ROCKINGHAM — One Richmond County community is hosting a forum next week for residents to hear from candidates in the upcoming election.
The forum, hosted by the Ashley Chapel Community Organization, is scheduled for Feb. 22, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center on Mizpah Road.
“Everyone is invited to come out and meet the candidates who are running in the upcoming election for the positions of Richmond County Board of Commissioner and Board of Education,” reads a press release issued Thursday afternoon.
“The forum will provide an opportunity for citizens to hear the candidates’ platform as they publicly introduce themselves and present their agenda,” the release continues. “There will be an opportunity to ask questions directly to the candidates and learn how they plan to work toward making Richmond County a thriving community for our citizens and the future.”
Voter registration forms will also be available at the forum.
Three seats up for grabs on the Richmond County Board of Commissioners. Those are currently held by Chairman Jeff Smart and Commissioners Toni Maples and Andy Grooms, all Republicans. Another Republican, Jamie Gathings, will face the three incumbents in the Republican primary on March 5.
Joining them on the ballot for the primary will be Jamie Gathings.
For the commissioners’ race, the top three vote-getters in the primary will appear on the ballot in November.
On the Democratic Party side, Deborah Washington Crumpton and Cassandra “DeeDee” Wall will join Linda K. Ross on the ballot.
Richard Robinson will be the lone Libertarian on the ballot in that race.
The Republican primary is scheduled for March 5, 2024 and the election for the school board will be the same day, since that race is nonpartisan.
Candidates for the Board of Education are incumbents Ron Tillman and Jerry Ethridge, and challengers Beth Shuler and Michael Veach. Three seats are up for election.
There will be a Democratic and Libertarian primary, but the only local candidates will be the nonpartisan race for School Board.
A photo ID is required to vote.
Early voting started Thursday at the N.C. Cooperative Extension office on Caroline Street in Rockingham and Hamlet Presbyterian Church
