Three political forums planned in Pike

Pike Farm Bureau is working with area Farm Bureau offices to offer three different forums for citizens to hear directly from their candidates prior to the May 24 election. Candidates will have a chance for an opening statement and will then give short responses to specific questions. ’The public is invited to attend these political forums to learn more about their candidates before casting their vote in the May 24 election,’ said Rebecca Rolling of Pike Farm Bureau. ‘This is also a great opportunity for local candidates to network and meet constituents from Upson, Spalding and Pike counties.’LOCAL POLITICAL FORUM – MAY 12:A Political Forum will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12 for all local candidates at Pike County Assembly on Highway 19 in Zebulon, hosted by Pike County Farm Bureau. Each local candidate has been invited to attend the Political Forum. Those invited include candidates for sheriff – Jimmy Thomas and Geoffrey Zimbelman Jr.; candidates for clerk of superior court – Carolyn Williams and Rebekah Hanson; candidates for probate judge – Lynn Brandenburg and Brent Taylor; candidates for chief magistrate judge – Marcia Callaway-Ingram and Phil Hammond; candidates for commission chairman – Briar Johnson and Gary Hammock; candidates for commission District 4 – James Jenkins and Dale Jackson; and candidates for school board District 5 – April Byrd and Denise Burrell. There are several unopposed candidates who were invited as well, including tax commissioner Donna Chapman; District 3 commissioner Tommy Powers; county coroner Terrell Moody; District 3 school board member Emily Green O’Steen; and District 4 school board member Beth Camp. JUDICIAL FORUM – MAY 16: Pike, Spalding and Upson Farm Bureau will host a Judicial Forum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12 at Pike Assembly on Highway 19 in Zebulon. All qualified candidates for the election for District Attorney and Superior Court Judge are being invited to participate. Those who have been invited to attend the May 16 Judicial Forum include candidates for Judge of Superior Court, Catherine Sanderson, Mack Crawford and Fletcher Sams; candidates for District Attorney, Ben Coker, Cindy Manning and Rudjard M. Hayes; and candidates for Judge of Superior Court Scott Ballard and Tommy R. Hankinson.CONGRESSIONAL FORUM – May 2A Congressional Forum will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 2 at the Pike County Auditorium on Highway 19. The event will be hosted by Pike’s Farm Bureau as well as Lamar, Spalding, Upson and Meriwether Farm Bureau offices. Participants who have been invited to attend include: candidates for U.S. Representative for District 3, Angela Pendley, Arnall ‘˜Rod’ Thomas, Chip Flanegan, Drew Ferguson, Jim Pace, Mike Crane, Richard Mix, Samuel Anders and Tamarkus Cook. At each forum, candidates will be allowed a two-minute opening statement. There will be a question and answer period with time for one-minute responses. Each candidate will be allowed to make a two-minute closing statement.