Three candidate forums are scheduled in Mathews for the upcoming election, which will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Early voting is already underway.
The forums are being sponsored by the Mathews Branch of the NAACP, the Piankatank Ruritan Club, and the Mathews Resources Council.
Mathews NAACP
The Mathews Branch of the NAACP will hold a virtual candidate forum from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12, via Zoom. Advance registration is required.
Candidates running for the Mathews School Board will be featured first, said a press release, and they will be followed by candidates for the Mathews Board of Supervisors. The forum will close with candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates 98th District. All candidates have been invited, said the release.
The Rev. Dr. Marcus Stallworth, pastor at Mathews Chapel United Methodist Church, will serve as moderator. Those attending will be able to submit questions for the candidates to him, and he will ask as many questions as time allows.
Participants may join via computer or smartphone. Register in advance at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0Wb_myszTSubLU5a5mujQg.
A confirmation email about joining the webinar will be sent to each registered participant.
Ruritans
The Piankatank Ruritan Club will hold an in-person candidate forum from 7-10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21, at the club on Buckley Hall Road at Hudgins.
Mathews School Board candidates will be heard from first, followed by candidates for the Mathews County Board of Supervisors.
Each candidate will be given 3-5 minutes to speak, said moderator Cheryl Dale, after which she will ask “yes or no” questions she has obtained in advance from community members. Candidates will then be given the opportunity to explain their answers before the floor is opened for general questions.
Resources Council
The Mathews Resources Council will hold its hybrid forum beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21, with the public joining via Zoom. As reported in last week’s Gazette-Journal, candidates will gather in person at Mathews Memorial Library, dependent upon the Virginia Department of Health’s statistical count of positive COVID-19 cases.
Council spokesperson Rhoda-Jo Stress said login information will be sent between Oct. 8 and Oct. 20 to those requesting access. Questions for specific candidates will be submitted via ‘Chat’ while that candidate is speaking.
Candidates for the Mathews Board of Supervisors will speak first, followed by candidates for the Mathews School Board.