By PAMELA ROBINSON Register Staff Writer
With 2010 being an election year, the Cooke County Republican Women (CCRW) hosted a local Candidate Forum Thursday evening and invited all Republican candidates to address the audience.
The forum was well-attended and the public was invited.
“We wanted to give our Republican candidates an opportunity to meet the voters and to present their personalities and their positions on issues, to field questions and to network with the voters after the meeting and it's just an opportunity for everyone to see face to face and hear first-hand what the candidates have to say,” CCRW President Pauline Lesch said prior to the event.
The rules for the Candidate Forum were as follows:
Opposed candidates had three minutes each to present themselves and their positions.
The candidates then answered two questions each which came from members of the audience.
The candidates would then had one minute each for closing remarks.
Unopposed candidates had two minutes each to present themselves and their positions. The public could ask questions of the candidates after the forum.
The forum started with the opposed candidates:
County Clerk: Rheta Gilmer and Rebecca Lawson (incumbent)
County Commissioner Precinct 2: B.C. Lemons and Steve Key (incumbent)
County Commissioner Precinct 4: Jimmy Mosman and Leon Klement (incumbent)
The forum continued with the unopposed candidates:
County Judge: John Roane (incumbent)
Judge, County Court-at-Law: John Morris (incumbent)
District Clerk (open seat): Susan Hughes
Justice of the Peace Precinct 1: Dorthy Lewis (incumbent)
Justice of the Peace Precinct 4: Jason Brinkley (incumbent)
The schedule for the primary election is as follows:
Early primary voting is Feb. 16-26.
The primary election is Mar. 2.
The general election will take place Nov. 2
The Candidate Forum was organized by CCRW Vice President-Programs Diane Helms and Vice President-Campaign Pam Hoedebeck.
Prior to the forum the CCRW took care of business after the meeting was called to order by Lesch.
The Gainesville Daily Register will print the candidates’ presentations over the next few weeks leading up to the Mar. 2 primary. In Sunday’s Register, the candidates for County Clerk will be featured.
