And now, a message from the rest of Rowan County … The leanings of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners and county voters tend to dominate local politics ó ditto for Cabarrus. Every other year, though, the spotlight turns to another group of voters: the people who live in cities and towns.
This is their year.
In November, municipal voters choose the people who make decisions about water and sewer rates, annexation, building codes, police protection, street lights and countless other issues that affect residents’ lives. Before the vote on Nov. 3, the Salisbury Post’s job is to inform voters about who the candidates are and where they stand.
Most of that information comes through the written word, but forums help voters, too, as they watch candidates field questions and think on their feet. How well would each person represent you?
The Post is teaming up once again with the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and Catawba College to sponsor a forum for Salisbury City Council candidates ó this time on Oct. 7, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Hedrick Little Theatre on the Catawba campus. Thirteen people have filed for the council office, so interest is high.
What would you like to ask these candidates? Please help us let them know what’s on voters’ minds by sharing your questions now. All questions will be submitted to Catawba political science professor Dr. Michael Bitzer, who will choose questions to ask as moderator.
You can send questions, attend the forum, read about it in the Post the next day and even view it afterwards on the local government access channel, Channel 16. But there’s no substitute for being there.
The Post is also helping to promote candidate forums that business groups have scheduled in other municipalities. We’ll take questions for those, too, and pass them on to Bitzer. The forums that have been finalized so far are:
– Spencer: The Spencer Business Association will host a forum for the Board of Aldermen’s 11 candidates 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Town Hall, 600 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer.
– Rockwell: The Rockwell Community Association is incorporating a candidate forum in its monthly meeting, which is open to the public, on Sept. 21 at the Civic Center, 114 S. Cherry St., Rockwell. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. with dinner ($7 at the door) and the forum follows from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. There are six candidates.
– China Grove: The China Grove Board of Trade will hold a forum as part of its luncheon meeting at noon on Oct. 5. Lunch is $7 at the door. The forum for the five aldermen candidates will be 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Send questions to Editor, Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, N.C. 28145-4639. (Fax: 704-639-0003; e-mail: editor@ salisburypost.com)
Make your voice heard.