Some candidates skipping political forums in Brunswick County

BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — The November election is just 29 days away and many candidates are vying for several offices.

But some members of the Brunswick County Democratic Party are upset that GOP candidates aren’t willing to take part in political forums.

2 forums were recently held by separate nonprofit groups, the Southport Indivisibles and the Cedar Grove Improvement Association.

According to the county’s Democratic Party, all of their candidates showed up to both forums while only one Republican, who is running for county Register of Deeds, showed up.

Democrats have also said they would like to have debates held between candidates from both parties but haven’t heard any interest from the Republican Party to hold such debates.

According to Brunswick County Commissioner Mike Forte, a Republican, he said he would gladly debate his Democratic opponent as long as a nonpartisan group hosts it.

“I’m not going to walk into an ambush, which is what they are asking me to do and I just, I refuse to do that,” Forte said. “You find me a truly, let WWAY do it and I will show up, I will gladly debate them, but not when it’s so partisan.”

Tom Simmons, Forte’s Democratic opponent for Brunswick County’s District 4, said he feels anyone running for office should be willing to speak with and answer questions from the public.

“Well, I think if you’re going to ask folks to cast a vote for you, you need to meet with those folks and answer questions and let them know why you want to make a change in the county,” Simmons said. “So I think its just an obligation that you have as a candidate, its an obligation you have as an incumbent. You know, we’re willing to meet, like I said, anytime, anywhere, we just want somebody to debate with.”

WWAY reached out to the Brunswick County Republican Party and Chairman William Moore said it is up to the individual candidate whether to show up to a forum or event, not the party.

According to Brunswick County’s 2024 voter registration statistics, as of October 7th, there are 56,367 registered Republicans, 27,983 registered Democrats, and 53,691 registered as unaffiliated.