Newton County residents will have a chance to meet and greet five of the Republican candidates for Governor at Monday’s Newton County GOP Summer Bar-be-cue and fundraiser, at 6 p.m. in the Turner Lake Recreation Complex Ballroom.

The five gubernatorial candidates, including poll leaders Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and Secretary of State Karen Handel, will all speak briefly to introduce themselves and will be mingling with crowd members. In addition, republican candidates for secretary of state, insurance commissioner, agriculture commissioner and labor commissioner will give speeches and speak one-on-one with citizens.

"All of the candidates will get up and say, ‘Hey this is who I am,’ and then people can go up and talk to them," said local Republican member Delia Fleming. "We’ve pulled these events off before and had 300 to 400 people before. People thoroughly love to do this, because they don’t have the actual chance to go up and speak to them normally. What happens is, its early in the game and people can start weeding out in advance who they want to ask questions of and meet and face to face and see what they’re all about. We’re trying to educate the voters."

Local Republican officials, including Rep. John Linder and Sen. John Douglas, will also be at the barbecue. Linder will speak for about 15 minutes about health care and other issues and will also speak individually with attendees. Fleming said with the importance the health care issue has taken on in past months, she knows residents will be eager to see where all officials stand on the issue.

Elizabeth Christian, 1st vice chair of the local Republican party, said each candidate will probably have campaign members on hand with information.

Tickets cost $10 per person and can be purchased at the door. Plain Nuts is catering the event and will be serving hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, coleslaw, drinks and desserts. Fleming said the event will be very informal. There will also be door prizes and a raffle drawing for a set of University of Georgia football season tickets; raffle tickets will be $20 each.

Christian said interested residents can learn more at the revamped Newton County Republicans Web site. People can get information and buy raffle tickets and Republican merchandise online.

The Republican meets every fourth Monday at 7 p.m. at the Covington Women’s Club.