Ellington

Two days before early voting begins Oct. 17, East Ridge voters have the opportunity to interact with all seven candidates running for their municipality’s two available City Council seats.

The East Ridge Education Council is hosting a candidate forum Monday, Oct. 15 at Spring Creek Elementary School beginning at 6:30 p.m. It will be moderated by Chattanooga Times Free Press politics reporter Chris Carroll.

“With the forum we are giving [the candidates] an opportunity for the community to hear what they have to say,” said education council president Gail Phillips. “We have sponsored forums in the past and have had a good turnout. We’re doing it before early voting to give people an opportunity to meet people and ask questions.”

According to her, the candidates will be given an opportunity for a brief introduction after which the forum will consist of questions solely from the audience.

“All questions will come directly from the public,” she said. “We will let the moderator sort through them and leave it up to him. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to the questions.”

Some of the main issues Phillips said she anticipates being discussed during the debate include budget, the support of local schools and plans for East Ridge’s future.

Candidates running for City Council include Patricia Cassady, John Clemmer, Marc Gravitt, Mimi Lowery, Stephen King, Denny Manning, Ann Pruett and David Swindall.

For more information about the forum contact Phillips at ereced@mindspring.com.

Read next week’s Metro Community News for candidate coverage and early voting details.