Do you want to know more about the candidates? Are you registered to vote? The Pensacola Beach Optimist Club has you covered. They are hosting a Candidate Forum, Thursday, October 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Pensacola Beach Community Church. Optimist Club President Carleen Wheeler announced that all candidates from the gubernatorial race to the one-elected Santa Rosa Island Authority seat have been invited to appear. The format allows three minutes for each candidate to address the beach voters. The candidate presentations will be followed by a proctored question-and-answer period. Attendees will be able to submit questions in writing at the meeting. Questions will be posed to candidates as time allows by Wheeler. “We want everyone to join us,” said Wheeler. “Hear the candidates and stick around for refreshments after the presentations are over.”

In addition to the Governor’s race, Beach voters will have an opportunity to choose the Florida Attorney General, Chief Financial Offi cer and Commissioner of Agriculture. Mike Hill and Jeremy Lau face off for State Representative in District 2. Escambia County Commission District 4 incumbent Grover Robinson, IV, is taking on challenger Michael Lowery.

In 1983 Pensacola Beach residents earned the right to vote for one delegate to the Santa Rosa Island Authority Board. Thomas Campanella and Terry Preston are running for the SRIA seat. There are over 2,400 registered voters on Pensacola Beach. During the August 26 Primary Election voter turnout was relatively low with 436 voters from Pensacola Beach casting ballots.

Getting registered to vote is easy. The League of Women Voters will be on hand at the Candidate Forum to register attendees. If you prefer, you can register online or in person at the Elections offi ce. Go to www.escambiavotes.com for forms or call 850-595-3900 for assistance.

The deadline to register is October 6. The Pensacola Beach Optimist encourages everyone to attend the Candidate Forum. It is open to the public at no charge.