The first of two in-person candidate forums took place on the campus of Flint Hills Technical College Tuesday evening.
The Emporia League of Women Voters and Chamber of Commerce Government Matters Committee organized the forum which focused on the races for Lyon County Commission. In attendance were Democrat Ron McCoy and Republican incumbent Doug Peck who are vying for the commission’s Second District and Democrat Bill Nienstedt who will be facing Chris Bartel for the county’s Third District seat. Bartel was unable to attend.
The forum allowed candidates to share their opinions on various matters while also answering some of the most pressing questions from voters in attendance. Teressa Briggs of the League of Women Voters says having these face-to-face interactions is important for several reasons.
She says one of the biggest reasons is the fact that you are hearing the words of candidates directly from their mouths in context and not by “reading it in print” or having it relayed by a third party.
Chamber President and CEO Jeanine McKenna says another benefit of the forums is that they are organized by two neutral entities allowing for all sides and voices to have a seat at the table.
The Chamber and League will be hosting another forum next Monday at 6 pm inside of the Flint Hills Technical College Metcalf Building at 3301 West 18th. Monday’s forum will focus on candidates for Kansas Statehouse including Democrat Lillian Lingenfelter and Republican Mark Argabright, the candidates for the 17th District Senate Seat, Democrat Mic McGuire and Republican incumbent Mark Schreiber who are vying for the House 60th District, Democrat Edgar Chrisman and Republican incumbent Duane Droge who are seeking the House 13th district and the lone candidate for the House 76th District Republican Brad Barrett.
Later in the week, KVOE will begin its slate of on-air candidate forums for the general election. McGuire and Schreiber appear Oct. 10, followed by McCoy and Peck on Oct. 15, Argabright and Lingenfelter on Oct. 17 and Bartel and Nienstedt on Oct. 22.
All on-air forums begin at 10:06 am and will feature questions from KVOE News and KVOE listeners. The general election is Nov. 5.
