More than 20 hopefuls running for elected positions in Lowndes County turned out for a public forum at Caledonia’s Anderson Grove Center Friday night.
The 23 candidates included those running for sheriff, constable, chancery clerk and even state representative — a turnout that pleased Caledonia resident Walter Shinn, who organized the forum.
“I loved it,” he said to reporters following the meeting. “I’m glad (voters) came out and most of all, I’m glad they got a chance to hear with their own ear (what the candidates said) … That was the (point) of the whole thing, getting them to talk to the community, engage with the community, see what people’s concerns are.”
Over the two-hour forum, each candidate had the chance to introduce themselves and answer questions from the audience, a crowd of few dozen people who appeared to primarily be family members or campaign volunteers of the candidates. Topics ranged from crime issues in the community to tension between officials from Lowndes County and the city of Columbus.
Candidates at the event included hopefuls for chancery clerk Republicans Cindy Eggar Goode and Jessica Lancaster Pierce and Democrat Joseph Mickens; for District 1 supervisor Republican incumbent Harry Sanders and independent challenger Steve Pyle; for District 2 supervisor Republicans Nicolas “Trip” Hairston and Ray Berry and Democrat Oliver Miller; for District 3 supervisor Republican incumbent John Holliman and Democratic challenger Tim Heard; for District 5 supervisor independent challenger Marty Turner; for sheriff Republicans Rick Jones, Greg Wright and Eddie Hawkins and independent Anthony Nelson; for District 1 constable Republican Chris Griffin and Democrat Jake Humbers; for District 2 constable Republican Spence Wallingford and Democrat Joe. F. Ables Jr.; for District 1 justice court judge incumbent Republican Chris Hemphill and Republican challenger Ben Kilgore; for county attorney Republican Steve Wallace; and for District 39 state representative Republican challenger Dana McLean.
Shinn in particular recognized Turner, Wallace and McLean, all of whom attended the forum when their opponents — District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks, county attorney candidates Courtney B. “Corky” Smith and William Starks II and Rep. Jeff Smith, respectively — did not.
Other candidates running opposed who did not attend included chancery clerk candidate Andre Roberts, District 2 supervisor candidate James Lee Harrison, District 1 constable candidate Randy “Soldier” Robles, District 2 constable Austin Strickland and tax assessor candidates incumbent Greg Andrews and challenger Sherman Vaughn.
“You can’t say that you didn’t know about it because it was in the papers,” Shinn said. “These people came out here to voice their concerns and get a chance to engage, but they failed to show for whatever reason. I don’t know whether it wasn’t important to them or whether they were relaxed being elected so many times that they feel comfortable that they (don’t have) to hear our concerns, but I kind of think a change is going to come. If we don’t mean that much to you, something may happen somewhere down the line and I’m hoping it does because we deserve better.”
He said he tried to contact all the candidates, but a couple he missed called and asked if they could attend, which he told them they were welcome to do.
“Those are the type of people that I really want in office, that when they hear you’re having a meeting and you’ve got some concerns, and they take time and put off what they were doing to come and hear your concerns,” he said.
Shinn said overall he felt the forum was a success and hoped to hold another during the campaigns.
Primaries will be held Aug. 6 with elections on Nov. 5.
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