Darlington Council and Mayoral Forum Oct. 22
The candidates running for office for the upcoming election in Darlington will participate in an upcoming event hosted by the News and Press on Thursday, October 22nd at 6:30 p.m. at the Darlington Recreation Department gymnasium (Harmon Baldwin Center) on 300 Sanders Street.
No photography, videotaping or audio taping for commercial use allowed. This event is a private sponsored and hosted by the News & Press, and we plan to rebroadcast this event on our website. We are retaining exclusivity throughout the entire program.
In this unique forum, voters from Darlington will have an up-close and personal chance to see and hear from the citizens who will be on the ballot for election on November 3.
The event will be a time-managed forum moderated by Bill Rogers, Executive Director of the South Carolina Press Association. Mr. Rogers and the publisher of the News and Press, Morrey Thomas, will choose selections from the list of questions that were submitted from Darlington residents.
The event will allow the candidates to introduce themselves and state their goals and objectives for running for office, with a 2-minute time limit.
Candidates for mayor:
•James “Jimmy” Cooper
•Gloria Cheeseboro Hines
•William M. Jackson
•Jim Stone
City council candidates: (3 at-large seats)
•Joan Alston
•Sheila Baccus
•Ronda Duke Brown
•Carolyn Bruce
•Linwood Epps
•Bryant Gardner
•John M. Milling
•Ouida K. Page
•Diane Sigmon
•Joyce Wingate Thomas
•John A. Wallace
•Beatrice Wilson
Questions from citizens of Darlington were submitted to the News and Press, which range from current events in Darlington, as well as future plans for the city.
The evening will begin with introductions by each council member, where they will share their platform. The moderator will then ask a variety of questions to the council candidates; the answers will be time moderated.
Following a brief intermission, the four candidates for mayor will introduce themselves to the audience. A separate list of questions will be addressed to the candidates, and will also be moderated for time.
The event will be recorded, and available on the News & Press website.
A story will follow in the October 28th print issue of the newspaper.
Elections in Darlington County:
Hartsville:
Johnny Andrews is running unopposed so he will not be on the ballot. In City Council District 2, incumbent Bernice Wilson is facing opposition from Christopher Shirley. In City District 6, Billy Shirley (incumbent) is facing opposition from Casey Copeland.
Lamar:
Two Town Council at Large seats are available; voters may vote for two from the following list: Mike Lloyd (incumbent), Kevin J. Hunt, Michael Parnell, or Angele White-Bradley.
Society Hill:
No election this year; the town had two council seats to fill, but only the incumbents Deborah Harrell and Michelle Steen filed.