Educational redesign, teacher retention and the $78 million facility improvement bond were just a few of the many topics discussed during the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and League of Women Voters second candidate forum Thursday evening.
Thursday’s forum included incumbents Art Guttierez, Mallory Koci and Grant Riles joined by hopefuls Leslie Seeley, Jeff Lutes and Jeremy Dorsey discussing each of these topics at length inside Flint Hills Technical College. This was the second forum held this week by the Chamber and League of Women Voters following Tuesday’s Emporia City Commission Candidate forum.
Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jeanine McKenna was pleased with the turnouts for both forums. She says the in-person forums provide more personal interaction between candidates and voters which other formats do not.
Not only do the forums allow voters to gauge where candidates stand on key issues, but League of Women Voters representative Bob Grover says it also provides a much-needed opportunity for candidates to gain a better understanding of the most pressing concerns of their constituents.
The general election is Nov. 5 with advance mail ballot voting now underway residents are reminded of the special offsite voting event taking place Saturday at Flint Hills Mall from 9 am to 1 pm. The traditional early voting process begins Oct. 21.
