The League of Women Voters of Hamilton County will host five in-person candidate forums this fall, but the traditional process has been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead of forums in a public venue, the League will present recordings on Facebook for voters to view on their own, and voters will pose their questions for the candidates by email.
Despite the current situation, LWVHC President Lisa Dick said League members were committed to figuring out an alternative way to present the forums.
Dick
“Even during a pandemic, the League is dedicated to its mission to educate voters as they prepare for the Nov. 3 elections,” she said. “While we will miss offering voters a chance to attend these events in person, we still want to ensure they have the information they need to decide their votes.”
In previous years, the League held in-person forums with Hamilton County cities and towns, each featuring candidates answering questions posed by League moderators and members of the audience.
This year, the League will partner with libraries, which will provide locations and technology for the recording sessions. These include Carmel Clay Public Library, Hamilton East Public Library and Westfield Washington Public Library.
While these are not the traditional live events, voters still may interact with the candidates by submitting their questions via email at lwvhcin@gmail.com. As with previous forums, candidates will respond to a selection of questions, including some emailed from voters, as well as make two-minute presentations about their positions.
The day after the recording sessions, videos will be posted on the League’s Facebook page. The recordings will not be edited for time or content, so viewers will see the forums just as they happened and in their entirety, Dick said. The libraries and candidates may upload the videos to their websites and video platforms as well.
Here are the forums, candidates and deadlines to submit questions:
Forum 1
Submit questions to lwvhcin@gmail.com no later than 11:59 p.m. Sept. 13.
- Hamilton County Commissioner District 3 with candidates Mark Heirbrandt and Dan Montgomery.
- Hamilton County Council At-Large with candidates Brad Beaver, Sue Maki, Steve Nation, Gardiner Bink and Victor Schleich.
Forum 2
Submit questions to lwvhcin@gmail.com no later than 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14.
- Hamilton County Auditor with candidates Robin Mills and Michael Roberts.
- Hamilton County Treasurer with candidates Susan Byer and Jake Madore.
- Hamilton County Surveyor with candidates Kenton Ward and Brad Beer.
Forum 3
Submit questions to lwvhcin@gmail.com no later than 11:59 p.m. Sept. 20.
- Indiana Senate District 20 with candidates Scott Baldwin and Ronnie Saunders.
- Indiana House District 24 with candidates Donna Schaibley and Naomi Bechtold.
- Indiana House District 29 (Noblesville) with candidates Chuck Goodrich and Mike Vick.
- Indiana House District 32 (Cicero/Sheridan/Westfield) with candidates Tony Cook and Amie Neiling.
Forum 4
Submit questions to lwvhcin@gmail.com no later than 11:59 p.m. Sept. 21.
- Indiana Senate District 30 with candidates John Ruckelshaus and Fady Qaddoura.
- Indiana House District 37 (Fishers) with candidates Todd Huston and Aimee Rivera Cole.
- Indiana House District 39 (Carmel) with candidates Jerry Torr and Ashley Klein.
- Indiana House District 88 with candidates Chris Jeter and Pam Dechert.
Forum 5
Submit questions to lwvhcin@gmail.com no later than 11:59 p.m. Sept. 27.
- 5th Congressional District with candidates Christina Hale, Victoria Spartz, Ken Tucker, Ellen Kizik and Vernon Moore.
These forums are in keeping with the efforts of the national League of Women Voters, which has worked since 1920 to improve U.S. systems of government and impact public policies through education and advocacy. Strictly nonpartisan, the League neither supports nor opposes candidates for office at any level of government.
For more information about the League of Women Voters of Hamilton County, follow the League’s Facebook page or email lwvhcin@gmail.com.