STREAM BEGINS 10/7/25 AT 5:30PM
The League of Women Voters is preparing to host the candidate forum on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at the Great Bend Events Center. Members of the public are invited to attend. Eagle Media will provide live streaming coverage of the event. The forum will feature 19 candidates vying for local positions. The doors open at 5 p.m. so the attendees can mingle with the candidates. Patrick Hoffman, an attorney based in Salina, will serve as moderator and commence questioning the USD 428 Board of Education candidates at 5:30 p.m. They include Jacqueline Disque, Barbara Thoren, Chad Burroughs, and Sarah Schenek.
Barton County Trustee board candidates will receive questions at 6:15 p.m. The seven candidates are Carl Helm, John Moshier, Will Rains, Amber Smith, Kimberly Becker, Kyle Zoellner, and Billy Eldridge.
Candidates running for Great Bend mayor and city council wards 1, 2, and 3 will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Running for mayor are Alan Moeder and Davis Jimenez. Ward 1 candidates are Deklyn Craven and Shelly Peacock. Ward 2 candidates are Charlie Dixon and Jay Luerman. Ward 3 candidates are Cody Harris and Shelly Arnberger.
The candidate forum is an event that allows candidates to share their views in person on community concerns in a neutral, fair, and open setting. Holding a forum shows candidates that community members care about the issues and want to be informed voters.