Ten candidates for Beaufort County offices met last night to introduce themselves and their platforms to county voters.

In the Building 8 Auditorium at Beaufort County Community College, candidates for Beaufort County Clerk of Superior Court, Beaufort County Commissioner and Beaufort County Sheriff took the stage to answer questions posed by moderator Austin Smithwick, a member of the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals group. All 10 local candidates took part in the forum.

“The fact that they all showed up just shows they’re committed to the positions they hope to serve,” said Chamber Director Catherine Glover. “The future of the county is really in the hand of the elected officials and this is a great way to know where they stand.”

Candidates for Clerk of Superior Court include Eva Buck, Marty Paramore and Jimbo Shiver. Those running for the three available seats on the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners are Democrats Ed Booth and Robert Cayton, and Republicans Ron Buzzeo, Keith Kidwell and Frankie Waters. Democrats Al Whitney and Republican Ernie Coleman both faced stiff competition in a May primary, but went on to win slots for the Nov. 4 election in the July primary.

The questions fielded by candidates were put together by a Young Professionals committee. Commissioners candidates tackled a broad array of questions, touching on schools, economic development, healthcare — specifically referencing the closure of Vidant Pungo Hospital and the direction of healthcare in eastern Beaufort County — and their stance on new Beaufort County jail. Coleman and Whitney were asked how, with recent developments in Ferguson, Mo., putting a spotlight on law enforcement and its interaction with the community, what they would do as sheriff to address community relations on a local level. Among the questions asked of Clerk of Court candidates Buck, Paramore and Shiver, one focused on how his or her personal and professional background had prepared them for the office.

For those unable to attend the forum, video of the forum will be available on the Daily News’ website, www.thewashingtondailynews.com, shortly. It will be aired later on public access TV.