Candidates Forum Tonight For State Offices!

Release courtesy the League of Women Voters. Edited a bit from the original phrasing to take into account the forum tonight. We will also be live blogging from the debate tonight – If you’d like to be e-mailed when that article goes live, click the “keep me posted!” button at the bottom of this story.

To educate local voters about the elections on Nov. 6, the public is welcome and encouraged to attend three upcoming “Meet the Candidates Nights” events.  

The second forum will take place tonight at Narragansett Town Hall. Candidates for Rhode Island State Senate District 35 and 36 speak from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by Rhode Island House of Representatives Candidates for District 33 and 34 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The local league will also conduct forums for those campaigning for the offices of Rhode Island State Senators (Districts 37 and 38) and Representatives (Districts 35 and 36) and for those vying for a seat on the Town Councils and School Committees of Narragansett.

The first forum for South Kingstown School Committee and South Kingstown Town Council was held last week. For our live blog from that event, click here. For complete video, click here for school committee and here for town council.

This year all forums will be held at Narragansett Town Hall, so that they can be broadcast live via PEG Access television (Cox 17 and Verizon 28). Here are the other two dates:

Wednesday, October 10, 2012 @ Narragansett Town Hall, 25 Fifth Avenue, Narragansett, RI

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: RI State Senate Candidates Forum (Districts 37 & 38)

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: RI House of Representatives Candidates Forum (Districts 35 & 36)

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 @ Narragansett Town Hall, 25 Fifth Avenue, Narragansett, RI

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM:  Narragansett School Committee Candidates Forum

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Narragansett Town Council Candidates Forum

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These forums are a great opportunity for voters to learn more about the candidates and a chance for anyone to ask their candidates questions.  

“We hope that everyone can attend and that they submit thoughtful, comprehensive, and productive questions,” Pam Ancheta, President of LWVSK/N, said.  “For efficiency and better preparation, we prefer that questions be submitted well ahead of time through our email address: sknarr@lwvri.org.  Of course, before the start of each forum, written questions from audience members will be solicited and vetted.”  

Each candidate will be given time for an opening and closing statement and an opportunity to answer as many questions as time allows.   The forums will be cablecast live via the Westerly PEG Access studio (Cox Channel 17 and Verizon Channel 28) and rebroadcast on the same channels until Election Day on Nov. 2.

The videos will also be posted and available for viewing at www.lwvri.org. (Editor’s note: Arrangements are also being made to host the videos on Patch, and we will be live blogging each night.)

“Don't miss this opportunity to meet the candidates and hear what they have to say about the issues that are important to you,” Nancy Burroughs, the LWVSK/N Voter Service Chair, said. “If you think that 'Meet the Candidates Nights' are an essential part of our election season, consider joining the League or helping out at one of the forums.”

Despite the name, the League of Women Voters is open to both men and women who are interested in working in a non-partisan manner to improve our government and to impact public policies through citizen education and advocacy. 

Some current league activities include voter registration drives, forums on specific issues, videotaping of public hearings and meetings, and administering the Susan B. Wilson Civic Education Merit Award.

For information on membership or questions about the “Meet the Candidates Nights,” e-mail sknarr@lwvri.org.

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