BLYTHEWOOD – The Voice of Blythewood will host the 2019 Blythewood Candidate Forum at Doko Manor Thursday, Oct. 24 from 7 – 9 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The forum will feature four of five candidates for town council and three candidates for mayor. Council candidate Barry Belville will not be in attendance.
Town Hall Format
In a departure from formats used for candidate forums in years past, this year’s forum will follow a town hall format that will include questions for candidates asked by members of the audience. Those in the audience who plan to ask questions will need to submit them between 6:30 and 7 p.m.
Council and mayoral candidates will answer questions in two rounds. Candidates for council will answer questions first, followed by the mayoral candidates.
Candidates for mayor are former Blythewood Mayor Keith Bailey and Town Councilmen Bryan S. Franklin and Malcolm P. Gordge. Candidates for council are incumbent Town Councilman Eddie Baughman, Barry J. Belville, Planning Commission Chairman Donald Beaton Brock, Jr., Planning Commissioner Sloan Jarvis Griffin, III and former Planning Commissioner Marcus Taylor.
Door Prizes
An added feature this year will be drawings for six door prizes to be awarded to members of the audience. Each door prize will be a $100 gift certificate provided by the following six merchants: Blythewood Oil (fuel from a Blythewood Sharpe Shoppe), IGA/Food Lion (groceries), Papa John’s (a pizza party), Reese’s Plants (plants), Laura’s Tea Room (High Tea for four) and Pope Tire Company (products or service).
Free door prize tickets will be available at the door, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Three door prizes will be drawn following the council candidate forum and three will be drawn following the mayoral candidate forum.
Mayor J. Michael Ross will serve as master of ceremonies, and Vance Sharpe will provide sound. Blythewood High School student Abhimanyu Sailesh will be the time keeper.
Refreshments will be provided. The Manor is located at 100 Alvina Hagood Circle adjacent to Town Hall.
For information about the forum, contact The Voice at 803-767-5711 or email voice@blythewoodonline.com.