VALDOSTA — A political forum at Serenity Church on Lee Street seemed to set candidates at ease Monday night. The candidates on Lowndes County ballots seemed a little more relaxed standing on stage, and a few in the audience broke the house rules - applauding after they were told not to.

The forum was sponsored by the 30 Club of Valdosta.

Candidates were given two minutes each for their opening statements and two minutes to answer any questions posed to them from the audience. Competitors were offered one minute to respond, and each candidate was given an additional minute for closing

remarks.

Questions were taken from the audience via runners, who took the three-by-five cards from the pews down the row to the two mediators seated out front, Valdosta State University Communications Specialist Malynda Dorsey and City of Valdosta Media Coordinator Shemeeka Johnson.

Off to the left, a time keeper used two iPads to measure the minutes, and Ruth Council served as master of ceremonies, speaking from the lectern to the right.

Incumbents Ellis Black (R) for State Representative, District 174; Amy Carter (R) for State Representative, District 175; Tim Golden (R) for State Senate, District 8; and Justin Cabral (R) for Solicitor General were not present.

Bikram Mohanty (D), challenger for District 8 of the State Senate, began the list of presentations.

“I had $50 when I came to the U.S.A.,” Mohanty said, “and I turned that into 50 jobs.”

Mohanty told the audience he was running to give back to the community, to help expand the job market as he had, and to preserve the Hope Scholarship.

Teresa Lawrence (D), challenger for State Representative, District 174, was next in line, presenting a platform on education, farm workers and women’s health care.

“We need to give kids a greater passion for learning,” Lawrence told the audience, sharing her present pursuit of her own degree in business management.

Lawrence said she believes farm workers need “adequate staff,” and that women’s health care needs to go back into the hands of women.

J.C. Cunningham (D), challenger for the seat of District 175 State Representative, presented his opinion that South Georgia “is not getting the representation it needs in Atlanta.

“We have poor rural middle class folks getting scraps from Atlanta,” Cunningham said. “We need to make them pay more attention to South Georgia.”

He strongly opposed the actions and interests of lobbyists in Georgia government.

Dexter Sharper (D), candidate for State Representative, District 177, came to the microphone with energy, citing his experience on the Valdosta City Council as evidence of his desire to serve the community.

“Whether I win or lose, I’m still here to serve the community,” he said.

Sharper expressed concern with recent news that Valdosta was one of the poorest cities in the nation, saying that 30 percent are below the poverty line, and that education and attracting more jobs are the solution.

Glenn Gregory (R), Sharper’s opponent, cited 10 years of experience on the Industrial Authority and another 10 years on the Planning Commission as the reason he is a strong candidate, as well as his career as an architect.

“You deal with a lot of government rules and regulations as an architect,” Gregory said.

His priorities involve economic development and education.

Gretchen Quarterman (D) took the stage next. Running for the Chair of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, she named transparency in county government and infrastructure as her priorities, and shared a little tidbit about her life.

“I’m a farmer,” she said. “I grow okra, and sell it at the local farmer’s market.”

Quarterman expressed concerns that Lowndes County residents are not familiar with the actions of county government, and that she has worked for four years to videotape Commission meetings to raise awareness.

Bill Slaughter (R), the opponent for the seat, followed, saying early on, "I love this community.” His priorities include education and infrastructure, but for a different reason than some candidates.

“I’m a pro-business candidate,” Slaughter said.

With a strong education system, good communications infrastructure and “wise use of tax dollars,” he said, “we can get the business person what they need to get this county through tough times.”

The candidates for the Lowndes County Sheriff race followed. The incumbent Sheriff Chris Prine (D) shared an overall breakdown of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, explaining that he oversees 240 employees, and that they all work for the safety of the citizens of the county.

Challenger J.D. Yeager (R), said he was running because he believes the current administration is not providing what the county needs.

“The sheriff's duty is to provide protection, and I will do that,” Yeager promised. “My 21 years working for you is evidence of that.”

Demarcus A. Marshall (D), for the new Lowndes County Super District 4 seat, said he would work to raise awareness of the new district as well as make the people of Lowndes County his priority.

Marshall said he is unsettled when he sees veterans in wheelchairs and children walking down the street in the grass.

“We need to put in sidewalks,” Marshall said. “I believe in prioritization for the people.”

John Gates (R), Marshall’s competitor for the seat, was quick to follow in his speech that he agreed with Marshall because he spent eight years in a wheelchair. Gates made jobs and infrastructure his priorities.

"I don’t think our jobs are being kept here in Lowndes County,” Gates said. “I think they’re going somewhere else.”

Gates also shared his service experience with the Toys for Tots program, giving toys away to needy children.

Jason Cain (D), challenger for Solicitor General, took the stage last, and explained that he simply believes he brings more experience to the seat, having served in three different law capacities.

“I bring a general approach to the seat,” Cain said.

The question-and-answer session produced some heat between candidates, but more excitement from the audience, whom the moderator had to remind to keep their applause to themselves.

The audience exploded into applause when Gates, answering a question about his opinion on the state of the current library, responded with a list of strong statements.

“I don’t think we need a brand new library,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with our library. We’re building a new library because the hospital wants that building. Let them buy their own building.”

The audience applauded again following Slaughter’s statement that “We’re concerned about jobs in this county,” regarding the purpose of the Commission.

During closing remarks, Sharper and Gregory traded barbs, which brought further applause and laughter to the audience. When asked to take the microphone, Gregory offered that Sharper go first, which Sharper declined, saying he went first at the last debate.

“See how nice we are to each other?” Gregory joked.

Gregory shared a story about a-dollar-a-day housing in south Valdosta, which ended in run-down houses, he said. Gregory said he convinced a friend to purchase the land and pay for improvements, and explained he believes he is a problem-solver in the community.

Sharper took the stage to say he believes people in their campaign district “have more in common” with him, and finished with a strong punch.

“My opponent may be a problem-solver, but I’m a problem-preventer,” Sharper said.

Cunningham took the microphone next. The first words out of his mouth, directed at Gregory were, “You should have let him go first.”

“I tried...,” Gregory said.

Council closed the ceremonies with a plea that everyone in the audience go vote.

“Voting is the greatest non-violent tool to bring about change,” Council said.