Voters turnout for packed candidate forum

A restaurant known for its gourmet sandwiches, served up a little food for thought as Chappy’s Deli in Auburn played host to a candidate forum sponsored by the Republican Women of East Alabama on Monday night.
The forum included Lee County Circuit Judge Place 2 Republican hopefuls Chris Hughes and James Thrash, as well as Mike Fellows and Margaret Mayfield, who are in the GOP Lee County Family Court runoff. The runoff election is July 13.
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bradley Byrne was a guest speaker at Monday’s event. Byrne faces Dr. Robert Bentley in the race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in the July 13 runoff. Bentley was also invited to speak at the event, but was not able to attend because of a scheduling conflict, according to event organizers.
Auburn resident Joan Smith said she attended to hear the latest talk from the candidates.
“We voted in the primary and this is a good chance to hear what new perspectives the candidates might have since that time,” Smith said. “This kind of forum provides you with a feeling you just can’t get from a candidate’s TV or radio ad.”
Working toward a balanced budget for the state is something that Warren Smith says he’s looking for from the candidate he plans to vote for.
“In the past, there has been a lack of accountability with regards to the impact debts being accumulated will not only have on us but on our children and our grandchildren,” said Smith, a Lee County resident. “A balanced budget and pay-as-you-go measures are absolutely essential.”
With the low voter turnout for the June 1 primaries, it all comes down to a matter of supporting the candidate you choose, said Auburn resident James Grider.
“Somebody’s got to support these people who are taking their time to try and create a better situation for our county and state and if you don’t go out and listen to them, then they might as well be talking to a wall,” said Grider, a member of Concerned Citizens of East Alabama, who attended the candidate forum with his wife, Doris. “We support our constitution, small government and are pro-life and are very concerned about the direction our government is going right now.”
Education, healthcare and the lottery were all fair game as the nearly 80 in attendance got a chance to question the four judicial candidates.
“I want people to know that I’ve handled judicial-type functions such as arbitration and mediation and have spent the last 20 plus years working in the courts,” said Hughes.
“The majority of cases the Circuit Court handles are criminal cases and with my diverse background that involves handling those types of cases, I feel that makes me the most qualified candidate,” Thrash said.
In the family court race, Mayfield says she wants voters to understand that when it comes to dealing with the challenges Lee County’s families face and the fiscal concerns associated with efficiently operating the court that she’s someone who isn’t afraid to “think outside the box.”
For Fellows, the bottom line for his candidacy is protecting and strengthening Lee County’s families.
“I want people to understand that I’m in this for the right reasons,” said Fellows. “I’m not in this to be judge. I’m in this to help the families that come through the door of the courtroom.”
The winner of the Hughes-Thrash runoff will face Democrat Kenneth Gibbs in the November general election.
The Fellows-Mayfield winner will face Democrat Joanne Camp in the general election.