With the Nov. 7 General Election a little more than a month away, a number of organizations have stepped up to host candidate forums during the coming weeks to give voters opportunities to hear straight from those on the ballot how they stand on various issues.
The first forum, a “Meet the Candidates Night,” is scheduled for Monday evening at the Abingdon Ruritan Club, Bena. So far, it is the only opportunity planned for Gloucester residents to hear from local candidates running for the county’s board of supervisors and school board.
This forum, sponsored by the Gloucester chapter of the NAACP, the Gloucester Education Association and the Gloucester Retired Educators Association, will begin with a meet and greet and refreshments at 6:30 p.m. The forum, which will include opening statements, a question-and-answer period and closing statements, will take place from 7-9 o’clock.
According to Bobby Ray, one of the forum’s organizers, those who attend will be able to submit written questions directed at candidates on index cards provided by the sponsors. Those questions will be submitted during the 30-minute meet and greet period prior to the forum. She said all questions will be collected, sorted by appointed volunteers, and presented by the moderator.
Each candidate, she said, will have up to two minutes for an opening statement. Then, candidates will draw lots for the order in which they speak as directed by the moderator. After the opening statements, candidates will take questions and alternate speaking first. She said each candidate will have no more than one minute to respond to each question. Then, each candidate will be given up to two minutes to present a closing statement.
Those candidates who will be participating in the forum include the following: Phillip Bazzani (incumbent) and Kevin Farmer for the York Magisterial District seat on the board of supervisors; and John Meyer Jr. (incumbent) and Kevin Smith for the at-large seat on the board of supervisors. Also participating will be Damien Kelly and Brenda Mack for the at-large seat on the school board, as well as Anita Parker and Elisa Nelson, who are both running unopposed to retain their Petsworth and York district seats, respectively, on the school board.
Michael Winebarger, who is running unopposed to retain his Petsworth district seat on the board of supervisors, has decided not to participate in the forum. “He said that he is unopposed and he feels that the time that would be used by him at the forum would be more beneficial if available for other candidates who are opposed in the race,” Ray said.
The moderator for the forum will be the Rev. Randolph Graham of King William, who is pastor of The First United Baptist Church, White Marsh. He currently serves as secretary and director for the T.C. Walker and Woodville Rosenwald School Foundation. He is also an adjunct professor at Virginia University of Lynchburg; a member of the National Black MBA Association; a distinguished faculty member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, and a former election officer for King William County.
Members of the planning committee who have organized the “Meet the Candidates Night” include Pastor Ward Warren and Yvonne Ray of the Gloucester chapter of the NAACP; Terri Byrne and Yvonne Ray, both members of the Gloucester Retired Educators Association, and Clint Alexander, member of the Gloucester Education Association.
For more information about this forum, contact Bobby Ray at 804-693-3583 or 804-694-6628.
In Mathews
Meanwhile, there are a number of candidate forums scheduled in Mathews, with the first one set for Oct. 11.
There are seven at-large candidates for two seats on the board of supervisors—Marion C. “Pepper” Love, Amy Dubois, Mike Walls, O.J. Cole (incumbent), Brian Hopkins, Tyrone Hudgins and Lynn Jaeger. There are four candidates for two, four-year seats on the school board—Beth Bond, Bambi Thompson, Linda Hodges and Stephanie Armistead. Additionally, Melissa Mason is running unopposed for a two-year seat on the school board.
NAACP forum
The Mathews chapter of the NAACP will hold its candidate forum from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at First Baptist Church, 9654 Buckley Hall Road, Mathews. All candidates on this year’s Mathews County ballot (governor, lieutenant governor, House of Delegates, supervisors and school board) have been invited to participate.
In this forum, each candidate will be given three minutes to introduce himself or herself and the platforms. The public will be given cards to write their questions for the candidate, which will be read by the moderator.
G.I. Civic League forum
The Gwynn’s Island Civic League will hold its forum for supervisor and school board candidates from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Gwynn’s Island Civic League building, 1996 Old Ferry Road in Grimstead.
Piankatank Ruritans
The Piankatank Ruritan Club will hold a forum for supervisor and school board candidates at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the club building in Hudgins. Five questions will be directed across the board to every candidate and then the meeting will be opened to questions from the floor. Cheryl Dale will serve as moderator.
West Mathews forum
The West Mathews Community League will hold its forum open to all candidates running in Mathews beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the old Peninsula School in Bohannon. There will be a moderator and audience members will be allowed to submit questions to the candidates, according to WMCL spokesperson Al DeWitt. Refreshments will be served following the forum.
MCRC forum
The Mathews County Resources Council will host a “The Candidates Speak” event during its regular meeting from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad Building, Hudgins. The forum will feature board of supervisors and school board candidates in Mathews running for office. All candidates who wish to attend the forum are asked to RSVP to MCRC chair Rhoda-Jo Stress at adlitmidpenva@gmail.com by Sunday. Candidates are requested to have a five-minute prepared platform presentation, she said.
MEA forum
The evening of the MCRC forum, the Mathews Education Association will hold its candidate forum. That forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, in the Brooks Auditorium at Thomas Hunter Middle School.
Candidates for the 98th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, as well as Mathews County Board of Supervisors and school board candidates have been invited to participate. Jay Black has agreed to serve as moderator, according to Rachel Morris of the MEA.
The House of Delegates’ candidates will be given the opportunity to make brief remarks to the audience. The supervisor and school board candidates will field questions submitted by the public. Questions may be submitted online at https://goog.gl/bzutRb.