Grilling the candidates

I'm honored to have the opportunity to ask questions to the candidates at the forum hosted by the non-partisan Guilford County Unity Effort at New Light Missionary Baptist Church in Greensboro at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16. You all should come. I know it's tough to pull away from the weighty discourse on matters such as lipstick and pigs taking place in the presidential contest, but voters also have important decisions to make in races down the ticket, from US Congress to Guilford County School Board.

Here's is a list of the candidates who have agreed to show up on Tuesday:

• Democrat Teresa Sue Bratton, running for the 6th Congressional District seat currently occupied by Howard Coble;
• Republican Hugh Webster, running for the 13th Congressional District seat currently occupied by Brad Miller;
• Both candidates for state auditor: Republican incumbent Leslie Merritt and Democratic challenger Beth Wood;
• Both candidates for NC secretary of state: Democratic incumbent Elaine Marshall and Republican challenger Jack Sawyer;
• Democrat Don Vaughan and Republican Joe Wilson, who are wrestling for the open District 27 seat in the NC Senate that is being vacated by Kay Hagan in her bid for US Senate;
• Democratic incumbent Alma Adams and Republican challenger Olga Wright, candidates for the state House in District 58;
• Democratic incumbent Maggie Jeffus and Republican challenger Jim Rumley, candidates for the state House in District 59;
• Democratic incumbent Pricey Harrison, who faces no challenger in House District 57;
• Republican incumbent John Blust, who faces no challenger in House District 62;
• Four candidates for two at-large seats on the Guilford County Commission: Democratic incumbents Paul Gibson and John Parks; Republican challenger Larry Proctor; and Libertarian challenger Paul Elledge;
• Both candidates for the Guilford County Commission District 4 seat: Democratic incumbent Kirk Perkins and Republican challenger Eddie Souther;
• Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston, who faces no challenger in District 8;
• Sandra Alexander, candidate for the open at-large seat on the Guilford County School Board;
• Mike Stone, who is challenging Darlene Garrett for the District 3 seat on the Guilford County School Board; and
• Paul Daniels, who is running unopposed for the District 5 seat on the Guilford County School Board that is being vacated by Anita Sharpe.