UPDATE: Forum sponsors have cancelled the forum at The Wesley Grant Center in Asheville for candidates for Buncombe County Commission chair and Register of Deeds, originally scheduled for Oct. 3. They have also cancelled the forum, scheduled for Oct. 13, for Buncombe County Commissioner District 3 candidates, State House District 113 candidates and State Senate District 48 candidates, which was to be held at T.C. Roberson High School in South Asheville.
With Election Day just over a month away and early voting gearing up, Western North Carolina voters may already be sick of presidential politics but scratching their heads about candidates for many races further down the ballot.
Several candidate forums coming to the area in the next few weeks could help voters make up their minds.
A group of nonprofit agencies sponsored a forum in Buncombe County, with Western Carolina University hosting a debate for congressional candidates and Southwestern Community College hosting a series of candidates events in Jackson County.
The first event is planned for 6 p.m. on Sept. 28 at Owen High School in Black Mountain and will feature the candidates for Buncombe County Commissioner District 2, State House District 115 and State Senate District 49.
The forum was presented by the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, Democracy NC, Children First/Communities in Schools with moderators provided by Carolina Public Press. Cosponsors include the American Association of University Women, YWCA of Asheville, Warren Wilson College, Carolina Jews for Justice, Spirit In Action, Western NC Community Health Centers and The Council on Aging in Buncombe County.
Western Carolina University and WLOS have also announced a series of debates at the school’s Cullowhee campus. The first debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday between 11th District Congressional candidates, U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-Cashiers) and Rick Bryson (D-Bryson City). Details on subsequent debates will be posted when they become available.
Southwestern Community College students in Bucky Dann’s Social Problems class will quiz candidates at several debates at the school’s Jackson County campus in the Burrell Building Conference Center. Jackson County Commissioner candidates will be featured at 7 p.m. on Sept. 29. State Senate District 50 candidates will debate at the same time on Oct. 11 and N.C. House 119 candidates on Oct. 25.