Learn about candidates tonight

by Brian Walker
| October 13, 2010 9:00 PM

COEUR d'ALENE - A candidate forum featuring the county and state legislative races in the Nov. 2 election will be held at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Coeur d'Alene Library, 702 E. Front.

The public is invited. It will also be broadcast live on Coeur d'Alene city cable Channel 19 and rebroadcast at times to be announced.

The forum is sponsored by the nonpartisan, nonprofit League of Women Voters of Kootenai County and the city of Coeur d'Alene.

Judy Edwards, president of the league, said it's the only forum that she's aware of that has been scheduled featuring this many races.

"We haven't done a forum for a couple years, but we've got some new blood in the league and we feel this is one of our main purposes," Edwards said. "We need to educate the public as much as we can, and hopefully we'll find out what the candidates really do stand for."

Candidates expected to attend include:

* County Coroner: Jody Deluca Hissong and Deb Wilkey;

* County Clerk: Dan English and Cliff Hayes;

* District 5, State Representative, Seat A: David Larsen and Bob Nonini;

* District 4, State Representative, Seat A: Mike Bullard and Marge Chadderdon;

* District 4, State Representative, Seat B: Paula Marano and Kathy Sims; and

* District 4, State Senator - Jeremy Boggess, John Goedde and Ray Writz.

Each candidate will have a minute to open, a minute to close and a minute or two (depending on the question) to answer questions predetermined by the league, Edwards said. There will also be time for rebuttals.

Contestants in each individual race will have the same questions, but the questions will vary from race to race.

"We'd like to ask each candidate at least three questions," Edwards said, adding that the forum will last about two hours.

Sholeh Patrick, an attorney and Hagadone News Network columnist, will be the moderator.

General voting information will be available at the forum.

Due to time constraints, other races such as legislative Districts 2 and 3, governor, controller, school superintendent, North Idaho College trustees and congressional seats, are not included in the forum. Four constitutional amendments are also on the ballot.

Sample ballots can be viewed at www.co.kootenai.id.us/elections.