The Limestone County NAACP and Athelstine Lodge No. 71 today hosted a community cookout for those interested in meeting with local and state political candidates.

Candidates were able to meet and talk one-on-one with voters before and during a lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs. Each candidate then got a few minutes to speak to the audience and take questions from audience members.

Topics ranged from education and business interests to law enforcement in the black community and district boundaries. Audience members who were not registered to vote were also given the opportunity to do so.

Diane Steele, political action chairman for the Limestone County NAACP, had previously told The News Courier it was important for citizens to be registered, informed voters who participated in elections.

“We’ve always made available to the community a way to meet and greet the candidates, because we think people need to make an informed decision about who they’re voting for,” Steele said.

“The ballot box is where we can have our voices heard,” Steele said.