The forum will feature Ward 4 candidates for the Anniston Board of Education and City Council as they address questions posed by the four groups and members of the audience. Each candidate hopes to impress the voters and get their message out.
Glen Ray, who is running for the Ward 4 Board of Education seat, said he’s excited about the opportunity.
“I have grandkids in the system that I think deserve the very best, and I feel like I can give them the very best,” Ray said.
Many of the candidates, including Bill Robison, an incumbent seeking re-election to the Ward 4 Board of Education seat, mentioned that the forum will be a good chance to hear about the concerns of the residents in the community.
"I'll be interested to see what some of the questions are, either from the panel or from the audience, to see what's interesting them," Robison said.
Millie Harris, candidate for the Ward 4 City Council seat, said she thinks the forum will be a learning experience. The candidates will have a chance to hear the concerns of the residents but also to hear what the other candidates have to say.
“I just think coming together the community that’s what we need to be doing and we can learn from one another,” Harris said.
Arthur Fite and Brian Harmon, both candidates for the City Council seat, said the forum would give voters a chance to compare the candidates, their goals and their styles of leadership so they could decide who they want to support in the upcoming election.
"I think it's a bit obligatory that we want to fix the schools and reduce crime and bring in economic development," Harmon said. "But at the end of the day how each one of us would go about doing this specific obligatory thing is what's important."
Fite is expecting a crowd.
“I spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday all over Golden Springs and we ran into a lot of people that are coming,” Fite said.
Attempts to reach Marcus Dunn, an incumbent seeking re-election to the Ward 4 City Council Seat and Joel Russell, candidate for the Ward 4 City Council seat, for comment were unsuccessful.
Star staff writer Laura Camper: 256-235-3545.
Candidate forums are scheduled for:
Ward 4, July 19, Norwood Hodges Community Center, 6 p.m.
Ward 3, July 26, South Highland Community Center, 6 p.m.
Ward 2, July 31, 17th Street Baptist Church, 6 p.m.
Ward 1, Aug. 2, First Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m.
At-large and mayoral, Aug. 7, City Meeting Center, 6 p.m.
