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Campaign season heats up
Five events are within two weeks
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Forsyth County News
At a glance

• The Forsyth County Tea Party’s forum will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce events facility.  

For those who can’t attend, the Republican candidates’ answers to questions on six local issues can be found at the party’s Web site, www.forsythteaparty.com.

• AARP members and prospective members are invited to join Friday’s meeting, set for 11 a.m. at the Golden Corral restaurant. Contact: (770) 205-1579.

• The Forsyth County Republican Party debates will be held at 6 p.m. June 28, 29 and 30 in the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 East Main St. in Cumming. Contact: www.forsythgop.org.
Residents following the campaign for Forsyth County commission will have two opportunities next week to hear from the candidates.

The Forsyth County Tea Party will welcome the six Republican candidates running for the Districts 1 and 3 seats on the commission Thursday night.

On Friday, members of the local AARP chapter will hear from the commission hopefuls, as well as local school board candidates, during a lunch meeting.

Steve Voshall, founder of the local Tea Party, said all candidates have confirmed their attendance at Thursday’s event, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce events facility.

Democratic candidate Mary Chatfield was not invited, Voshall said, because she faces no opposition in her party’s July 20 primary.

Questions are “geared toward local issues — water, roads, traffic, the golf course,” said Voshall, the last topic in reference to the county’s interest in buying Lanier Golf Course.

They will also be asked about government spending, a Tea Party concern, and their insight into managing the county’s budget without raising property taxes.

Because guests will be hearing only from Republican candidates, Voshall said he expects “a lot of them have similar answers, but there is quite a difference of opinions.”

The Forsyth County AARP event is part of the organization’s regular monthly meeting at 11 a.m. in Golden Corral restaurant.

President Laurence Rothstein said the format will follow a standard meeting, but each candidate who attends will have “two minutes to say what they want to say.”

“We’re just going to squeeze these candidates in since this is the last monthly meeting before the election,” he said.

“There are other sources of information on the candidates and other opportunities to get to know the candidates ... but this is a good idea because we’ll have a pretty good turnout.”

Smart Growth Forsyth held the political season’s first local forum on Tuesday. Five of the seven commission candidates attended.

There will be three additional chances this month to hear from local candidates in forums organized by the Forsyth County Republican Party.

Commission hopefuls will debate June 28, while the June 29 forum will feature candidates for state House and Senate.

On June 30, those running for county school board and state school superintendent candidates will speak.

Only Republican candidates are invited to participate in the local GOP forums, each of which will be at 6 p.m. in the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 East Main St., Suite 220, in Cumming.