Wednesday night’s Ashland Town Council Candidate Forum extended the longstanding relationship between the Town of Ashland and Randolph-Macon College that runs through local politics, with two candidates with RMC ties and Dr. Lauren Bell, the James L. Miller Professor of Political Science, serving as moderator.

With several students in attendance to see the rhythms of local government up close, the event encapsulated the hands-on ethos of RMC’s Department of Political Science.

“We can teach the theory, we can teach the conceptual aspects of political science, but we also want students to actually get into the institutions of government, into the state and local, and even into Congress,” said Bell, who has moderated these candidate forums for 25 years. “To me, this is an extension of all the practical ways in which we try to encourage our students to engage in the content.”

The forum featured four candidates, vying for two council seats, answering questions and providing opening and closing remarks. The format differs from a debate in that candidates do not have a formal period for rebuttals. “The goal is for the candidates to be able to present themselves and the issues that they think are important to voters,” Bell explained.

The Ashland Town Council has five seats, with council members serving staggered four-year terms. Dan McGraw, the lone incumbent in the race, is a member of RMC’s Class of 2000, while Darry Edwards is currently enrolled in political science courses at the College. The non-partisan field is rounded out by candidates Lewis Rogers and Drew Molloy.

Bell balanced her own prepared questions for the candidates with questions submitted by members of the audience at Ashland Town Hall. The wide-ranging discussion covered planned growth for the town, how to support citizens below the poverty line, the town’s relationships with Hanover County and RMC, and more.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, and early voting has already begun. Voters in Ashland will choose their top two Town Council candidates, with the two candidates receiving the most votes winning the open seats.