, Chris Phillips, Carolee Coker, Wanda Thompson and Tyler Owenby;

• District 2 Commissioner – Mark Sewell, Cory Pulliam and Sam Freeman;

• Franklin County Sheriff – Scott Andrews, Brian Stovall and Mitch Murphy;

• Board of Education Post 1 – Gary Minyard and Jason Oliver;

• Chief Magistrate Judge – Cody Grizzle, Bo Cornwell and Crystal Nelms;

• District Attorney – Parks White and David Jordan.

The candidates will be on the May 21 Republican primary ballot.

Early voting for the local primary will be held April 29 through May 17.

If no candidate in any race gets 50 percent plus one vote, then a runoff will be held June 18.

The winners of the primary will advance to the General Election Nov. 5.

Voter registration deadline for the May 21 primary will be April 22.