Thursday night”s candidate forum was old hat to longtime elected officials like Justice Court Judge Peggy Phillips of District 2, who admitted she needed no introduction.
But Lowndes County voters also got a rare chance to hear from newcomers to the political scene, such as Willie Petty, who is challenging Board of Supervisors juggernaut, Harry Sanders of District 1.
And when their three minutes was up, those who consider themselves either first-time politicians (or not politicians at all) during their first run for elected office were relieved to be out of the hot seat.
“That three minutes goes by fast,” said Edna McGill, Republican candidate for Lowndes County Superintendent of Education, who had no trouble filling the time.
“I prefer the question-and-answer format,” said Sam Allison, also a Republican candidate for superintendent.
For each of the superintendent candidates it was their second time to face the public as a group. The six candidates met for a forum in April, where they answered a series of questions at Mississippi University”s Nissan Auditorium.
The candidate forum is one of many new experiences along the way for those new to politics.
Anthony Nelson, Democratic candidate for sheriff, has knocked hundreds of doors campaigning for votes.
“It”s been quite hot … but it”s been good,” he said, after Thursday”s forum. “Most people have been quite receptive.”
The financial cost of running also has been an eye-opener for Nelson.
“I knew there”d be some expense, but I didn”t know it would cost so much,” he said. Nelson has lost track of how much he has spent on his campaign, mostly on signs.
Lynn Wright, Republican candidate for superintendent of education, has spent about $10,000 on campaigning thus far. He has put out 25 large campaign signs thus far and has 12 more to go. Wright was handing out magnets and pens at Thursday”s forum.
“I”ve met a lot of great people,” he said of campaigning.
The Columbus Municipal Complex, which seats around 300 people, had standing-room only during Thursday night”s forum. But most present were friends, family and supporters of candidates.
Such was the case for Emily Reynolds, wife of Democratic candidate for superintendent, Cliff Reynolds. Still, she took advantage of the opportunity to educate herself about other races.
“It was educational,” she said of the forum. “It gives you an idea of what each one has in mind.”
“It was wonderful,” said Liza Shannon, 39, of New Hope. “There are so many people I”ve read about in the newspaper or seen on TV, but to put a face to the name and actually meet people … and hear what they stand for and what they are about.”
Shannon was there to support Mike Arledge, Republican candidate for sheriff.
Joan Atkins, 69, who lives just outside of city limits, said she will be able to make a more informed decision when casting her ballot.
“I”ll be able now to say, ”I remember him and what he said,”” Atkins said. “I was very impressed with a lot of the ideas about moving the community forward. I”m a retired teacher, so building our children … we were all about that anyway.”
For Columbus City Councilman Joseph Mickens, the forum was edifying in a variety of ways.
“I found out that Lynn Wright is a man, not a woman, for one thing,” Mickens laughed.
“Overall, I thought that it was very inspiring and productive,” he added.
Other community members thought the candidates should have focused more on the issues than their individual accomplishments.
“I didn”t get too much (out of the forum) because they didn”t talk about their platforms,” said Goldie Hall, a Columbus native who returned to the area about five years ago.
And incumbents spent too much time on their past accomplishments, she added.
“I don”t want to know what was done already. I want to know what they plan to do to make it better,” Hall said.
Sara Deloach, 58, who lives in the city of Columbus, said “the overall concept went over good, but the public who needed to her it didn”t hear it.
“It was full, but most of the people in there were wives or supporters of candidates.”
Only 10 of Lowndes County”s candidates for upcoming elections were not present or had representatives speak on their behalf at the forum; four additional candidates are running unopposed.
The forum was sponsored by the Columbus-Lowndes County League of Voters.
Primary elections for county and statewide offices are Aug. 2, with runoffs scheduled for Aug. 23. The general election is Nov. 8.
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