By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The League of Women Voters of Great Bend and Barton County will give the public a chance to find out more about the candidates that are running for election this fall. Candidate forums are scheduled for Great Bend this week and Hoisington next week.
League of Women Voters President Janice Walker said local elections often get pushed to the side because citizens are thinking about presidential or state elections.
"Local elections affect our lives directly," said Walker. "What's going on in the schools, curriculum, taxes and roads, property taxes, trustees at the college. Local elections affect us directly much more than the others and I think they deserve much more attention."
The first forum is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Great Bend Senior Center at 2005 Kansas Avenue from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. The event will be livestreamed by Eagle Radio on greatbendpost.com. After each candidate answers two questions, they will have a chance to mingle with the audience.
"We're going to open it up," said Walker. "They can get out from behind the table and go mix with the audience. Have some cookies, tea and water and just talk among themselves. We want an open period after the questions are answered."
Candidates running for mayor, school board, city council and the Barton Community College Board of Trustees will be invited.
A second forum is scheduled in Hoisington on Oct. 12 at the Friendship House at 419 East 3rd Street from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.