Primary election candidates will speak at Political Forum in Aiken on June 6

Holly Kemp, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·3 min read

May 21—Candidates in four Aiken County races — which will likely be decided via the primary election — will speak at a political forum in June.

On Monday, June 6, the Aiken Standard will host the free-to-attend 2022 Political Forum for Primary Candidates.

The political forum will be held in the Aiken Electric Cooperative Community Room, 2790 Wagener Road, Aiken. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a meet-and-greet with candidates. The program will begin at 6 p.m.

"This is a chance for the public to meet the candidates who will be on the primary ballot and find out what they have to say," said Aiken Standard Executive Editor John Boyette. "It also gives candidates the chance to speak to voters and lay out their priorities."

The Aiken Standard has invited candidates in four locally contested primary races to participate — S.C. House District 81, Aiken County Council District 1, Aiken County Council District 2 and Aiken County Council District 5.

The candidates in these races who win the primary election will likely gain their sought-after seat as they will face no opposition in the general election in November.

The following candidates and political incumbents have been invited to participate to the forum. The candidates represent county-level and state-level races:

—Bart Blackwell, Republican incumbent, S.C. House District 81;

—Betsy Lamb, Republican, S.C. House District 81;

—Ron Felder, Republican, Aiken County Council District 1;

—Melinda Starnes, Republican, Aiken County Council District 1;

—Russ Tony Ferrara, Republican, Aiken County Council District 2;

—Mike Kellems, Republican, Aiken County Council District 2;

—Sandy Haskell, Republican incumbent, Aiken County Council District 5; and

—Kurt Mueller, Republican, Aiken County Council District 5.

The forum will be a Q&A format, with candidates in contested primary races asked the same questions — pertinent to the represented district. Each candidate will be provided equal time to answer questions. There will be no rebuttals.

Candidates also will be given time to address the audience through opening and closing statements. Questions will not be shared with candidates in advance.

Boyette will be moderating.

The community is invited to attend the forum; no tickets or RSVPs will be required for entry.

Voting in the statewide primary is Tuesday, June 14. The deadline to register to vote in the primary election has passed.

There is a two-week, excuse-free period for in-person early voting that begins at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, and ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 10.

In Aiken County, in-person early voting will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Ronnie Young Aiken County Government Center, 1930 University Parkway.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. The last day to register to vote in person in the general election is Oct. 7.

For more information or to submit questions for candidates, which could possibly be asked during the forum, email hkemp@aikenstandard.com.