The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Great Bend, Barton County, will host a candidate forum for contested County Commission and State House Representative races on Monday, July 20, in the Fort Zarah Room at the Events Center on 10th Street. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for an informal candidate meet-and-greet, and the forum will run from 7 to 8 p.m. In closing, attendees may speak informally to the candidates from 8 to 8:30 p.m.
County Commission and State House of Representative candidates are invited: Commission District 1: Duane A. Reif, Dale Maneth and Matthew Gerritzen. Commission District 4: Tricia Schlessiger and Kevin Rose. Commission District 5: Johnathan M. Robinson and Stanley Behrends.
House Rep. 112: Rhys Froetschner and Sherri Brantley. House Rep. 113: Jo Ann Roth and Brett Fairchild. Kim Becker, founder of Move Your Mountain Coaching & Consulting, will be the moderator.
All candidates have been invited to participate in the national Vote411 Voter Guide, where they may submit a photo, biographical information, and answers to general questions about the office they are seeking. To view the guide, visit www.vote411.org, enter your address, scroll to Party Selection, choose your party or All Parties, and click “Save & View Races.” State and local races will then appear for review. A link to this site will appear on the League (lwvgreatbend.org) and the Chamber websites.
Primary voting will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Independent voters may choose a Democratic or Republican ballot. Those who wish to remain unaffiliated may vote only on the amendment that would elect Supreme Court justices and eliminate the current merit-selection system.
Another forum is being planned for Oct. 15, focusing on City Council candidates from Wards 1, 2, and 3 prior to the General Election on Nov. 3.