Candidate forum set for Thursday
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, July 6, 2016
LaGRANGE — Regional chambers of commerce are slated to host a joint candidate forum Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Callaway Conference Center, 220 Fort Drive in LaGrange.
Congressional candidates Mike Crane and Drew Ferguson, along with Troup County school board candidates John Asbell and Cathy Hunt, are set to answer policy questions, according to a release from the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce.
The event is free and open to the public.
Crane, a Newnan businessman and state senator, and Ferguson, a dentist and former West Point mayor, are in a Republican primary runoff election to succeed incumbent U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District. The winner will face Democrat Angela Pendley in the Nov. 8 general election. Westmoreland is not seeking re-election.
Hunt, a retired educator, and Asbell, a Georgia Power employee and past chairman of the THINC College and Career Academy, are in a nonpartisan runoff election for District 5 of the Troup County Board of Education. The winner will replace Debbie Burdette, who did not seek re-election.
Both the school board and congressional runoff elections will be held July 26. Early voting begins July 5 and ends July 22. Early voters may cast their ballots Monday through Friday at the Troup County Government Center, 100 Ridley Ave. in LaGrange.
State Rep. Bob Trammell, a Democrat representing Georgia House District 132, is slated to moderate the forum. LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton, a Republican, is slated to be the official timekeeper.
Five chambers of commerce from across the west central Georgia region are hosting the event. Participating organizations include the Greater Columbus, Harris County, Heard County, LaGrange-Troup County and Meriwether County chambers of commerce.