Southern System President Ralph Slaughter greets candidates for governor participating in a forum October 14 at the Southern Ag Center.

Gubernatorial candidates discuss key African American issues

Gubernatorial candidates entered the last week of campaigning with an issue-based forum held at the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center Ocyober 14.

The Louisiana NAACP and the Every Child Matters Campaign partnered with the Southern Ag Center to present the forum to educate voters and raise awareness of issues affecting the African American community. Kwame Asante presided over the forum with the support of Shacara Lewis, Louisiana campaign leader for Every Child Matters.

The candidates were welcomed by both Ag Center Chancellor Leodrey Williams and Ralph Slaughter, system president.

Front-running candidates Walter Bossao and Foster Campbell participated with John Georges submitting last-minutes regrets on his participation. Candidates T. Lee Horne III, Anthony Gentile, Sheldon Forest and Belinda Alexandrenko also participated.

Several candidates for other offices were in attendance. Community groups as well as business and Pan-Hellenic organizations were represented.

Each gubernatorial candidate introduced themselves and answered questions on pre-chosen topics such as education, economic development, healthcare and crime and punishment.

After fielding questions from the audience, each candidate offered closing statements. The forum was taped and will be made available for later broadcast and Web distribution.

For more on the forum, see article on 2theadvocate.com.