With election season in full swing, the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce Government Matters Committee and League of Women voters welcomed local voters to Flint Hills Technical College Monday evening for the second of two candidate forums.
Monday’s forum featured candidates for the various Kansas state house races and follows last week’s forum focusing on the Lyon County Commission. Chamber President and CEO Jeanine McKenna spoke with KVOE News Monday and says civic engagement is an important piece of their mission.
She says ensuring all voters have access to local candidates year-round is vital to helping create an informed electorate.
McKenna says these types of forums are common across the country noting that most community chambers have some form of electoral engagement as part of their operation. She says where Emporia differs from other communities is the community’s participation and involvement from local voters and community partners.
Speaking of which, McKenna took time Monday to thank their various partners who make the events possible including the League of Women Voters and Flint Hills Technical College. FHTC President Caron Daugherty also thanked the chamber and league for choosing them to host the forums.
Daugherty tells KVOE News that much like the chamber civic engagement is an important piece of the college’s mission to the community. She says there are several benefits to hosting the forums including the opportunity to showcase FHTC’s dedication to civic engagement for residents, students and staff alike.
With the in-person forums now complete KVOE will begin its regular slate of on-air forums this week.
*Thursday: Kansas House 60th District involving Democrat Mic McGuire and Republican incumbent Mark Schreiber.
*Oct. 15: Lyon County Commission Second District featuring Democrat Ron McCoy and republican incumbent Doug Peck.
*Oct. 17: Kansas Senate 17th District featuring Republican Mike Argabright and Democrat Lillian Lingenfelter.
*Oct. 22: Lyon County Commission Third District featuring Republican Chris Bartel and Democrat Bill Nienstedt.
All programs begin at 10:06 am and will feature questions from KVOE News and KVOE listeners.
For more information, go to KVOE.com’s Voter Information page courtesy of Community National Bank and Trust.