The League of Women Voters of Hamilton County is partnering with the Leagues of Muncie-Delaware County, Anderson-Madison County and Howard County to present a U.S. House 5th District Candidate Forum for the public before the Nov. 5 election.
The forum is set for 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 in the auditorium of Anderson High School, 4610 S. Madison Ave., Anderson. Attendees should park in the North Lot and enter Door No. 1.
Co-sponsors are Woof Boom Radio and WXIN/FOX and WTTV/CBS. The forum is free and open to the public.
Campaign handouts, campaign shirts, signs, and buttons are not allowed at the forum.
All four of the candidates running for the office will participate. They are 5th District incumbent Victoria Spartz (Republican), and challengers Deborah A Pickett (Democrat), Lauri Shillings (Libertarian), and Robby Slaughter (Independent).
The moderator for the forum will be Steve Lindell, vice president of programming for Woof Boom Radio. Lindell has been on 104.1 WLBC for 31 years and is the director of news operations for the East Central Indiana Woof Boom Radio group.
“The nonpartisan event is being held not to endorse a party, but to help inform and engage the citizens of Indiana Congressional District 5,” said Linda Hanson, president of the League of Women Voters of Indiana and spokesperson for the Muncie-Delaware County League.
Audience members will be invited to submit questions for the moderator to pose to candidates. Questions from the audience will be screened by League members for appropriateness, relevance to issues, and repetition. As much as possible, the questions will be read as written by citizens.
People unable to attend may listen to a live broadcast on one of four radio stations in the 5th District: 101.1 FM and 1240 AM in Anderson and 92.5 FM and 1340 AM in Muncie, or watch live video streamed on the platforms of television stations WXIN/FOX and WTTV/CBS.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots, public policy and educational organization. It encourages informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. It does not support or oppose any political party or candidate.
The League of Women Voters Education Fund and local leagues work to register and provide voters with election information through the election resources of Vote411.org and candidate forums.
People of all different governing beliefs are eligible to join local chapters of the League of Women Voters. Membership is not limited to women and is open to all genders. No invitation is needed.