The League of Women Voters is preparing to host the candidate forum on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at the Great Bend Event Center, 3111 10th St. Members of the public are invited to attend.
Eagle Media will provide live streaming coverage of the event. The forum will feature 19 candidates vying for local positions. The doors open at 5 p.m. so the attendees can mingle with the candidates.
Patrick Hoffman, an attorney based in Salina, will serve as moderator and commence questioning the USD 428 Board of Education candidates at 5:30 p.m. They include Jacqueline Disque, Barbara Thoren, Chad Burroughs and Sarah Scheneck.
Barton County Trustee board candidates will receive questions at 6:15 p.m. The seven candidates are Carl Helm, John Moshier, Will Rains, Amber Smith, Kimberly Becker, Kyle Zoellner, and Billy Eldridge.
Candidates running for Mayor and City Council wards 1, 2, and 3 will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Running for Mayor are Alan Moeder and Davis Jimenez. Ward 1 candidates are Deklyn Craven and Shelly Peacock. Ward 2 candidates are Charlie Dixon and Jay Luerman. Ward 3 candidates are Cody Harris and Shelly Arnberger.
Each candidate has been preparing or has submitted information about themselves on the National Voter Guide website, Vote411.org developed by the LWV Education Fund. The public views this information by going to www.vote411.org/ballot. When at the site, enter your address.
Then click on the ‘Get Started’ button. A list of races will appear on which to click. Then the candidates that appear on your ballot will be listed.
When you click on the ‘View Answers’ square under the candidate’s name, you will be able to read their biographical information and their answers to three questions regarding their competencies, priorities, and responsibilities of the office for which they are running.
The forum will have its own set of questions, many submitted by the public through a Google Questionnaire form created by a League board member. In the event of a candidate’s absence, a League member will read the candidate’s responses on their behalf.
The candidate forum is an event that allows candidates to share their views in person on community concerns in a neutral, fair, and open setting. Holding a forum shows candidates that community members care about the issues and want to be informed voters.
Dates to remember: Oct. 14 is the deadline to register to vote or to update your voter registration. Oct. 15 is when advance voting in person may start, and mail-in advance ballots are sent out at this time. Oct. 28 is when advance voting must begin. Nov. 4 is the General Election.
