In an effort to educate Rockdale voters before the general election, the Newton-Rockdale chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference will hold a local candidate forum Thursday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m., at Grace Fellowship Christian Church, 1316 Olympic Court, in Conyers.

Candidates for Commission Chairman, Post 1 Commissioner, Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, Chief Magistrate Judge, Probate Judge have been invited to participate.

Each candidate will have 5 minutes to talk about their platform and then face questions from a panel made up of SCLS members and associates.

Newton-Rockdale SCLC Vice President Joseph Lightfoot said, "Our purpose is to inform and educate the voters. We are a nonpartisan organization. This is just part of our educational efforts."

The chapter had already held two candidate forums in Newton County before the primary earlier this year.

For more information, call Lightfoot at 404-368-0835.

Also on Sept. 20, the Newsmakers Live organization will hold "The New Rockdale County Politics," an evening of interviews with candidates and “infotainment,” on Thursday, Sept. 20, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Marshall Sports Bar and Grill, 1180 Sigman Road. Candidates for Board of Commissioners Chairman, Post I Commissioner, Sheriff and Clerk of Courts have been invited. 

The Rockdale County Think Tank will hold a forum with judicial and court-related candidates on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. at Johnson Park, 1791 Ebenezer Road, Conyers.

The South Rockdale Civic Assocaition will hold a forum for candidates for Sheriff, Post 1 Commissioner, Sept. 18, 7 p.m., at Union United Methodist Church at the intersection of Ga. Highway 138 and Union Church Road in Stockbridge. For more information, 770-815-3704.

The Rockdale-Newton League of Women Voters will also hold a candidate forum closer to the election on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the Rockdale Auditorium, 903 Main Street, 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Allene Eatman (678) 413-9520.