SALISBURY — The Rowan Chamber of Commerce would like to invite the community to attend the upcoming candidate forum on Oct. 15.

The event will offer a chance to hear directly from candidates running for key positions, including state senate, state house, Rowan County commissioner, and Rowan-Salisbury School Board.

The forum will take place at The Norvell Theater, located at 135 E. Fisher St. in Salisbury, and will begin with a Young Professionals “Meet and Greet” at 5:15 p.m. in the lobby. The candidate forum will follow at 6 p.m. in the main theater.

Retired WBTV journalist David Whisenant will moderate the forum and pose questions submitted by the public. Each candidate will have one minute for opening remarks, one minute to respond to questions, and one minute for closing statements.

Submit questions for consideration to the Salisbury Post via email at editor@salisburypost.com by Oct. 11.

The event is sponsored by the Salisbury Post, Catawba College, Miller-Davis, Norvell Theater and the Rowan Chamber. The forum aims to educate voters on the candidates’ positions regarding issues that matter to the business community. As a non-partisan organization, the Rowan Chamber does not endorse candidates and provides this forum solely to promote voter education.

The event protocol allows campaign buttons; however, no signage, campaign materials or mascots will be permitted inside the building. Candidates will not be provided tables to display materials, and campaign signs should not be placed on the property.

The chamber organizes annual candidate forums with guidance from its Government Affairs Committee, which fosters communication between local, state, and federal governments on issues important to Rowan County’s businesses, municipalities and residents. The committee reviews relevant issues and makes policy recommendations to the chamber board of directors, with a focus on business advocacy, economic development, land use and infrastructure. This committee is open to all chamber members.