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Those running for Athens City Council, AMWA board set to speak April 24 [Athens Daily Review, Texas :: ](Athens Daily Review (TX) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 18--ATHENS -- City of Athens registered voters are encouraged to attend a candidate's forum on Thursday, April 24 at the Cain Center. Candidates for the Athens City Council and Athens Municipal Water Authority will each answer three-to-four questions from Athens Daily Review Editor Chad Wilson, who will serve as the event's moderator. Starting at 6 p.m., the forum will be held in Room B at the Cain Center. There will be questions that will be asked of each of the candidates, and if time allows, one or two taken in writing from the audience. Each candidate that is first asked a question will have two minutes to reply, and then each other candidate will have one minute to offer a rebuttal or state their opinion. "We hope this forum will be helpful to the candidates, and to let the voters get to know them and their stance on all issues pertaining to our community," Tere Lawyer, Cain Center Executive Director said. Athens' citizens can submit questions prior to the event by e-mailing Chad Wilson at [email protected] or by mailing them to the Review office, P.O. Box 32, Athens, TX 75751. Athens has three city council seats up for election with six candidates. Election day is May 10. Early voting in the municipal election begins April 28 and closes May 6. In the Athens City Council races, Place 2 City Council member Carol Barton is challenged by Thomas Joe Whatley. In Place 3, Aubrey Jones has filed for another term, and is opposed by Charles Elliott. Place 4 incumbent Elaine Jenkins is opposed by Tres Winn. Barton, Jones and Jenkins were each re-elected in 2012, after drawing no opposing candidates. This year, opponents have emerged at a time the city council is involved in a dispute with the Athens Municipal Water Authority. Athens voters will decide on May 10 whether to dissolve the AMWA, which has been an entity since it was created in 1957. Whatley recently resigned from the AMWA Board of Directors, and is a former mayoral candidate. He lost a close race against Mayor Randy Daniel in 2011. Elliott also recently stepped down from the AMWA board. Winn retired from the Athens Fire Department in 2012, after rising to the rank of assistant chief. Candidates for the AMWA Board of Directors are Billy Carter, Mike Peek, Ed Gatlin and Greg Hisey. Gatlin and Hisey currently serve on the AMWA Board of Directors. The top two voter getters in the AMWA election will be added to the board. ___ (c)2014 the Athens Daily Review (Athens, Texas) Visit the Athens Daily Review (Athens, Texas) at www.athensreview.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |