Political candidates and issues collided tonight during a forum at the Citrus County Auditorium on the outskirts of Inverness.

Candidates were hoping to persuade voters to put a check mark in the “right” spot come Aug. 24.

A panel asked questions of candidates for School Board District 1 and state House of Representatives. Those at the forum running for school board were Lou Miele and Thomas Kennedy. And running for state representative at the forum were incumbent Ron Schultz and Jimmie T. Smith.

At the national level, seeking to represent Citrus County in the U.S. House of Representatives in District 5 were Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent and Jason Sager, both Republicans.

Voters were reminded that early voting will begin on Aug. 9 and conclude on Aug. 21.

In local races, candidates wooed voters for seats in School Board District 1 and for the District 2 and District 4 seats on the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners.

In the two county commission races, incumbent Gary Bartell is facing fellow Republican JJ Kenney for the District 2 seat. And in District 4, incumbent John Thrumston is getting a stiff challenge for the post from Rebecca Bays and Don Sterling.

The forum was recorded by local TV station WYKE, and will air the forum at 8 p.m. on Monday and at 8 p.m. on Aug. 23.

Below are selected excerpts from the political forum.

U.S. House District 5 highlights

* Richard Nugent. The Hernando County Sheriff spoke to a number of national issues that he was interested in addressing, including illegal immigration and keeping Social Security secure. Of Social Security, Nugent told voters, “Social Security is a sacred promise, and needs to be there for you.” And, summing up his presentation, Nugent said, “We need to do what’s best for you – not what’s best for us.” In closing, Nugent told voters that he had recently received endorsement by former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

* Jason Sager. Jason Sager’s endorsement comes from the Tea Party. Sager, who gave the impression of being a political firebrand, said that, as a former resident of New York City (he is also a Clearwater native), said he was witness to the 9/11 attacks, and that changed his life and pointed him in the direction of a political life. He told voters, referring to the bad economy, national health care and financial reform by Congress and the Obama Administration that those actions “awakened a sleeping giant.” He also said that the U.S. Constitution was being ignored. “Is there anyone in this room who believes Congress is operating within the bounds of this document?” Sager asked voters. He then added, “We haven’t had an opportunity like this since 1776.”

County Commission District 2 highlights

* Gary Bartell. Gary Bartell is the veteran member of the Citrus County Commission, having served approximately 20 years. He is currently serving as the commission’s chairman, a position previously held by County Commissioner John Thrumston. Bartell pointed toward many of the accomplishments both he and the commission have enacted during the past five years. Some of the benefits of those efforts he listed were reducing the budget 5 years in a row, a central sewer to take septic tank stress from environmentally sensitive areas, putting Three Sisters Springs in the public sector and a 21 percent increase in tourism during that time period. During his next term, Bartell said the county needs to continue to scrutinize its expenditures, rewrite the impact fee ordinance, find a funding source for emergency services, such as fire, and expanding the prescription drug program that’s available to the county from the Florida Association of Counties. He ended his address by telling voters, “I am the same Gary Bartell (you elected to the commission). I cherish you. I am a full-time commissioner.”

* JJ Kenney. Kenney, a U.S. Marine veteran, told voters, “When you go home tonight, think about who you will put on the county commission on Aug. 24. You gave that seat to Gary Bartell 20 years ago. I pledge to you I’m going to take that seat.” Kenney also told voters that veterans have been responsible for bringing in $48 million dollars into Citrus County from federal sources. He pledged to create an environment that would stimulate small business, and in so doing, create jobs. And he summed up his presentation by reminding voters to get out and vote. “If you don’t vote, you’ll get the government you deserve,” Kenney said.

County Commission District 4 highlights

* Rebecca Bays. A small-businesswoman, Bays appealed to voters to take advantage of her experience in both small business and in larger fiscal management. She characterized herself as a fiscal conservative, and Citrus County as economically stagnant. She told voters that workers are fleeing the county, and has a dismal unemployment rate. Referring to the purchase of Ottowa Avenue as the “road to nowhere,” she said that Citrus County should take the “road to somewhere” and bring prosperity to the county. She also told voters that the county’ should quit running the county with “Washington’s stimulus math.” She added, “People create jobs – not government.”

* Don Sterling. Sterling also questioned the wisdom in the county’s desire to purchase 1.3 miles of Ottowa Avenue for $2,9 million. He also questioned campaign financing for his opponents by accusing Thrumston of taking $10,000 from what he called the same “developer’s address”, and Bays of taking funds from what he termed “special interest groups.” Both Bays and Thrumston denied those charges.

* John Thrumston. Thrumston told voters that the commission isn’t as fragemented as when he first took off, and pointed toward that body’s strides toward performing as a team. “We have implemented zero-based budgeting, implemented staff reductions without cutting services and created incentive programs for small businesses. He added that the county has created a culture of government that is customer friendly. “We are listening to you,” Thrumston said, “We are working as a team.” Of remarks made about his service, Thrumston said, “My opponents have wanted to blame me for everything from the national economy to the oil spill in the Gulf. I don’t have any control over those things. I didn’t create those things. I was elected to fix things,” Thrumston said.