The Newnan-Coweta Chamber, the Democratic Party and the Coweta GOP will co-sponsor a candidate forum on Thursday, Jan. 17 at the Wadsworth Auditorium in Newnan. Candidates seeking the Georgia House District 71 seat will present their platforms. The forum will take place from 7– 8:30 p.m. The public is invited.

The candidates forum will follow a modified version of the League of Women Voters rules for public forums. Each candidate will have an opportunity for opening and closing statement, and will be presented a series of questions vetted from the Chamber’s membership and sponsoring organizations.

The seat, formerly held by Billy Horne, R-Sharpsburg, became vacant upon the withdrawal of Representative Elect Robert Stokely, R-Sharpsburg. Stokely recently accepted an appointment as a Coweta Magistrate Court judge.

Six candidates have qualified to run in the Feb. 5 special election and have been invited to the forum. They are Cynthia Bennett (D, Newnan), Thomas G. Crymes (R, Sharpsburg), Michael Farbo (R, White Oak), Darryl Marmon (R, Sharpsburg), David Stover (R, Palmetto) and Richard Weisser (R, Sharpsburg).

District 71 includes portions of east Coweta County and portions of Peachtree City in the area north of Ga. Highway 54 and west of Ga. Highway 74.

Thursday’s forum is being offered by the Chamber as a public service for Coweta citizens and District 71 voters to help them make an informed choice in the February 5 election. There is no charge to attend and seating will be on a first come, first seated basis. Sponsors will not endorse any candidate and the Chamber will continue its policy of remaining neutral toward all candidates and to not endorse any candidate for office.

The Wadsworth Auditorium is located at 25 Jefferson Street in downtown Newnan.

For further information, contact the Chamber at 770-253-2270 or info@newnancowetachamber.org.