Monday, September 25, 2006

Wilmington, N.C. - The Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA), in conjunction with WAAV radio, Star-News, and UNCW, will sponsor a candidates forum in preparation for the Oct. 10 City of Wilmington election and the general election Nov. 7. The forum will begin at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 5, in King Hall Auditorium on the campus of UNCW.

The forum will feature the Democratic and Republican candidates for the North Carolina House of Representatives 18th District (Democrat Thomas Wright and Republican Frankie Roberts) and the two candidates running for the single seat in the non-partisan Wilmington City Council election, Pat S. Delair and incumbent J.C. Hearne II.

The forum will utilize a panel format featuring the following panelists who will question the candidates: Stephen Meinhold, associate professor of political science, UNCW; Rhonda Bellamy, WAAV News director; Jack Madison, weekend anchor and reporter, News Channel 3 - WWAY-TV; Si Cantwell, local news columnist and interim business editor, Star-News; and Joe Keiley, weekend anchor and reporter, WECT-TV6. Donn Ansell, prominent talk show host for WAAV, will be the moderator.

The public is encouraged to attend and participate. Questions from the floor will be entertained.

The forum will be broadcast live on WAAV, 980 AM, and the Learning Network by UNCW-TV on Time Warner Cable Channel 5 and Charter Cable 12.

The Council of Neighborhood Associations, Inc. is a non-profit, grassroots coalition of neighborhoods dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life in New Hanover County through citizen involvement and participation in local government. CONA is comprised of homeowner and neighborhood associations and affiliated civic organizations and community activists.

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Additional information can be obtained by contacting Jim Medlin at 910.791.5259. Medlin is chair of the CONA Forum Committee.