Candidates To Address Homeowners Meeting

All eight candidates running for countywide office in the Nov. 4 general election are scheduled to speak at the Highlands County Homeowners Association meeting today.

The public is welcome at the meeting, which runs from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Sebring Country Estates Club House, on Grand Prix Boulevard, about a quarter mile west of U.S. 27.

Much of the political forum will be devoted to the candidates answering questions from the audience.

Scheduled to speak are:

Jeri Canale, a Democrat and former county commissioner, and Republican Jeff Carlson, former Sebring City Council member, running for county commissioner in District 3;

Zane Thomas, an independent, and four-term Republican incumbent Guy Maxcy, running for county commissioner in District 5;

Republican challenger Ronald Grimming and Democrat incumbent Susan Benton, running for sheriff; and

Republican Robert Germaine and Democrat Mary Wilson, running for clerk of courts. Both work in the clerk of courts office, Germaine as senior director of court services, Wilson as director of compliance and internal audit.

Jack Richie, chairman of the homeowners association, said each candidate will be given five minutes to speak. When both candidates for each race have finished, they will field questions from the audience.

After all eight candidates have spoken and answered questions on their individual races, audience members will be invited to ask questions pertaining to any of the offices up for election.

"The audience at this meeting is very knowledgeable, they are the leaders in their communities, and they know what the issues are," Richie said. "They ask very fair questions, and questions that should be answered."

The monthly meetings feature free coffee, tea and doughnuts before the meeting starts.

Usually, the meetings feature about a dozen reports on county business, ranging from county government and the schools to law enforcement and parks and recreation. Committee reports will only be given Monday if time allows after the candidates forum, Richie said.