Rev. Harold Nash and Harry Lewis welcome those attending Thursday night's African-American Political Form, hosted at
Morning Chapel Baptist Church.

 

Thursday Night's African-American Political Forum
Polls Candidates About Issues

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

In welcoming those in attendance at Thursday night's African-American Political Forum, both Rev. Harold Nash and Harry Lewis, stated that "an informed voter makes better decisions at the polls!" Thus, it was the aim of those who organized the forum that they learned the platforms of those who are seeking local political offices.

 

Local community leader, Valanderous Bell, served as moderator and
asked prepared questions to each of the candidates seeking office.

 

 

Valanderous Bell served as the moderator for Thursday night's forum and asked prepared questions of each candidate. A short question and answer period, followed Thursday night's structured forum.

State Representative Mark Homer, of Paris, outlined the many bills and improvements
he has championed while serving this district in the state legislature.

 

Local Republican, Pat Chase, invited voters to vote for his friend,
Erwin Cain, for the seat now held by Homer.

 

 

 

Introducing herself as "one tough lady," Sharon Russell, who is running for the
seat held by Senator Bob Duell, told the audience that she had ideas for turning our
government around and making it fiscally responsible to those who own it, the people!

 

Hopkins County Judge Candidate, Chris Brown, told the voters that it was
time for a change in local government and that his experience in city government
had prepared him for the duties of the office.

Current County Judge Cletus Millsap told the audience of the
strides he'd made in local government, since being elected.

 

 

 

The largest field of candidates was those four men who are running for the office of Hopkins County Commissioner Precinct #2, being vacated by Commissioner Burke Bullock, who is not seeking re-election.

 

Mike Odell, outlined his platform and experience in construction
and managing a business, as well as road construction ideas, for the voters.

 

Rudy Ellis shared his community involvement and knowledge of
road construction, with the voters.

 

Trey Hinton outlined a system of keeping the road ditches cleared,
so that water could "run-off" and preserve the county roads in Precinct #2.

 

Heath Gammill told of his experience of growing-up on a
dairy farm in Precinct #2 and how important the county
roads were to the economic growth of the area.

 

Final speaker was this local man who asked voters to elect his
friend, Rick Creed, to the Texas Supreme Court.

 

Local African-Ameircan leader, W.C. Pryor, asked candidates to not make "empty promises" and to actually
do something about the problems, once they were elected!

 

"I think we had a great opportunity to meet the candidates tonight," expressed one of the local African-American attendees. "We got to ask them questions and hopefully expressed the unique needs of our community, to those who are seeking local political offices!"

 

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