Organizers of two candidate forums scheduled this week at Ketner Hall on the Catawba College campus are asking candidates to leave campaign materials at home.
Protocol for the events allows people to wear campaign buttons, but no signs, campaign materials or mascots will be allowed in Ketner Hall, according to a press release from the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce.
Tables will not be provided for the candidates to display materials, and participants are asked to refrain from putting campaign signs on the Catawba campus grounds, the release says.
Candidates for the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education will participate in a Tuesday evening forum. School board candidates who have confirmed their attendance are incumbents Jean Kennedy Richard Miller, Kay Wright Norman, and LA. Overcash; and challengers Travis Allen, Phil Hardin, Dean Hunter and W.F. Owens.
Candidates for the Rowan County Board of Commissioners will participate in a Thursday evening forum, followed by brief statements from candidates for sheriff, register of deeds and clerk of court. All county commission candidates have confirmed their participation: Leda Belk, Chris Cohen, Raymond Coltrain, Greg Edds, Jim Greene, Judy Klusman, Richard Locklear and Gene Miller.
Both events will be held at 6 p.m., at Catawba College, Ketner Hall, Tom Smith Auditorium, 2300 W. Innes St.
The forums are sponsored by the Salisbury Post, Catawba College, WSAT and the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce to educate voters about the candidates and their stands on issues of importance to the community.
Moderator Dr. Michael Bitzer, provost and political science professor at Catawba, will ask the candidates questions. If you would like to offer questions for him to consider using, send them to the Salisbury Post at editor@salisburypost.com or call 704-797-4244.
The forums are free and open to the public. Seating is limited.
The forums will be broadcast live by radio stations Memories WSAT1280 and WRNA1140/ WRKB1460. Video of the forum will be broadcast on Channel 16 several times before Election Day on Nov. 4.
The chamber holds annual candidate forums through the guidance of its Government Affairs Committee, chaired by Tim Norris. For more information, contact the chamber at 704.633.4221 or info@rowanchamber.com or www.rowanchamber.com.