The candidates running for elected office on the Senoia City Council in the November election will face the voters at an Oct. 27 forum hosted by the Senoia Tea Party Patriots. Organization coordinator Joe Cannin said holding a forum is important because it enhances voters’ awareness of the issues facing their community.
The forum for the two Senoia City Council races will be held at 7 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the new Municipal Court building on Howard Street. The forum is being hosted by the Senoia Tea Party Patriots and will feature incumbents Bobby Graham and Maurice Grover and challengers Todd Baggarly, Harry Ramos and Don Rehman.
Candidates will be given an opportunity to state why they should be elected as a Senoia city councilman. And Senoia residents will have a chance to pose questions to the candidates.
But why put on a forum? Why does it matter?
Cannin said the purpose of the forum is to allow the citizens of Senoia the opportunity to hear the candidate’s views on city issues.
“One of the missions and goals of the Tea Party Patriots is to get the membership and all our citizens educated so that they understand the issues and get out and vote,” Cannin said.
As for the Senoia Tea Party Patriots going it alone and hosting the event, Cannin said there were potential sponsors whose members of affiliates were running for office so it was not felt that those sponsorships were appropriate.
Commenting on the forum and the broader mission of the Tea Party Patriots, Cannin said one of the organization’s missions is to promote limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets.
“The only way to accomplish this is to be informed and involved,” Cannin said.
Municipal elections for City Council seats in Senoia are structured so that all elections are at-large. The field of five candidates vying for the two open seats means that the top two vote-getters will win the election.
Citizens wanting to ask a question for all the candidates to answer should email it to questionsfortheforum@gmail.com
Cannin asked that those interested make their questions as explicit as possible and on city issues only. Questions are also encouraged from the meeting attendees and question cards can be filled out at the time of the forum.
Cannin said the organization was grateful to the city for providing the location for the forum.
The forum will be held on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the City Municipal Building located at 505 Howard Street in Senoia.
