By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Voters waiting for the annual candidate forum at Catawba College may be disappointed this year.

During elections, the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce traditionally hosts a candidate forum for local races. The forums have occurred during primary elections and municipal races. This year, however, the Chamber has altered its schedule slightly.

County commissioner candidates are scheduled to participate in an early morning on Oct. 20 forum at Trinity Oaks on Klumac Road. Meanwhile, school board candidates will participate in an evening forum at the Rowan-Salisbury School System central office on North Main Street.

Members of the public are being asked to submit questions for both forums. Questions should be submitted to editor@salisburypost.com. During the forums, candidates will also have two minutes for opening statements and one minute for closing comments.

The county commissioner forum will be at 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 20 during the Chamber of Commerce’s Power in Partnership breakfast event. It will moderated by Catawba College Provost and politics professor Michael Bitzer. The commissioners’ forum involves a $15 charge for Chamber of Commerce members and for non-members. Attendees are asked to RSVP by by Oct. 18.

Those interested in either forum can RSVP to info@rowanchamber.com or call the Chamber of Commerce at 704-633-4221.

When asked about the early time for the commissioners’ forum, Chamber of Commerce President Elaine Spalding noted that her organization is focused on business advocacy. She said the early morning time is better for the Chamber’s members than an evening one.

“For the business community, it’s easier to get up and go to a morning event because lots of business people don’t get off until later in the evening,” Spalding said.

The event will be recorded and broadcast on public access TV, Spalding said. It will also be broadcast on Memories WSAT 1280.

She noted that the 2014 Republican primary candidate forum for county commissioner candidates was also held during a Power in Partnership breakfast.

The school board candidates forum will be at 6 p.m. on Nov. 2 in the school system’s administrative offices. It will be moderated by Phil Kirk, who has served as State Board of Education chairman, president of the N.C. Chamber of Commerce and secretary of the N.C. Department of Human Resources. There is no charge to attend the school board forum. However, attendees are asked to RSVP to the Board of Education forum by Oct. 31.

The school board candidates forum will also be broadcast on public access TV and on Memories WSAT 1280.

This year’s candidate forums are sponsored by AT&T, the Salisbury Post, Catawba College, WSAT and the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce.

Campaign buttons will be permitted at the forums. However, no signage, campaign materials or mascots will be allowed in the building. Tables will not be provided for candidates to display materials.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.