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Candidates make their final appeals to voters
Primary is on Tuesday
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From waving flags on street corners to knocking on doors and sending mass e-mails, candidates are hoping to rake in support as the July 20 primary election enters its final days.

  

Dawson County’s three District 3 commission hopefuls and the 10 candidates vying to be the next Clerk of Superior Court talked issues and touted their experience in two separate forums last week.

  

The commission candidates have one more chance to debate the issues in a Dawson County Republican Party forum Thursday night. 

  

On July 9, the three men fielded questions during a forum sponsored by the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.

  

The topics ranged from their views on greenspace and the county budget to the notion that all county residents are “Dawson-nites,” regardless of whether they’ve lived here for a couple months or generations.

  

“When you come across the Dawson County line and you move your stuff in your house, you became my neighbor,” said Jimmy Hamby, 57, a county native.

  

“We’re all in this together.”

  

Lionel Graves, 67, who moved to the area about eight years ago and is originally from England, said he believed everyone should be treated equal, native or not.

  

“Obviously, that’s easy to say but hard to do,” he said. “Someone that has been in the county for a period of time probably has made contacts in the county and probably has more ability to get strings pulled.”

  

Bill Minor, 64, reminded those attending the forum to remember why they moved to the area.

  

“Look around you. We have some resources people just can’t buy, people just can’t make this stuff,” Minor said. “God made it and it is beautiful and we need to do everything we can to protect it.”

  

Candidates for clerk of court fielded questions on ethics, their long-term vision for the office and how they plan to balance state mandates with office needs and budgetary constraints.

  

With 10 suitors for the clerk’s position and three for the commission seat, it’s likely that both contests could require a runoff election Aug. 10.

  

A candidate must receive 50 percent plus one vote to secure victory in the primary.

  

Early voting continues until 5 p.m. Friday at the Dawson County Elections and Voter Registration Office, 96 Academy Ave.

  

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 20. 

  

The East Precinct, located in the new Fire Station No. 2 near Dawson Forest Road and Hwy. 53 East, will be used for the first time as a voting location that day.

  

Other polling places are the election office on Academy Avenue and Fire Station No. 6 outside Big Canoe.

  

Voting will no longer be held at Black’s Mill and Kilough elementary schools.

Distrit 7 Republican Ballot
District 9 Republican Ballot
Democratic Ballot