Two public forums that were scheduled in early October for Dunwoody City Council candidates have been cancelled.
That leaves two October events at which members of the public can meet the candidates. Dunwoody United Methodist Church hosts a debate for council candidates on Oct. 6 at the church, 1548 Mount Vernon Road.
The Dunwoody Homeowners Association will hold one at Dunwoody High School, 5035 Vermack Road.
The two cancelled forums were scheduled for Oct. 3 and Oct. 10 at Dunwoody Baptist Church. Candidates in District 1, Post 1 and District 3, Post 3 were invited to take part in the first forum and candidates in district 2, Post 2 were invited to take part in the second.
Organizer Norb Leahy said the forums were cancelled after no site was found to host them after the church declined to do so.
Church administrator Mark Sauls said Dunwoody Baptist withdrew after the League of Women Voters declined an invitation to provide a moderator for the forums.
“We were notified that the League of Women Voters has declined to moderate the upcoming candidate forums to be held at our church,” Sauls wrote in an email. “As such, we feel it is appropriate that we also decline to host the forums. Dunwoody Baptist Church was merely the host of this event and had no role in organizing this event. We are interested in serving the community, but only in ways that are impartial.”
Eight candidates are seeking seats on the council. Candidates run within their districts, so each voter on Nov. 5 will choose only from among the candidates seeking a seat representing the voter’s district.
The candidates are: District One, Post One – David Davis, Henly Shelton, incumbent Denis Shortal; District Two, Post Two – William A.J. Mercier, Jim Riticher, Heyward Wescott; District Three, Post 3 – Sam Eads, incumbent Doug Thompson.