By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Val Verde County voters will get a chance to meet candidates seeking the Republican and Democratic Party nominations for local offices at a series of forums set for tonight and Wednesday.
Southwest Texas College-Del Rio’s Government Department and The 830 Times are hosting the two forums, both of which will be held in the SWTX Auditorium, Building M, on the Southwest Texas College-Del Rio Campus, 207 Wildcat Drive.
The Republican Primary Forum is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, and the Democratic Primary Forum will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11.
All of the candidates seeking Val Verde County offices for both parties have been invited to attend.
Early voting in both the Republican Party Primary Election and the Democratic Party Primary Election begins on Tuesday, Feb. 17., and local voters are urged to attend one or both forums for a better perspective on the candidates.
Forum host and one of its moderators, Joshua Overfelt, associate professor of government at Southwest Texas College-Del Rio, said he believes the forums are crucial for local voters.
Overfelt said, “Attending forums such as ours is important because it helps build a voter’s political efficacy. Citizens with a higher political efficacy – meaning they research candidates and issues important to them – are much more likely to vote than an individual who does none of the previously mentioned actions.
“Being informed helps us decide who we elect and who will ultimately make the decisions that affect us as residents of Val Verde and Del Rio,” Overfelt added.
Joel Langton, publisher of The 830 Times, which is co-hosting the forum, also urged voters to attend.
“The forums are a great opportunity for local voters to meet the candidates face-to-face and listen to their positions on important local issues. We aren’t going to tell you who to vote for; we will present the candidates to you, give you a chance to listen to them and let you decide who you’ll vote for,” Langton added.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
