Voters will have an opportunity to meet candidates for local and state offices during two forums being held in conjunction with the Cowley County Fair.
The forum for local candidates will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 31, in Building 6. Candidates for state offices will appear from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, also in Building 6.
The candidate forums are being hosted by the Legislative Committee of the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Cowley County Farm Bureau and the Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce. Lewis Kuchar of the farm bureau will moderate the programs.
The race for Cowley County sheriff will likely be decided during the Aug. 5 primary election since there are two Republican candidates and no Democratic candidates. Either Undersheriff Don Read or former police officer Randy Emerson will go on to run unopposed in the November general election.
Two of the three county commissioners are up for re-election this fall. Democrat Carmelita Clarkson currently holds one seat. Democrat John Mars wants the seat. So do two Republicans – Alan Groom and Mark Eastman. One of the Democratic candidates and one of the Republican candidates will likely be eliminated during the primary. The winners will go on to compete in the general election.
Gary Wilson holds the other commission seat becoming vacant this year. He is a Democrat and running for a second four-year term. Republican Bob Voegele hopes to unseat Wilson. The race won’t be decided until the general election.
The two state representatives from Cowley County will also have an opportunity to speak during the first forum – Democrat Ed Trimmer is being challenged by Republican John Whittinger. Representative Kasha Kelley, a Republican, is running against Democrat Gene Burr. The races should be resolved in the general election.
There are two Republicans who want to defeat Sen. Greta Goodwin, a Democrat. Steve Abrams and George Leach will face off in the primary election.
There are three candidates for the State Board of Education seat being vacated by Abrams – Democrat Paul Casanova and Republican candidates David Dennis and Marty Marshall.
The format provides for each candidate to make an opening statement of no more than three minutes. Candidates will be asked a series of questions from both the moderator and the audience.
