The first three of four Clallam County League of Women Voters forums are set for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
The free public forums held across Clallam County will feature candidates, especially those in contested races, who will be on the Nov. 7 general election ballot. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters Oct. 18.
“Audience questions are the most important part of any LWV forum,” said Paula Barnes of the league’s voter services committee. “Members of the public are encouraged to attend and bring their questions for the candidates.”
Tuesday’s forum will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
It will consist of two panels. The first panel will feature candidates for Port Commissioner, District 1 — incumbent Colleen McAleer and Michael Cobb.
The second panel will present candidates for Fire District 2 Commissioner, Position 1 — incumbent Tom Martin and Patricia Riefenstahl.
A forum is planned in Sequim this coming Thursday. It will be at 6 p.m. at the Sequim Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St.
A panel with Port of Port Angeles candidates McAleer and Cobb will be followed by a forum for candidates for the Sequim School Board — District 2 candidates Brian Kuhn and Jon Kirshbaum and Position 4 (at large) candidates Brandino Gibson and Nola Judd. The four School Board candidates will participate in the same panel.
Following the last panel, all other candidates on the ballot will be invited to introduce themselves and stay for a brief reception to speak with voters one-to-one.
On Saturday, the Forks Library, 171 S. Forks Ave., will be the site of a forum and reception co-sponsored by the North Olympic Library System.
It will begin at 2 p.m. with a debate featuring candidates for Forks mayor — Ken Ayers and Tim Fletcher.
That will be followed by a panel with McAleer and Cobb.
The final panel will consist of seven candidates for three Fire District 2 Commissioner positions — Position 1 candidates Jodi Riker and Dustin Kraft, Position 2 candidates Britni Duncan and Chet Hunt, and Position 5 candidates Neris Biciunas, Anthony (Tony) Romberg and John Witherspoon.
All seven Fire District candidates will participate in the same panel.
All candidates appearing on the ballot have been invited to attend this forum and introduce themselves at the conclusion of the final panel.
A second Port Angeles forum will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the county courthouse.
This will include all candidates for contested Port Angeles City Council races — Position 2 candidates Mike French and Jacob Oppelt, Position 3 candidates Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin and Artur Wojnowski, and Position 4 candidates Travis Berglund and Kate Dexter.
All six city council candidates will participate in the same panel.
All candidates in the contested races featured in the forums have confirmed they will participate, Barnes said.
Other candidates, such as those running in uncontested races, have been encouraged to attend these events but have not been asked to RSVP, so their attendance at the receptions cannot be confirmed.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to promote the informed and active participation of citizens in government.
For more information about these events and the League of Women Voters, go to www.lwvcla.org.