EAGLES TO HOST FORUM FOR ST. MARYS CANDIDATES

Eagles Press Release

The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #4379 will host a public forum on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, for candidates in the St. Marys City Council and Mayoral Elections. The forum will begin at 6:30 PM. and will be in the St. Marys Aerie #4379 at 101-C Industrial Drive in St. Marys located directly behind the St. Marys Police Complex on Pt. Peter Road.

The election will be Tuesday November 3, 2009. The seats up for grabs include the Mayor’s office being sought by incumbent Rowland Eskridge, City Councilman Bill DeLoughy and Tom Cyphers. City Council Post #4, which will be vacated by DeLoughey, will include candidates Keith F. Post, former County Commissioner Sandy Feller and Roger Rillo. Candidates for Post #5, which will be vacated by Larry Johnson, will include Jolene Haney, John Morrissey, L.J. Williams, and Christopher Bennett. Candidates for Post #6 will include incumbent Gull Weaver and former City Councilman Sidney Howell.

All five precincts in St. Marys will be used and voters will vote in the same location where they vote in any other County, State or Federal election. The polls will be open from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM on Election Day, November 3. Early voting will be available at the Registrar’s office in the Historic Court House in Woodbine from Tuesday October 13 through Friday October 30 from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Absentee ballots will be available after October 13, 2009 from the Registrars Office in Woodbine at 576-3245, but you can obtain absentee ballot request forms at any city hall, on line or at the Registrars office at any time. October 23 is the deadline for requesting absentee ballots.

At the forum questions will be submitted in writing and Eagle member Edward W. Clary will moderate the forum. Event organizer Dr. Jim Burnham said, “The Fraternal Order of Eagles is providing this service to the community and to the press. We frequently do this for non-partisan and bi-partisan elections. It brings all the candidates together at one time, which is convenient for the news media and it gives the public an opportunity to meet, hear and address the candidates. An informed electorate should bring about better government. I hope many St. Marys voters will turn out to meet the candidatures and hear them address the issues. I look forward to hearing the questions to see what issues are on the minds of the public and to see how the candidates do in public.” You may submit questions in writing at the forum or you may e-mail them in advance to JBurnham1@tds.net.

The St. Marys Aerie # 4379 Fraternal Order of Eagles is a non-political, non-profit benevolent organization whose focus is community service and charity. The Eagles are non-political, non-partisan and endorses no candidate. They are sponsoring this forum as a service to the community of St. Marys in an effort to increase familiarity with the candidates and the issues. The F.O.E. encourages civic participation. For questions or information call 882-4377.