Second County Commission Debate Tuesday, Among Others

The second county commission debate in Forsyth County takes place Tuesday, it's one of many scheduled debates of the political season throughout May and June.

. Tuesday's debate will feature seven of the nine candidates, according to Trilby Leech, chairperson of the Forsyth County Tea Party Patriot Alliance, the debate sponsor.

Scheduled to appear:

In District 5, which covers much of east Forsyth, . His challenger , has a scheduling conflict, but did send a statement to Leech. She read an excerpt to Cumming Patch explaining his absence.

"Please accept my apologies for not being with you this evening, unfortunately I cannot attend due to a commitment that I made long before announcing my candidacy for Commission 5 District." 

In District 4, which covers a good area of north Forsyth, all candidates running are attending including, , Tim Hubbard, Charles Meagher, and .

In District 2, which covers a portion of south Forsyth, the race is between and Tam will not be attending, he too, has a scheduling conflict.

"We have been asked to provide dinner for 350 nutrition and food service employees of the Forsyth County Schools system," Tam said. "This is a not-for-profit event for us [Tam owns and operates Tam's Backstage and his new restaurant Tam's at Bluegrass Lakes], and with a group this large my participation is necessary."

Leech said Brown will arrive late, but that his campaign manager will give his opening remarks.

The debate, moderated by Brad Wilkins, begins at 7:30 p.m. with two minutes of opening statements by the candidates, then they will answer questions fielded from the audience and the Forsyth County Tea Party Patriot Alliance, based on their research. Each candidate will have one minute to answer and will be allowed two minutes of closing statements.

The debate will be held in the commissioner's meeting room located on the second floor at the Forsyth County Administration Building.

Leech said from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. attendees will have a chance to take part in a meet and greet with the candidates. She also said the candidates will be sitting where the commissioners usually sit during their meeting. The debate is expected to last until 9 p.m.

The Forsyth County Tea Party Patriot Alliance was created out of two former groups, Concerned Citizens of Forsyth County Tea Party and Forsyth County Tea Party Patriots.

"We became an alliance, but we're actually one group," said Leech. "We do not endorse in any way. We see ourselves strictly as educational and we will not endorse a political party, or a candidate."

As for the upcoming debates, Leech's group will sponsor the second Forsyth County sheriff's debate on May 14 and the contenders for the Georgia 9th District Congressional debate on May 24.

The Forsyth County Tea Party will host their next debate on May 21 featuring the House Representative candidates.

The Forsyth County GOP will hold a series of debates beginning on June 18 with the candidates running for a seat on the Forsyth County School Board. On June 19 it's the next county commission debate. On June 25 the candidates running in the 9th and 7th District Congressional race will be heard. And finally on June 27, the candidates running for State House District 24, 25, and 26 and State Senate District 27 will square off.

Voters head to the polls to cast their ballots for the candidates in the primary July 31.