Democrats and Republicans will meet on April 22 for a candidate forum hosted by The Beaufort County Conservative Republican Club. The bipartisan event invites candidates who have primary election opposition — North Carolina Senate, House, Sheriff and County Commissioner candidates.

According to Hood Richardson, a Beaufort County Commissioner, the forum was pulled together to showcase to the public the different candidates as well as their stances on a variety of issues. Kellie Hopkins, the Beaufort County Director of Elections, will moderate and will be the only person to speak who is not a candidate.

According to Richardson, candidates will have three minutes to present their platform and to talk about themselves. They will also spend two minutes answering questions directed to them individually, at random, from the audience or give their position on questions asked to candidates who have been questioned. The order of questioning will be determined by a drawing.

Richardson said members of the audience, who will be selected by the moderator, will be allowed to ask only one question for each category of candidate — Senate, House, Sheriff and Commissioner. However, members of the audience will be permitted to ask more than one question in the event that there are not enough questions asked.

According to Richardson, candidates will be seated on stage by category, at the same time. Senate candidates will be seated first, then House, then Commissioner, then Sheriff.

The forum will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Building 8 auditorium at Beaufort County Community College.