at upcoming luncheon

By BRIAN BLACKLEY

Managing Editor

Troy, Brundidge, Goshen and Banks candidates for office will be accessible and in one place to address issues relating to their constituents for members of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce and the public next week.

In order to facilitate open discussion between potential elected leaders and Pike County Chamber of Commerce members, the Chamber will host a Governmental Affairs Luncheon on Aug. 15. All Pike County’s candidates for municipal offices with election opposition have been invited to participate.

Candidates must RSVP by Aug. 11.

According to Marsha Gaylard, president of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, the program is designed to allow candidates and chamber members to discuss ideas that affect the area in an open forum.

The Dutch-treat luncheon will be held at noon on Aug. 15 at the Troy Holiday Inn.

"This is something we have traditionally done in election years with the county commission to facilitate open discussion of the issues that affect us," Gaylard said. "It’s a lot of fun and it provides members with a great opportunity to ‘get to know’ who they will see on the ballot in the general election. Now we are seeking to do the same thing with municipal candidates."

Jenniffer Barner, community development director for the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, organized the event and said all municipal candidates with opposition in Pike County have been invited to participate.

"We invited all of our commissioners with opposition," Barner said. "It will give them a good chance to convey to the voters what they see as the real issues they plan to stand for if elected to serve the community."

An offshoot of a program called "Eggs and Issues," this year’s discussion will be held over lunch instead to accommodate schedules of candidates and of potential participants.

"As we were organizing this, we became aware that the mornings were not always the best times for everyone to participate, so we went to a luncheon format," Barner said. "It’s something that should be very enlightening for many of our residents and chamber members."

The discussion is the first one scheduled this season which puts opposing candidates together to address issues that affect the people.

Barner also said members who plan to attend should RSVP by 10 a.m., Aug. 11.

"Though this will be a Dutch-treat, we have been asked to supply Holiday Inn with a total of anticipated attendees," Barner said.

The discussion will allow each candidate to take a few minutes and explain his or her platform and then field questions from the audience about his or her positions.

Invited to attend are Altrena Baxter and Sherrol Tatom, candidates for District 1 City Council in Brundidge; Vernon Jackson and Jaine Treadwell, candidates for Brundidge’s District 3 council seat; Jimmy Bryan, Michael Sanders and Rusty Yeomans, candidates for mayor of Goshen; Guy Bruce, Sammie Cope, Jean Jordan, Norma McLeod, Al Sanders, and J.R. Sanders, candidates for Goshen City Council; George Balmer and Jimmy C. Lunsford, mayoral candidates in Troy; Charlie Dunn, José Henderson, Matthew Jordan, and Ricky McLendon, Troy District 1 council candidates; and Lynda Maddox, Wanda Moultry and Alex Neal, District 5 Troy City Council candidates.

"We hope we will have total participation from our candidates and we encourage area residents to come out and participate," Barner said. "This will be a real opportunity to learn a great deal about the candidates, the issues and the community."

To call and reserve seating, call the Chamber office at 566-2294.