Candidate Forum set for Nov. 2

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

By this point, most have had their fill of the presidential election. But for locals, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton aren’t necessarily the most important candidates on the ballot.

Local elected officials often have a far more immediate impact on residents’ day-to-day lives. That’s why it’s important to evaluate each candidate for yourself and make an educated vote come Nov. 8. There’s no better time to get that information than at a candidate forum set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Sandpoint High School auditorium.

Hosted by the Sandpoint Reader and Sandpoint Online, the candidate forum is intended to be a civil, rational environment where voters can calmly evaluate the issues. To that end, the event will be moderated by a panel of volunteers, who will select audience questions for each candidate. Forum organizers encourage attendees to show respect for all candidates and refrain from heckling or excessive applause.

Confirmed for attendance are District 1 legislative candidates Steve Tanner (D), Shawn Keough (R), Stephen Howlett (D) and Kate McAlister (D); District 7 legislative candidates Ken Meyers (D) and Jessica Chilcott (D); Bonner County Sheriff candidate Terry Ford (I); and unopposed Bonner County Board of Commissioners candidates Dan McDonald (R) and Jeff Connolly (R). District 1 legislative candidates Heather Scott (R) and Sage Dixon ( R) may or may not attend. District 7 legislative candidates Carl Crabtree (R) and Priscilla Giddings (R) are not attending. And Bonner County Sheriff candidate Daryl Wheeler (R) has not yet responded to invitations.

SandpointOnline.com will stream the forum live on its website, while KRFY 88.5 FM will be stream live audio on KRFY.org.