Two public forums scheduled to showcase primary candidates

Early voting across North Carolina begins next week on Thursday, April 28. Macon County has a full slate of elections on the ballot this year including two Macon County Board of Commissioner seats, the Clerk of Superior Court, the Macon County Sheriff seat, and eight candidates to chose from for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District. 

To help voters become familiar with candidates for all offices, the Southern Scoop News and the Macon County News are teaming up with the Macon County Public Library to host candidate meet & greet opportunities as well as a Q&A forum to ask candidates the pressing questions voters have for each office. 

Both candidate forums will be held at the Macon County Public Library beginning at 6 p.m. The event will begin with a candidate meet & greet opportunity from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m followed by a Q&A session with candidates. The event will be live streamed courtesy of Macon Media. 

To date: All Candidate for Macon County Clerk of Court have confirmed their attendance for Tuesday May 3.

Congressional Candidates to confirm attendance are: 

Wendy Nevarez

Kristie Sluder

Michele V. Woodhouse

Bo Hess

Bruce OConnell

COL (Ret) Rod Honeycutt

Matthew Burril

Incumbent Commissioner Madison Cawthorn’s staff responded to the invitation to attend but declined and said that during the primary election Rep. Cawthorn would only be attending two public forums, one hosted by the Henderson County Republican Party, his home county, and the other hosted by NC 11 GOP. 

Congressional Candidates Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and Jay Carey responded to the invitation to attend the forum, however they are unable to attend due to prior commitments. 

Candidates Katie Dean, Marco Gutierrez, and Bynum Lunsford did not return calls or emails. 

Candidate Chuck Edwards responded and said he would need to rearrange some things on his schedule but would try to attend. 

All Candidates for Macon County Commissioner in both District I & II have confirmed their attendance. 

While the Southern Scoop News is not hosting a forum for candidates for Macon County Sheriff, candidates for Sheriff are invited to attend either or both public forum and meet & greet opportunities.