Voters’ league sets candidate forums

Published 1:04 pm Wednesday, September 16, 2015

The League of Women Voters of Clallam County will sponsor four local forums featuring candidates and issues appearing on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

Sept. 23 — Sequim School Board, Sequim School bond issue, Port of Port Angeles

The first forum will be from 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the city council chambers at the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St., Sequim.

The forum consists of three panels: First will be candidates for port commissioner Connie Beauvais and Michael Breidenbach.

The second panel will be a discussion of the proposed Sequim School District bond issue with Sequim resident and former small business owner Bryan Carter speaking against the measure, and Brandino Gibson, vice chairman of Citizens for Sequim Schools, speaking for the measure.

The final panel will consist of the six candidates for three Sequim School Board positions: running for director for District 1 are Robin Henrikson and Heather Jeffers; running for director for District 3 are Jim Stoffer and Charla Wright, and vying for the at-large position are Heather Short and William Payne.

Sept. 30 — Clallam County Commissioner, Port Angeles City Council

The second forum will be from 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Elwha Klallam Cultural Center, 401 E. First St., Port Angeles.

This forum will include county commissioner candidates Jim McEntire and Mark Ozias, followed by the four candidates who are competing for two Port Angeles City Council positions: Michael Merideth and Marolee Smith, who are running for Position 5, and Cherie Kidd and Dan Bateham, who are vying for Position 7.

Oct. 4 — Port of Port Angeles, Port Angeles School Board

The third forum will be from 1:30-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, in the city council chambers at Port Angeles City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St., Port Angeles.

The first panel of the evening will feature Michael Breidenbach and Connie Beauvais, candidates for port commissioner.

The second panel will consist of the six candidates for three positions on the Port Angeles School Board: candidates Joshua Jones and Gene Erickson running for Position 3, candidates Lonnie Linn and Rick Marti vying for Position 4 and candidates Jerusha Henson and Susan Shotthafer running for Position 5.

Oct. 6 — Sequim City Council, Clallam County Commissioner, SARC Board, Fire District 3 Board

The final forum will be from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Sequim Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St., Sequim.

The first panel will consist of the county commissioner candidates Jim McEntire and Mark Ozias.

The second panel will cover three positions on the

Sequim City Council with candidates Brandon Janisse and Pam Leonard-Ray running for Position 1, John Miller and Susan Lorenzen competing for Position 2 and Candace Pratt and James Russell running for Position 7.

Russell has declined to attend this forum.

The third panel will be the candidates for the SARC Board, Bill Jeffers and Gil Goodman. Jeffers cannot attend but will send a representative.

The fourth panel will be candidates for commissioner for Fire District 3, G. Michael Gawley and Sean Ryan.

About the forums, voters’ league

Members of the public are encouraged to attend these forums and bring questions for the candidates.

At each forum, audience members who are candidates for other offices, including those that are not in contested primary races, will be asked to stand and introduce themselves.

Time will be allowed at the conclusion of each forum for one-on-one Q&A with the candidates.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to promote the informed and active participation of citizens in government.

For the first time, League volunteers will video record these forums and links to the recordings will be available at the League’s website at lwvcla.org.

Don’t forget to register to vote! For more information about these forums, voter registration and the League of Women Voters, go to the League’s website at www.lwvcla.org.

Ballots will be mailed on Oct. 14 and must be postmarked no later than election day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.