Special election set for April 1

COUNTY — The Pickens County Republican Party has scheduled a forum to provide voters with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the candidates vying to replace former board chairman Ben Trotter as the Liberty-area representative on the Pickens County School Board.

The forum is planned for 7 p.m. this Thursday, March 20, at the Rosewood Center in Liberty.

Trotter withdrew from the board effective last month, and the nonpartisan special election to fill his unexpired term is scheduled for April 1.

Candidates who have entered their names into the hat include local businessman Roy Costner, former school district building program director Bob Folkman, longtime school district employee Bonita Thomas Holland and Tri-County Technical College Easley campus director Brian Swords. Kathy Powell, the wife of Liberty City Councilman Charles Powell, also filed for the seat, but has withdrawn and thrown her support behind Swords.

At the forum, each of the four remaining candidates in the race will have up to five minutes to introduce themselves to those in attendance. They will then take questions from the audience.

In addition to the school board race to fill Trotter’s seat, voters in Easley will go to the polls April 1 as well, as Terry Moore and Chad Roach will face off on the ballots to replace Kim Valentin as the Ward 4 representative on Easley City Council.

Valentin resigned in December.