CHARLES TOWN — The Jefferson County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) held its third annual political forum Friday night, where magistrate candidates and other elected officials had a chance to introduce themselves to the community. .
Each candidate was given five minutes to say what they stand for and what they hope to accomplish if elected.
The NAACP’s mission is to protect the equal rights of all people and to help educate our communities about political candidates so they can make informed decisions. The focus was to allow candidates to talk about their background, explain their position, and discuss why they are the right person for the job.
Candidates who attended the forum included Daniel Lutz, Judge David Hammer, and family court candidates such as Laura Sutton and Carmela Cesare.
Lutz, the first candidate to speak, is running for conservation district superintendent. He spoke about his history growing up in Jefferson County and serving in the U.S. Air Force. Lutz took the time to explain what his position is and why it is important to the community.
“One of the important things about the Office of Conservation District Supervisors is that our mission is, among other things, to ensure a safe and adequate water supply for all West Virginia residents. We are not an island to ourselves; we are the source of water for ourselves, the District of Columbia, and parts of 12 other states. We have stewardship obligations, if any. ” he said.
Several judicial candidates also attended. Lisa Shirley-Fraley and Ray Campbell, both Division 1 representatives, spoke about their backgrounds and experiences.
Shirley Fraley was born and raised in Jefferson County. She worked as an assistant judge and learned a lot about the profession through her experience. Campbell served in the military, after which she attended the police academy. He served as a police commander in Gaithersburg, Maryland, before retiring and taking a part-time job as a bailiff. He talked about how he has already created a team of people who can support him and help him learn everything there is to know as a magistrate.
Unlike the first two NAACP forums, there was no question and answer time for the candidates, but it was a great opportunity for the community to learn more about the candidates and make informed decisions on Election Day.
