On Thursday, Grovetown residents will get a chance to meet their political candidates.
The Grovetown Merchants Association will hold a stump meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty Park Community Center on Newmantown Road in Grovetown for candidates in the July 15 primary.
Sonny McDowell, Merchants Association president, said that as of Monday he has confirmed that most of the candidates, or their representatives, in races affecting Columbia County will attend.
Confirmed candidates include those competing for a Grovetown City Council seat and state House District 117.
Barry Davis and Theoplis Knight will vie to fill the unexpired term of Councilman David Daughtry, who died in February. Former county Commissioner Lee Anderson and Brett McGuire will face off for the state House seat.
David Payne, who is running to replace Anderson as the District 4 county commissioner, will be there. His opponent, former Harlem Mayor Scott Dean, who is out of the country, will have someone speak on his behalf.
Congressional candidate Barry Fleming will be on hand, and a representative will speak on behalf of his opponent, Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga.
The term "stump meeting" comes from the 19th-century method of politicking to crowds while standing on stumps in town squares, city parks and on farms.
"The whole idea is to get people to meet the candidates," McDowell said. "They'll be more than a sign along the street or an advertisement. They get to meet real people."
McDowell said candidates will be given 10 minutes to speak. Candidates will be allowed to set up tables to distribute campaign materials and to speak with residents before and after the meeting.
For more information, call McDowell at (706) 860-9699.
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