The Gwinnett Post - Gwinnett Candidate's Forum Set for Thursday

News Article

By Curt Yeomans

Gwinnett County residents will have a chance to hear from candidates seeking several offices this week.

New Jerusalem Baptist Church's Political Action Ministry, the United Ebony Society, the Gwinnett County Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and Raising Empowered Voices Uplifting People Inc. will host a Gwinnett County Candidates Forum at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The gathering will give voters a chance to hear from candidates in the races for county commission chairman, commissioner District 3 and state House of Representatives districts 81, 96, 101, 102, 105 and 108. Former Snellville Mayor Kelly Kautz will moderate the forum.

"The purpose of the candidate forum is to give Gwinnett voters an opportunity to hear candidates discuss the issues of importance to them in this election," organizers said in an announcement. "This event is free and open to the public as well as the media."

The church is located at 422 E. Crogan St., in Lawrenceville.

The fall General Election will be held on Nov. 8, but voters can begin casting their ballots when early voting begins Oct. 17.

The voter registration for the general election is Oct. 11.

House passes Woodall's documentation

security bill

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Ga., aimed at giving people going through the immigration process more options to receive important documents from the federal government this past week.

The Strengthening the Department of Homeland Security Secure Mail Initiative Act gives immigrants the option to have key documents sent with a signature required upon delivery. Woodall's office said the existing system does not favor immigrants because if the documentation is lost in the mail, the applicant is blamed and billed for reproduction of the documents.

The documents include resident cards, travel documents and employment authorization paperwork, according to the congressman's office.

"Ensuring these documents reach the men and women to whom they belong is certainly the goal, and by achieving it we can be certain they aren't falling into the hands of those with ill intent," Woodall said in a statement. "When I received calls from constituents who never received the documents for which they paid -- not to mention rightfully earned -- I went to work on a common-sense solution."

Woodall accepting service academy nominations

Woodall also recently announced his office is accepting applications from high school students who would like to be nominated for appointments to U.S. service academies through early October.

The deadline to submit an application to Woodall's office in Lawrenceville is 5 p.m. on Oct. 7. Questions can also be directed to Debra Poirot at 770-232-3005, and additional information about the nomination process can be found at woodall.house.gov.

"Every year I'm fortunate to nominate intelligent and hard-working Seventh District students for appointments to the U.S. Service Academies, and I'm excited to see what this class holds as we enter into the nomination process," Woodall said in a statement. "I'm always inspired by their passion for service, and am confident this year will be no different."

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