Sequim forum to feature candidates for DCD, county commissioner

In a forum described as having no moderator, no timekeeper, no agendas and “no baloney,” 101 Independents United looks to help voters decide between candidates for Clallam County Director of Community Development (DCD) and Clallam County Commissioner District 3.

The forum is slated for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road. DCD director candidates Bruce Emery and Cherie Kidd, as well as District 3 commissioner candidates Mike French and Bill Peach, have accepted invitations to participate, organizer Donnie Hall said.

He said the forum will be one of the few opportunities for direct interaction among the candidates for these offices.

“We call our forums the People’s Forum because we do away with moderator and timekeeper roles which normally serve as filters between the people and the candidates,” Hall said in a press release.

“People are allowed to directly address their questions to the candidates and candidates are allowed to fully respond, taking the time they need to answer the question. Without a moderator to intervene, it will be up to the candidates to decide the appropriateness of questions and how they would like to respond.

“We believe that this unstructured format best captures the spirit of a public forum as a enabler of democracy.”

Unopposed candidates for various elected offices — including county auditor, prosecutor, treasurer and assessor, as well as District Court judge — will be invited to a second event, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Port Angeles Library , 2210 South Peabody Street, Port Angeles.