Guilford County Unity Effort candidate forum scheduled for Wednesday

I'm no longer involved with the Guilford County Unity Forum (my September nuptials and a desire for more professional distance intervened). I'm happy that this time instead of asking the questions I'll be sitting in the audience at the Greensboro Historical Museum on Wednesday at 6 p.m. logging the candidates' responses with my audio recorder.

The Unity Effort has chosen three races to focus on this time, and has confirmed participation from all candidates:

• US House District 13: Brad Miller (D, i) and Bill Randall (R);
• NC Senate District 28: Gladys Robinson (D), Trudy Wade (R) and Bruce Davis (U); and
• Guilford County Sheriff: BJ Barnes (R, i) and Phil Wadsworth (D).

Greensboro candidate forums scheduled

Guilford County Unity Effort has scheduled two candidate forums ahead of the Greensboro municipal primary election on Oct. 6. I have the privilege of asking questions with Amanda Lehmert of the News & Record and Bob Davis. As I understand, Afrique Kilimanjaro and Yasmine Register will alternate on behalf of the Carolina Peacemaker.

The Sept. 8 forum will include candidates for mayor, and for districts 1, 3 and 4. The Sept. 22 forum will include at-large candidates, and candidates for districts 2 and 5. Both events will take place at the Greensboro Historical Museum.

As of today, Yvonne Johnson has confirmed for the mayoral portion of the forum. Her opponent, Bill Knight, has not yet responded.

All six candidates for District 1 have confirmed that they will attend: Dianne Bellamy-Small, Charles D. Coffey, Luther T. Falls Jr., Ben Holder, Jeramy Reid and Daron R. Sellars.

All three candidates for District 3 have confirmed: Zack Matheny, George Hartzman and Jay Ovittore.

Three of the District 4 candidates have confirmed: Joel Landau, Mike Martin and Joseph Rahenkamp. Mary Rakestraw has not responded.

In the at-large race, 7 out of 11 candidates have committed to attend: Sandra Anderson Groat, Robbie Perkins, Marikay Abuzuaiter, DJ Hardy, Julie Lapham, Ryan Shell, Danny Thompson and Nancy Vaughan. Gary Nixon has said he will be out of town. Max Benbassat and Jorge Cornell have not responded.

All four candidates for District 2 have committed: Nettie Coad, Dan Fischer, Gordon M. Hester and Jim Kee.

Both candidates for District 5 have committed: Trudy Wade and Art Boyett.

UPDATE, Aug. 21, 4:58 p.m.: Jorge Cornell confirms that he will attend the Sept. 22 forum.

UPDATE, Aug. 21, 9:58 p.m.: Max Benbassat also confirms that he will attend the Sept. 22 forum. That makes 10 out of 11 at-large candidates.

UPDATE, Aug. 24, 10:13 p.m.: I'm informed that mayoral candidate Bill Knight has now committed to taking part in the Sept. 8 forum.

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.