Albany Herald

Candidate for State Representative District 153 Muarlean Edwards takes her turn at Saturday’s candidates forum in the Law Enforcement Center. Others in the picture are from right, Emma Quimbley, Dougherty County Coroner, Victoria Darrisaw, candidate for State Court Judge, Judy Bowles, moderator, Christopher Warren, candidate for State Court Judge and Michael Fowler, candidate for coroner.

ALBANY, Ga. — A crowd in the almost-full community room at the Law Enforcement Center heard pitches for votes starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The election-time Town Hall was organized by Albany City Commissioner Jon Howard to give residents a chance to hear and meet the July 31 primary candidates whose schedule allowed them to attend.

As Howard said, this was not a debate. The candidates each had seven minutes to run through their qualifications, history and experience. The candidates could meet and answer questions with audience members one-to-one after the presentations.

Judy Bowles, executive director of Keep Albany Dougherty Beautiful acted as moderator for the forum.

“We all realize that voting is very important,” Bowles said, “It is not just that, it is about being an informed voter.”

The following candidates made their pitches at the forum:

• Candidate for State Representative, District 153: Muarlean Edwards.
• Candidates for Dougherty County Commission District 3: Louise Primrose and Clinton Johnson.
• Candidates for Dougherty County School Board, at large: Anita Williams Brown and Lane Price.
• Candidates for State Court Judge: Victoria Darrisaw and Chrsitopher Warren.
• Candidates for Dougherty County Coroner: Emma Quimbley and Michael Fowler.
• Candidate for U.S. Congress Georgia District 2: Rick Allen.

Many of the people at the forum wore T-shirts supporting one candidate or another. Others came to meet candidates they had not met before.

“I haven’t made up my mind on all the candidates,” said Lynn Kennedy, “I was glad I could come here and meet them.”

Joan Ford agreed that the forum was a worthwhile election experience. It could help her make up her mind, she said.

“I thought it was very educational,” Ford said. “I didn’t know a lot of the candidates very well. Now I have a better insight into them and how they’ll benefit the city.”