Story by Donna Thornton donna@southerntorch.com Jan 12, 2024 Updated Jan 12, 2024

Mark your calendar for an opportunity to hear from local candidates seeking county and state offices.

A political forum is slated for 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Fort Payne Auditorium.

The DeKalb County Republican Party and Southern Torch are teaming up to sponsor the forum. The public is invited and the forum will be livestreamed on the Southern Torch Facebook page.

In this year’s primary vote on March 5 is vital for local candidates and for the people they hope will be their constituents.

No Democrats qualified for local offices; the Republican candidate selected in this primary vote will be the office holder, unless an independent or third-party candidate makes their way onto the November ballot.

DeKalb County Republican Party Chairman David Gulledge said all candidates have been invited to the forum, to introduce themselves to voters and answer questions. Even the candidates who are running unopposed have been invited to introduce themselves to voters.

“I think it’s a win-win for candidates,” Gulledge said, giving them an opportunity to get their message out to voters. It’s a win for the voters as well, he said, who will get a chance to see how the candidates respond under a little pressure in a public setting.