Seven candidates running in Newberry’s Tuesday election

NEWBERRY – The time has come for residents to let their voices be heard in their city government through the ballot box.

The Newberry general election will be held on Tuesday at the Newberry Fire Station at 310 NW 250^th Street. Registered voters can cast their ballot for candidates running for the Newberry City Commission from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

These candidates will answer questions at a forum held tonight at 7 p.m. at Newberry City Hall at 25440 W. Newberry Road.

Three incumbents are up for re-election in this year’s election.

In Group One, incumbent Joe Hoffman will run against Tim Marden and Linda H. Woodcock.

Hoffman is a business owner who has served on the city commission since 2002. Fellow business owner Marden owns Space Walk of Gainesville and has over 20 years of business experience. The third candidate running in Group One, Woodcock, has an extensive background in education and spends her time volunteering and serving on both the Planning and Zoning Board and the Cemetery Committee.

Incumbent Lois Forte will run against Barbara Hendrix in Group Two.

Forte has served on the city commission for about 20 years and has been working for the Newberry Senior Citizen Program since 1997. Her challenger, Hendrix, is the executive director of the Newberry Main Street Program and owns daba designworks in Newberry.

In Group Three, incumbent Alena King Lawson will run against Monty Farnsworth.

Lawson has served on the city commission for about 10 years and is an investigator for the Public Defender’s Office. Farnsworth has experience in the nursing field and has served on the Newberry City Commission previously.

Tonight, the seven candidates will get a chance to answer several questions submitted by the Newberry Chamber of Commerce members. Residents can also submit questions to ask the candidates.

Former State Representative and Newberry Commissioner Debbie Boyd will moderate the forum, which will be televised on channel 97 for Cox Cable subscribers.