Virtual Candidate Forums For Legislative, DA Races Announced

The Oconee Chamber of Commerce and the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday were working out details for the virtual candidate forum being organized for 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 14 for races on the Nov. 3 ballot overlapping Oconee and Clarke counties.

Courtney Bernardi, president of the Oconee Chamber of Commerce, said Friday she was waiting on confirmation from three of the 11 invited candidates and well as from the invited moderator.

Questions to be asked at the forum will be selected by a Chamber committee, Bernardi said. Citizens are invited to submit suggestions in advance, but audience members will not be allowed to comment or pose questions during the session.

A second Oconee County forum for candidates for House District 117, House District 119, and Senate District 46 is set for 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 19. Oconee County is a part of all three of these districts.

Citizens can submit questions in advance for this forum and also as the forum progresses.

All three of the Democratic candidates–Mokah Jasmine Johnson in 117th House District, Jonathan Wallace in the 119th House District, and Zachary Perry in the 46th Senate District--have agreed to participate,

Republican candidates Houston Gaines in the 117th House District and Marcus Wiedower in the 119th have said they will not participate, and Sen. Bill Cowsert has not responded to the invitation. All are incumbents.

A forum for Oconee County Board of Commissioners candidates is scheduled for 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 12.

For details on these forums, please go to Oconee County Observations.