Richland 2 school board candidates meet the public tonight in the first of 3 forums

The dozen candidates vying for seats on the Richland 2 school board have three upcoming chances to be questioned by the public, starting tonight (Tuesday) with a forum hosted by the Richland 2 Teacher Forum and the League of Women Voters.

The first candidate forum starts tonight at 6 p.m. at the Richland 2 Institute of Innovation at 763 Fashion Drive, Columbia.

The candidates will meet twice more before the Nov. 8 general election at a forum hosted by the Richland 2 Black Parents Association on Tuesday, Oct. 25, and at another forum hosted by an interfaith group the following Tuesday, Nov. 1.

The top three vote getters on election day will win the three available at-large seats. Competing for them are: Lindsay Agostini, Anthony “A.J.” Bracy, Henry Counts, Monica Elkins, Kay Harvey, Evengelina Hemphill, Bill McCracken, James Mobley, Keith R Powell, Jamie Shadd, Shelley Williams and Milton Wright.

Eight of the 12 candidates – Mobley, Agostini, Harvey, McCracken, Powell, Williams, Bracy and Shadd – have committed to the Black Parents Associations’ event, the group has said. The parents’ forum will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church, 224 O’Neil Court Unit 5, Columbia.

On Nov. 1, candidates will answer questions drawn from more than 50 faith communities in the district. The forum will begin at 7 p.m. at Rehoboth Baptist Church, 4646 Hard Scrabble Road, Columbia.