The Belton Alliance partnered with the Belton-Honea Path New Chronicle to host a very successful Candidate’s Forum at the Historic Belton Depot on October 22 at 7:00 with over 150 local citizens attending.  Belton Alliance President Kevin Craft welcomed everyone and gave a brief update on the Rail Trail and the North Main Street project.  Work will continue on the Rail Trail this fall with additional asphalt to Calhoun Road with hopes for additional grant funds in 2020 to complete the trail to Leda Poore Park.  The buildings along North Main Street are being remodeled in hopes of finding businesses to occupy them, hopefully one being a nice restaurant.  The old Wells Fargo building is under contract but cannot be finalized until an alternate ATM location is secured by the bank.

Craft reviewed the rules of the forum which included:

• Each candidate will have 3 minutes to introduce themselves and make opening remarks.
• The Moderator will select questions submitted by the audience and ask of each candidate.  Candidates will have two minutes to respond.
• No personal attacks will be allowed.
• We will stop at 8:30 and each candidate will have 3 minutes for closing remarks.
• A social time will follow when individuals can speak one-on-one with the candidates.

All nine candidates for local offices were present and included:

• Ricky Kinser (Mayor)
• Tiffany Owenby (Mayor)
• Wendell Page (Mayor)
• Joyce Lee (Ward 2)
• Tony Saville (Ward 2)
• Dennis McClain (Ward 4)
• Josh Stepehenson (Ward 4)
• Kimberly Stevens (Ward 4)
• Ricky Campbell (Ward 6)

Page and Campbell are incumbents.  Campbell is unopposed.

Gene Jameson, Vice-President of the Belton Alliance, served as the moderator and asked the questions.  Most questions centered on local challenges and how they would be addressed as well as economic development, recruitment of new businesses, and improvements to the Square and dilapidated buildings.