The audience’s questions were wide-ranging during a forum sponsored by the West Mathews Community League last Wednesday. Most questions were asked of just one person, and the candidates were largely in agreement on the issues that were asked of all, making it difficult to draw distinctions among those running for office.

Sheriff

Sheriff Mark Barrick, who announced in the beginning that he would have to leave early because his father-in-law had passed away that day, was asked if he could write grants. He said he can and does write grants, and that his staff writes grants, as well. He said the new turbo radio system had been partially paid for with grant funding, and that he had purchased vests for his deputies and paid for the cost of DUI checkpoints and speed enforcement with grant funds.

Challenger Gene Bouscher, who is a first-time candidate for the sheriff’s office, said that in his previous position with the Richmond Police Department he wrote grants for various proj...