Candidates on the Gloucester ballot in this year’s general election gathered for a pair of forums in the past week to introduce themselves to the community, express their platforms and answer questions.

NAACP forum

The first of these forums, hosted by the Gloucester branch of the NAACP, was held last Wednesday at the T.C. Walker Education Center.

Abingdon District supervisor candidates John C. Meyer Jr. (at left) and Robert “JJ” Orth take part in last Wednesday’s NAACP forum. The two are running for the only contested seat on the county board.

To kick off the evening, Senate of Virginia 26th District Democratic candidate Pamela R. Garner and House of Delegates’ 68th District Republican candidate M. Keith Hodges took to the stage. Hodges is running unopposed for the House seat; Garner is opposing Republican incumbent Ryan McDougle, who was not in attendance.

Garner, a Gloucester resident, has taught math and physics, holds bachelor’s degrees in both math and physics and a...