Officials from across Coles County are going to speak from 6-7 p.m. today in the Charleston/Mattoon Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

It is for all members of the community including students, faculty and staff.

“Yes, it is for everyone,” said Michelle Martin, student liaison for Faculty Senate. “I put it together and Student Government is sponsoring it.”

Martin said it is important for students to see who else is running in the election.

“We all know who is running on November 4, but we want to bring people of the community to say what they do,” Martin said. “It will not be their platforms or anything – it will be them educating the students about their position and discussing the specific statutory and practical functions of their offices.”

Students will learn about the responsibilities of these offices and get to know more about the democratic process.

The speakers were more than willing to come

“Obviously, it wasn’t hard to get county members and the state representatives,” Martin said. “They thought it was great idea and they would be filling in students as educated voters.”

Martin hopes students will come because they want to, not because they are doing it as extra credit for a class.

The whole goal in doing this is to better inform students on who they are voting for.

“I think it is the students’ civic responsibility to know who they are voting for, they should make informed decision when they vote,” she said.

Martin said she does not know whether students are aware that different names, other than who is running for president, will be on the Nov. 4 ballot.

She said why not should students make an educated choice about who will be running in the community as well.

“This is just as important now as it is in spring when municipal elections are held and in 2010 when we elect all Illinois constitutional officers,” Martin said.

Martin said, however, who is running is not important.

“This is not important, though,” she said.

Coles County Sheriff Darrell Cox said he likes the idea to inform students and the community about the sheriff’s office.

“Every opportunity I get to speak about the sheriff’s office, I take advantage of,” Cox said. “I’ve been requested to talk about the sheriff’s office and what we do here. There will also be a question and answer session afterwards.”

Cox said the election does not have that much bearing since he will not be running until 2010.

“It is basically just an opportunity for me to talk about the Coles County Sheriff’s Office,” he said.

However, he thinks it is important for students to become informed about who will be running, other than the federal candidates.

“I would say your local officials have more impact on the local scene than federal candidates,” he said.

Student Government will be sponsoring the event and they helped Martin get the room for the event along with equipment.

Eric Wilber, student executive vice president, said he would talk to the people who will be running for office beforehand and tell them it is a non-partisan event so they cannot discuss their platforms.

“They will only have five minutes to speak,” Wilber said.

State Representative Chapin Rose, Coles County State’s Attorney Steve Ferguson, Coles County Coroner Michael Nichols and Jan Eads, Coles County Board chair are the only speakers up for re-election.

Speakers at today’s forum:

State Senator Dale Righter

State Representative Chapin Rose

Darrell Cox – Coles County Sheriff

Jan Eads – Chair, Coles County Board

Steve Ferguson – Coles County State’s Attorney

Michael C. Nichols – Coles County Coroner

Sue Rennels – Coles County Clerk and Recorder

Roscoe Cougill – former Charleston Mayor

Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or haholm@eiu.edu.