The Levelland Chamber of Commerce and the Levelland Emerging and Active professionals (LEAP) will be holding a primary candidate forum for the upcoming primary election, February 22 beginning at 6 p.m.
The forum will be held at the South Plains College Sundown Room located at 1401 S. College Avenue.
Candidates featured in the forum will be Angela Overman and Donnie Yandell for the 286th District Attorney position; Jared Dockery, Chris Wischkaemper and Joseph (Jody) Guerra for the Hockley County Sheriff position; Crystal Forster and Misty D. Taylor for the Hockley County Tax Assessor, Collector position; and David Atkinson, Curtis Thrash and Alan Wisdom for the Hockley County Commissioner Precinct 1 position.
In years past, the chamber along with LEAP wanted to create an opportunity for candidates to come together and present facts and information regarding their campaign to the public in order for community members to become informed about each candidate.
“We want these forums to be results oriented which contain facts and information that will benefit voters,” said Chamber President Mary Siders. “The candidates will be presented questions prior to the event and for the first time this year, we are asking community members through the internet to ask questions.”
Siders explained that while not everyone can agree on topics, arguing is not constructive.
“The whole intent for this forum is to be informational and constructive,” said Siders. “It is okay if we all cannot agree on things, but we need to agree to work together for the interest of the community.
The event is estimated to last two hours with the number of candidates slated for the forum. Due to the time frame expected, public comment is not planned for the forum.
However, Siders is encouraging community members to speak with candidates following the forum to ask any questions that are thought of.
A space will be provided for candidates to leave business cards and additional contact information for the public to pick up.
Siders explained that all elections are important to the quality of life of the community and the progressiveness of the community.
Following the forum for the preliminary elections, a forum will be held at a later date for contended races for South Plains College Regents, Levelland ISD and City of Levelland the LEAP group will hold an additional forum.
“We are not always going to agree on those positions, but we have to agree that we want to do what is best for the community,” said Siders.