Meet the candidates for County Freeholder

VERNON — Five of the seven announced candidates for Sussex County Freeholder are expected to attend a "Meet and Greet" hosted by the Vernon Chamber of Commerce at The George Inn in Vernon on Thursday, May 24, at 7:30 p.m. The event is an opportunity for voters to meet the candidates vying for votes in the June 5 primary. Organizers say they hold out hope the two who have declined may still be able to make the session. Two Freeholder seats will be available in November. For the upcoming June 5 primary, five Republicans are vying for their party's nod and two Democrats are running uncontested. Republicans Chris Kelly of Hamburg, a Hamburg Borough Council member; Gail Phoebus, who is currently deputy mayor of Andover Township, and Helen LeFrois, a Newton Town Council member, are expected to attend the session, along with Democrats Susan Williams of Sparta and Jim Tighe of Wantage. Republicans Phoebus and LeFrois are running as a team. Republicans Dennis Mudrick and Donald Ploetner II, both of Sparta, have so far declined to attend on Thursday. The meeting is open to all county residents. The Vernon Inn is located at 84 Route 94.