With Carl Ford and Raymond Coltrain choosing not to run for re-election to the Rowan County Board of Commissioners this year, the field is wide open for those two seats. So is the range of questions the public might want to ask the 15 people vying for the positions.
Here’s your chance.
The Post is working in partnership with the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and Catawba College to hold two candidate forums in the coming weeks, and once again we’re asking Post readers to share questions they’d like answered.
First, here’s the schedule of forums:
• Wednesday, April 11, 6 to 8:30 p.m. — From 6 to 6:50 p.m., Republicans vying for the District 76 seat in the N.C. House will answer questions. (There is no Democratic primary for this seat.) From 7 to 8:30 p.m., all seven candidates for North Carolina’s 8th District seat in the U.S. House have been invited to participate.
• Thursday, April 12, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. — Candidates seeking their party’s nod to run for the county commission will be featured. The forum will be split into two sessions, starting with the six Democrats from 6 to 7 p.m., and the nine Republicans from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m.
Both forums will be held in Tom Smith Auditorium on the Catawba campus.
Dr. Michael Bitzer, professor of political science and history at Catawba College, will moderate the forums. Bitzer frequently appears on television as an expert in local, state and national politics. He also writes for WFAE’s Party Line political blog.
Bitzer selects the final questions, but he relies on Salisbury Post readers to share their suggestions.
So if you have questions for the candidates in any of these races — Congress, the state House or the county commission — please send them along in any of these ways:
• Email to editor@salisburypost.com
• Fax to Editor Elizabeth Cook’s attention at 704-639-0003.
• Mail to Editor Elizabeth Cook at the Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28144.
• Drop off your questions at the Post at 131 W. Innes St. in downtown Salisbury.
• Post your question on the Post’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SalisburyPost.
There are several other races on the May 8 primary ballot, but these involve the most candidates and/or involve the most Rowan voters — and may well generate the most interest. So give this some thought and send us your questions.