2026 election forum set for Oct. 20

By Reader Staff

Coinciding with the beginning of early voting on Monday, Oct. 19, the Bonner County Daily Bee, KRFY Panhandle Community Radio, SandpointOnline.com and Sandpoint Reader will host an election forum on Tuesday, Oct. 20 featuring candidates for Idaho Legislative District 1 and the Bonner County Board of Commissioners.

Scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m. and moderated by Chris Bessler, the forum will take place at the Sandpoint High School auditorium (410 S. Boyer Ave.).

Tables will be set up in the cafeteria outside the auditorium where candidates are invited to provide literature and talk with voters before and after the forum.

Candidates in contested races have been invited, including Republican Scott Herndon and Independent Steve Johnson (Dist. 1 Senate); Democrat Karen Matthee and Republican Jane Sauter (Dist. 1A House); Independent Kathryn Larson and Republican Cornel Rasor (Dist. 1B House); and Independent Fred Arn and Republican Steve Smith (BOCC Dist. 1).

Each candidate in contested races will get two minutes to provide an opening statement. Following those opening statements, the moderator will take written questions from the audience and candidates will each receive two minutes for closing statements.

Candidates in uncontested races have also been invited to provide two- to three-minute statements during the opening period, but questions will be reserved for contested races only.

The forum will be broadcast live on the evening of Oct. 20 on 88.5 KRFY, with the recording subsequently available on KRFY.org and followed by coverage in the Bee and Reader.