Citizens will have a chance on Thursday to pose their questions directly to candidates seeking to represent Oconee County in State House District 120, State House District 121, State Senate District 46, and U.S. Congressional District 10.
Moderators at a candidate Forum sponsored by The Oconee Enterprise and Oconee County Observations will ask citizens wishing to ask a question to identify themselves and state a question for the candidates.
The Forum will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Center in Oconee Veterans Park, 3500A Hog Mountain Road, west of Butler’s Crossing with introductions.
Panel 1, with House District 120 candidates Republican Ward Black and Democrat Suzanna Karatassos, will run from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m.
Panel 2 for House District 121 candidates Democrat Eric Gisler and Republican Mack “Dutch” Guest IV will be from 6:15-6:45 p.m.
Panel 3 for Senate District 46 candidates Republican Marc McMain and Democrat Ray Smith will be from 6:45 to 7:15 p.m.
Panel 4 for U.S. Congressional District 10 will be from 7:15 to 7:45 p.m.
Democrat Pam DeLancy will be alone in that last session. Republican Houston Gaines said on Friday that he will not attend the event.
Invitations
Invitations went out to all of the candidates in the four races on June 17, the day after the June 16 runoffs determined the final party nominees.
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| Gaines |
Gaines responded on June 18 in a text message saying he was a “maybe.”
In response to a request for an update on his status, Gaines on July 21 said “we have scheduling conflicts that evening. We’ve not been able to reschedule those to this point but are still trying to see what is possible.”
On Aug. 25, Gaines said “I...do hope it ends up working for the forum.”
On Sept. 8, Gaines said moving the 10th District Panel to the final time slot “would be the best and only way I can make it work...Its a really tough evening for me.”
On Friday (Sept. 18), Gaines wrote “I apologize but I am not going to be able to make it. I’ve tried my best to make it happen but will be unable to do so.”
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| DeLancy |
The session will continue with a name card for both DeLancy and Gaines on the table, should Gaines find it possible at the last moment to attend the session.
DeLancy has been informed the entire 30 minute session still will take place and will be devoted to the 10th Congressional District, with citizens asking as many questions as the time will allow.
All of Oconee County falls in Senate District 46 and U.S. Congressional District 10.
Oconee County precincts South, Central, and Dark Corner are in House District 121, and Oconee County Precinct Northeast is in House District 120.
Candidate Format
Patrick Graham, publisher of The Oconee Enterprise and Katie Vickery, an Oconee County resident, former broadcast journalist, and public relations practitioner, will co-moderate the Forum, recognizing speakers from the audience who want to ask a question.
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| Black |
Persons wishing to pose a question will be asked raise a hand.
David Clementson, a professor in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Georgia, will take a microphone to the person recognized.
The person asking the question will be asked to stand, identify oneself, and state a single question succinctly.
The question must be directed to all of the candidates on the panel.
The participants will be asked not to make statements, critical or otherwise, and not to endorse any of the candidates. The forum is intended to be a neutral, nonpartisan event.
The session will be video recorded and available subsequently on the Oconee County Observations Vimeo channel .
Sept. 23 Farm Bureau Forum
The candidates for House District 120, House District 121, and Senate District 46 have agreed to respond to questions on Wednesday (Sept. 23) from the Oconee County Farm Bureau Directors on issues that impact farmers and rural Oconee County.
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| Karatassos |
That Forum will begin at 7 p.m. at Antiques Acres Farm, 2531 Snows Mill Road, in the west of the county. From 6:30 to 7 p.m., citizens will have a chance to meet with the candidates informally.
Citizens will not have a chance to ask questions of the candidates during the Forum.
Morgan Hart, Farm Bureau District 4 Federation Manager, said the Forum will have separate sessions for House District 120, House District 121, and Senate District 46.
He and another Farm Bureau staff member will pose three to four questions to each of the candidates in those three sessions, he said.
The candidates were told that “The questions will focus specifically on Georgia Farm Bureau issues, policies, and priorities, as well as issues affecting agriculture, rural communities, land use, and the agricultural economy,” according to Hart.
“Our goal is to give Farm Bureau members and the community an opportunity to understand each candidate's position on issues that directly impact farmers and rural Oconee County,” that statement said.
Notes On Candidates And Districts
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| Gisler |
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| Guest |
Gisler currently represents House District 121, having defeated Guest in a special election last December.
Senate District 46 also is open because incumbent Republican Bill Cowsert is stepping down.
U.S. Congressional District 10 is open because incumbent Republican Mike Collins is running for the U.S. Senate.
Black, from Jackson County, is a farmer and also owns a landscape supply business in Commerce.
Karatassos also lives in Jackson County and is a content Creator. Her work appears on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets.
Gisler, who lives in Oconee County, is a product manager with insurance technology startup Assurified and owner of the retail store Olive Basket, in downtown Athens.
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| McMain |
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| Smith |
McMain, from Walton County, is an entrepreneur and owner of Town Values magazine.
Smith, from Oconee County, is self-employed as a soft-ware engineer.
DeLancy, from Henry County, is a retired U.S. Army Colonel.
Gaines, from Athens-Clarke County, works in small business development.
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