For those who missed the poorly attended candidate forum at the Opera House in mid September, there are still two more chances next week to see what county candidates are made of.

AT THE STUMP

Monday morning at 10, the Newberry AARP chapter will host a candidate stump at Newberry College in the Music Building on Luther Street.

All Newberry candidates serving the county are invited and will be introduced, but only candidates for auditor, coroner and treasurer will speak during five minute allotments because of time restraints.

However, all candidates attending the event are invited to talk with voters in the lobby after the meeting.

“Our AARP is looking forward to hearing each of the candidates speak and we hope the citizens of Newberry County turn out to hear them,” said Sammie Graham Vice president of the Newberry AARP chapter. “Hopefully, Monday morning will be a convenient time for those who can't come (to the night forums).”

The event is free and the public is invited.

No tickets are required. Graham estimates that the Music Building holds 125 people.

MORE TIME TO DECIDE

On Tuesday evening from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Prosperity Civic Center is hosting a forum for all county and state-level candidates for Newberry County races.

Unopposed candidates will open the session, each with two-minute introductions.

Afterwards, opposed candidates, beginning with coroner, auditor and treasurer, may give one and a half-minute introductions before they answer questions within an additional two-minute period. Candidates running for the same office will answer the same questions.

“Prosperity Civic Center wanted to showcase the brand-new facility and Prosperity is in the middle of the county,” said Rush Workman, who is on the Civic Center committee and chair of the debate, “so they opened it up for a debate because it is such a hot political year.“

A secret bipartisan panel is currently brewing up candidate questions, but Workman invites question submissions from anyone.

Questions should be political and not beside-the-point personal questions asking who candidates plan to vote for, he said.

E-mail questions to Workman at rush@thedutchforkchronicle.com with “Debate” in the subject line.

Questions may also be mailed to the Dutch Fork Chronicle, P.O. Box 967, Prosperity, S.C. 29127, or submitted to forum moderator Jimmy Coggins of WKDK Radio during the debate.

The debate will be broadcast live on WKDK AM 1240 and free tickets are available at Prosperity Town Hall, WKDK, the Dutch Fork Chronicle and from candidates and Newberry's political party chairmen, Alan Gardner (R) and Dave Waldrop (D).

The Civic Center holds around 300 people, which includes candidate and standing room, said Workman.

The free event, sponsored by the Prosperity Civic Center, WKDK and the Dutch Fork Chronicle, is open to the public.

“Come on down and participate. It's free,” Workman said. And, “send in those questions.”