Harry Lewis, served as the moderator at Thursday night's Political Enlightenment Group
Forum, that featured candidates for Commissioner Pct. #2 and County Judge.

 

P.E.G. Forum Asks Difficult Questions
and Issues of Candidates

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

It was a series of difficult questions about the issues at stake in the upcoming elections, that Harry Lewis, serving as moderator, asked the candidates for Hopkins County Judge and Commissioner Pct. #2, on Thursday night, at Heritage Hall. "I doubt anyone changed their minds about the candidates that they were supporting, but we did hear some of the issues discussed and the candidates' opinions on the issues," advised one observer.

 

County Judge candidate, Chris Brown, addresses questions at last night's
PEG Forum.

 

 

Candidates for Hopkins County Commissioner Pct. #2, Mike Odell and Trey Hinton, were first brought to the front of the room and given a series of questions regarding county roads, services for law enforcement and county fire protection, as well as how they would address the county budget.

Cletus Millsap and Chris Brown, candidates for Hopkins County Judge, were then brought to the "hot seat" to answer a variety of questions about their individual views, regarding issues. "How do propose to balance the county budget and provide services to the county?" questioned Lewis.

 

 

 

Millsap extolled the advantages of getting grants for the county and providing those monies to help with the "shortfalls" in the county budget, due to decreased tax revenues. He listed a number of grants he'd procured for the county during his tenure in office.

 

County Judge Cletus Millsap defends his record in office.

 

Brown proposed the continued expansion of job base and attracting new business, but also stated he served on many of the same boards as Millsap, and could get the very same grants.

Both candidates pledged support for law enforcement and fire protection, but added that they couldn't promise what would be done, in the face of budget cuts.

Additional questions regarding the agricultural base of Hopkins County, bringing new jobs to the area, water rights, and the Downtown Revitalization Plan were then fielded from the audience.

"I feel that some of the questions were answered and that people had the opportunity to see where the candidates stand on the issues," expressed Lewis. "It's always good to be an informed voter!"

 

And, the Hopkins County voters will have the "final" say, as they go to the polls in the November elections.

 

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