Candidates for the Kent County Board of Education will take part in a public forum 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9. A week later, candidates for Kent County Commissioner will meet in another forum – 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16.
Both forums are sponsored by the Kent County League of Women Voters.
The school board forum will take place at the Kent County Public Library in Chestertown. Three seats on the five-member board will be filled in the Nov. 4 election. Incumbents Michael Harvey, a college professor, and Jeff Reed, a school administrator, are seeking new terms.
All terms on the board are for four years. The position pays an annual salary of $2,000.
The challengers for seats on the board are:
Wendy Costa, retired educator and current staff at the Mt. Harmon Plantation.
Nivek Johnson, student at Chesapeake College and participant in Diversity Dialogue.
Trish McGee, associate editor of the Kent County News and longtime education reporter.
Linda Reed, retired school nurse.
The Oct. 16 forum for the county commission, the law-making branch of local government, will take place at Kent County High School in Worton.
All three seats on the commission are to be filled. The position pays $15,000, and the members meet weekly.
The three incumbents are seeking re-election:
Ronald H. Fithian, Democrat, former waterman, town manager of Rock Hall.
William W. Pickrum, Democrat, retired Coast Guard officer and commercial pilot.
William Billy Short, Republican, business owner, home décor distributor.
Challenging the incumbents are these two candidates:
Steven G. Atkinson, Democrat, internet publisher, Sassafras River Business Association leader.
Walter T. Coryell Sr., Republican, retired police commander, American Legion leader.
Candidates at both forums will answer questions within time limits set by the League of Women Voters. The public will also have time to ask them questions.
For more information on these candidates and other Maryland races, including biographies, see the League’s special website, www.vote411.org.
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