Chamber forums inform voters

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

The Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce held two well-attended political forums in October to educate voters about the candidates in the upcoming General Election. The moderated Q&A sessions gave voters an important opportunity to meet vying candidates, hear their views, learn about their positions on issues and compare their talking points. The forums can be viewed in their entirety in the Videos section of the Chamber's Facebook page.
Moderator of the forums was Ron Cichon, who has represented the Chamber in these events starting in 1976. Panelists who posed questions during the forums were Bob Davison and David Ward, one a Republican and one a Democrat, who have served in this capacity for several forums. Members of the public also had the opportunity to submit questions for the panelists to ask the candidates.
The first forum took place on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and focused on races for two seats on the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners. For the District 2 seat, incumbent Gene Hall (D) and challenger Paul Henry (L) attended. For the District 4 seat, incumbent Betsy Barfield (NPA) and challenger Austin Hosford attended.
Barfield gave an opening statement; answered questions about her accomplishments, missed opportunities, taxation rates, changing the county's comprehensive plan, sewer projects, budget monitoring, supporting/respecting projects in other commissioners' districts, road paving efforts, the nature of her conversations with Kirk Reams, bike trail approval process and who she supports in other election races; and gave a closing statement.
Hosford gave an opening statement; answered questions about what he means by “Jefferson County first,” how he would do the job differently than his opponent, taxation rates, changing the county's comprehensive plan, sewer projects, budget monitoring, supporting/respecting projects in other commissioners' districts, the nature of his conversations with Kirk Reams and who he supports in other election races; and gave a closing statement.
Hall gave an opening statement; answered questions about changing the county's form of government from using a county coordinator to a county manager, enhancing public safety, community economic/work force development, inter-government partnerships with schools, changing the county's comprehensive plan, oversight of county finances, management of the Wacissa River park, length of his term, his priorities for issues; and gave a closing statement.
Henry gave an opening statement; answered questions about changing the county's form of government from using a county coordinator to a county manager, updating the county's accounting system, reducing costs in the solid waste department, use of private road crews, establishment of local housing assistance, changing the county's comprehensive plan, oversight of county finances, management of the Wacissa River park, his priorities for issues; and gave a closing statement.
The second forum took place on Thursday¸ Oct. 13, and focused on the two candidates for the job of Jefferson County Supervisor of Elections: Michelle Milligan (R) and Althera Y. Johnson (D).
Milligan gave an opening statement; answered questions about maintaining high voter turnout, increasing voter turnout even more, continuing to modernize the Elections Office, why so many supervisors of elections are leaving their office, election integrity, familiarity with the county's polling places, recruitment of poll workers, the value of vote-by-mail, the vote-by-mail process, how to address the issue of people who second-guess election results, her experience in the Department of State, maintaining voter rolls, her experience with budgets, how her qualifications set her apart from her opponent, felon voters, upcoming technological advancements in voting systems, relating to other supervisors of elections, fairness of the local 2020 election, ballot drop boxes, what made you run for this office; and gave a closing statement.
Johnson gave an opening statement; answered questions about maintaining high voter turnout, increasing voter turnout even more, updating the Elections Office website, increasing office hours, what she means by a “voters first” policy, why so many supervisors of elections are leaving their office, election integrity, familiarity with the county's polling places, recruiting poll workers, the value of vote-by-mail, the vote-by-mail process, how to address the issue of people who second-guess election results, her position in the Florida Division of Elections, her experience managing grants, how her qualifications set her apart from her opponent, felon voters, upcoming technological advancements in voting systems, relating to other supervisors of elections, fairness of the local 2020 election, ballot drop boxes, what made you run for this office; and gave a closing statement.
Early voting began on Monday, Oct. 24, in Jefferson County and will continue through Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Supervisor of Elections Office, located at 1175 W. Washington St. Election Day for voting in precincts is Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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ECB Publishing, Inc. Photo by Laura Young, October 11, 2022
Panelists Bob Davison (left) and David Ward (right) prepare to present questions submitted by the public.