Candidates for Town Board listen to Jerry Broadway of Lake Norman Economic Development Corp. (right) on Saturday. They are, from left, Connie Wessner, Laurie Venzon, Tim Dreffer, Drew Crawford and Mickey Pettus (David Boraks photo).

Calendar: Republican women’s meeting; Davidson candidate forums

Five of the eight active candidates for Davidson Town Board were at Town Hall Saturday for the second in a series of candidate information sessions. Saturday’s lineup of presentations included one by Lake Norman Economic Development Corp. chief Jerry Broadway as well as appearances on affordable housing and planning.

Jerry Broadway gives a presentation on economic development. (David Boraks photo)

The half-day sessions, from 8:30 to 1 p.m., are a primer on how town government works. At the first of the two sessions last week (Sept. 19), outgoing Town Board member Bill Johnson talked about what he wished he knew when he entered the race  two years ago.

Attending Saturday’s candidate session were Connie Wessner, Laurie Venzon, Tim Dreffer, Drew Crawford and Mickey Pettus.

Saturday’s session came as campaign activities begin to pick up in and around Davidson.

Last week, Fountain Walker announced he was dropping out of the race, citing concerns about balancing his job as Davidson College police chief with family obligations and what he expects would be a big time commitment if elected.

That leaves eight candidates left actively campaigning for  five board seats in the November election: incumbent commissioners Margo Williams, Laurie Venzon and Brian Jenest and challengers Nick Gibietis, Mickey Pettus, Connie Wessner, Drew Crawford, and Tim Dreffer.

Mayor John Woods is also up for re-election, running unopposed.

2 CANDIDATE FORUMS

DavidsonNews.net will co-sponsor one of two forums here in Davidson next month to help voters evaluate the town board and school board District 1 candidates and make their voting decisions.

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce plans a forum at Town Hall on Thursday, Oct. 15, 7:30 to 9 p.m., at Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. Also present will be candidates for the District 1 Board of Education seat.

Then Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m., the St. Alban’s neighborhood and DavidsonNews.net will sponsor a second forum with Town Board and school board candidates at St. Alban’s Church. The event is expected to last about 90 minutes.

Both forums are open to the public.

Read more about Election 2009, including news about the candidate filings this summer, at DavidsonNews.net’s Election 2009 category.

DavidsonNews.net is in the midst of interviewing candidates and compiling an Election 2009 voters guide. Look for candidate profiles – and a podcast of audio interviews with Town Board hopefuls – in the coming weeks.

REPUBLICAN WOMEN PIG PICKIN’

North Mecklenburg Republican Women will hold a Pig Pickin’ and Politickin’ campaign rally on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m., at NorthStone Club, 15801 NorthStone Drive, Huntersville.

Republican candidates and elected officials from across Mecklenburg County will attend to meet and mingle with the NMRW members and guests.

Tickets, by reservation, are $20 and include a BBQ dinner; dress is casual.  The event is open to the public.  All interested men and women are invited to attend.

NMRW is an affiliate of North Carolina Federation of Republican Women, a network of 60 clubs with over 2,000 members across the state. The goal of the organization is to connect women to local, statewide and national leaders and to provide them with resources to be effective leaders in community service and in the local and state Republican Party.

Monthly dinner meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month and are open to the public.  All Republican women are eligible for NMRW active membership; Republican men are invited to join as associate members.

For additional information on the NMRW organization, membership and the event contact Mary Lou Richardson at nomeckrw@gmail.com.