The South Rockdale Civic Association is kicking off the election season early with a candidates' forum for the BOC Chairman seat and Post I Commission seat on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 6 p.m. at Union United Methodist Church, on the corner of Union Church Road and Ga. Highway 138.

Candidates confirmed are Republican candidates for Chairman Ed Conway and Jason Hill, Democratic candidate for Chairman Brian Jenkins, and Democratic candidate for Post I Commissioner Jerry Shepperd.

Incumbent Chairman Richard Oden reportedly declined the invitation and incumbent Post I Commissioner Oz Nesbitt reportedly did not respond to forum organizers by press time. Republican Post I Commission candidate Tom Harrison declined, due to other engagements, and Democratic Post I Commission Candidate Winston McDonald reportedly declined as well.

Organizer Ed Tracey, of Edwardctracey.com, and South Rockdale Civic Association President and moderator Don Meyers said this was the first time the SRCA was holding a forum in this format. Previous candidate events had been more of a debate style.

For the first two rounds, each candidate will be able to choose a topic to talk about for three minutes, followed by two minutes each from the other candidates about the topic. Follow up questions will be asked by panelists, which include Tracey and a representative from the Rockdale News.

In the following rounds, each candidate will address a topic chosen by SRCA members, with others given time to also respond to the same topic.

For more information, call 770-860-8989.