MONTEZUMA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) - The Macon County Chapter of the NAACP hosted a political forum tonight in Montezuma, allowing local citizens to get to know the candidates they'll be voting for on July 31st.

Candidates for county commission, coroner, probate judge, sheriff, and state representative answered questions ranging from how to create jobs to how they would handle a large-scale disaster in the area.

Matthew Woodard and Grover Mickey Barfield, who are both in a battle for Macon County Sheriff against incumbent Charles Cannon, each explained why they felt they had what it takes to steal away Cannon's seat as sheriff.

"I'm young," says Woodard.  "I'm self-motivated, and I have a strong reason to make a change here in Macon County.  By having four small children, I understand what they're going through and I think that's one of the areas that we need to concentrate on is our youth."

"I think that I'd be the best candidate because I care about our community," says Barfield.  "I was born and raised here and feel that I can exceed in the job itself."

In another interesting race, the newly re-apportioned state house district 139 will have a new representative for the first time in more than two decades because of Lynmore James's retirement.

Patty Bentley, Michael Dinkins, and Tom Coogle are all vying for that seat.  Coogle says voters should pay close attention to this race as the election draws near.

"We're at a pivotal moment in the history of Georgia," says Coogle.  "What's going on in Savannah Port area (dredging) is very important--very important to Middle Georgia specifically, and I think that if we have business-minded candidates in office at that time, we'll do quite well and see significant job growth.  I think if we do not, then we'll fail."

Primary elections are now just a little over a month away.  Polls will be open on July 31st, and early voting begins on July 9th.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) - Tonight, the League of Women Voters in Macon hosted a forum for local election candidates for them to explain their platforms to voters.

The discussion was held tonight at Macon City Hall.  Panelists grilled county commission, state senate, state house, and sheriff candidates on issues like consolidation, budgeting and crime prevention.

41NBC's own Andrew Reeser wsa one of the panelists questioning candidates for Bibb County Commission and Bibb County Sheriff.

We spoke with two Republicans vying for the commission district 3 seat, Mallory Jones and Edward Bond, and asked them why they think they're the most qualified for the job.

"I think because of my experience," says Bond.  "I mean, coming to Macon 40 years ago, serving on city council, being on a dozen different committees over the period of time, and being very active in the community.  I have more experience than anybody else that's running."

"We've got to grow the population," says Jones.  "Crime is a problem.  I'm encouraging judges to use the banishment rule.  I'm convinced--I don't have the stats yet, but I'm convinced we have more than 50 career criminals.  They've been convicted of between five and 50 felonies in the last few years."

Gary Bechtel, the third candidate for the commission district 3 seat, was not in attendance at the panel discussion tonight.

Election day is July 31st, and the last day to register is July 2nd.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) - The Bibb County Board of Elections faces a possible lawsuit over the voting maps the Bibb County Board of Education plans to use in the upcoming election.

Candidate for school board district 4 seat, Lester Miller, tells 41NBC the new district maps that have been approved by the Department of Justice are the lawful maps that should be used in the election.

However, the Bibb County Board of Education plans to use the old district maps when voting takes place on July 31st.

Miller says filing a lawsuit is the last resort, but he will do what it takes to make sure the updated maps are the ones used.

"As a taxpayer in Bibb County, as a parent of two public school educated children, and as a candidate for office, I couldn't stand by and watch things happen the way they've happened," says Miller.  "I've been on the sidelines way too long waiting for the right things to happen and once I saw that time is running out, I felt like now is the time to do something."

Miller tells 41NBC that he and his attorney have been in contact with Elaine Carr of the Bibb County Board of Elections. 

If they don't hear back that the new maps will be used by Friday, they plan to file a lawsuit in federal court and ask for an injunction on the election as early as Monday of next week.