League of Women Voters to hold candidate forums starting Sept. 26
The League of Women Voters of Sussex County Delaware will host five candidate forums during September and October where voters will have opportunities to meet and size up candidates vying for state and county offices in the Nov. 5 election.
Sessions will include candidates vying for various seats – Sussex County Council District 3, Senate District 6, House of Representatives District 4 and District 20 – along with a statewide gubernatorial forum.
“We’re urging people to look down the ballot,” said Candidate Forum Chair Lisa Welle Malone. “The candidates elected to these positions will be making decisions that directly affect our everyday lives.”
Dates and locations for the forums are as follows:
• House District 4, candidates Rep. Jeff Hilovsky (R-Long Neck) and Gregg Lindner (D), 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, Indian River Senior Center, Millsboro
• House District 20, candidates Rep. Stell Parker Selby (D-Milton), Brian Jenkins (D) and Dr. Nikki Millar Ford (R), 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15, Milton Elementary School
• Senate District 6, candidates Russ Huxtable (D-Lewes) and Kim Hoey Stevenson (R), 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22, Lewes Elementary School
• Sussex County Council District 3, candidates Mark Schaeffer (R) and Jane Gruenebaum (D), 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday Oct. 29, Rehoboth Beach Public Library
• Gubernatorial forum with candidates to be determined after the primary, 7 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, Arts and Science Center Theater, Delaware Tech, Owens Campus, Georgetown.
Following brief opening statements by the candidates, the forums will focus on written questions from the audience. Note cards and pencils for posing questions will be available at the door and from monitors in the aisles throughout the program. American Sign Language interpreters will be present at each forum.
“We’ve been working for months, arranging venues, contacting candidates and dealing with logistics,” said Malone. “We’re especially excited that the candidates for governor have agreed to come down here to Sussex County for a forum on Oct. 19.”
Candidates in all Sussex County races have been asked to post background information and their answers to questions on key issues on VOTE411.org, the League of Women Voters’ online voters’ guide. Citizens may go to the website and compare the candidates’ views on such challenges as climate change, homelessness, gun violence, reproductive choices, immigrant services, drug addiction, improving public schools and more specific local issues.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for elective office. Its aim is to encourage active and informed participation in government and to increase understanding of public policy issues.
Go to sussexlwv.org or VOTE411.org for more information.
