Sun, Sep 07 2008
|
|
Published July 16, 2008 06:23 pm - Area residents can find their fill of ice cream, watermelon, cookies and a heaping helping of politics at candidate forums that have been scheduled leading up to the Aug. 5 primary elections in Jasper and Newton counties. Candidates to be featured at local political gatherings By Susan Redden sredden@joplinglobe.com Area residents can find their fill of ice cream, watermelon, cookies and a heaping helping of politics at candidate forums that have been scheduled leading up to the Aug. 5 primary elections in Jasper and Newton counties. All the Jasper County candidates on the Republican ballot, plus some candidates for state office, will be on hand Monday for the “meet the candidate ice cream social” in Carthage. Then on Monday, July 28, candidates on the county ballot and state candidates including GOP gubernatorial contenders U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof and Sarah Steelman, state treasurer, will be at the Newton County Watermelon Feed in Neosho. The same night, Jasper County candidates and other contenders will be featured at a Carthage candidate forum sponsored by Jasper County Farm Bureau. The ice cream social and the watermelon feed are long-standing events that have taken place prior to elections for at least 20 years. “It’s a big tradition, and I’ve had people tell me they don’t decide how they’re going to vote until they come to the ice cream social to hear the candidates speak,” said Jenny Mansfield, a member of Lincoln Ladies Republican Women’s Club, which puts on the event. The social, set for 6 p.m. at Carthage Memorial Hall, normally attracts large crowds to hear the GOP candidates. Candidates who attend will be given three minutes to speak, starting with statewide candidates, then working down the ballot. As in year’s past, sample ballots will be distributed to allow those attending to participate in a “straw poll” on the races. Mansfield said those who wish can “cast their vote” at the end of the evening, though others use the ballots to keep track of the speakers and then take them home. Though votes are counted, the outcome is not revealed until after the August primary. Often, Mansfield said, the results “are pretty much on the money.” To finance the event, Lincoln Ladies will be selling chances on a basket containing gift certificates valued at more than $300. The $5 chances are available from any club member, and will be available at the event, she said. Free watermelon and the two front-runners on the GOP gubernatorial ballot will be among the attractions at the Newton County Watermelon Feed set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 28, at Big Spring Park in Neosho. Hulshof and Steelman both have confirmed for the event, according to Nick Myers, chairman of the Newton County Republican Central Committee, which sponsors the gathering along with the Republican Women of Newton County. Myers said he “started working a long time ago” to line up the candidates for governor. “They have confirmed, and we’re expecting some other state candidates, but we don’t have confirmations yet,” he said. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Campaigns and Politics section
Area clerks say increased registration could translate to large voter turnout Andy Ostmeyer: Money trail offers insight into VP candidates Statewide candidates raise thousands without limits
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
Palin earns praise from GOP members on eve of speech w/ link to Nick Myers' convention blog
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
The Joplin Globe Publishing Company 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. |
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |