The League of Women Voters of Northern Nevada, in partnership with Sierra Nevada Forums and AAUW Capital (NV) Branch, is hosting election forums Oct. 7, 10, 11 and 17 beginning at 6 p.m. each night at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, 511 W. King St., in Carson City.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The forums are cosponsored by The Nevada Appeal.
The free forums will feature state and local candidates and experts on the questions that will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. The forums will be conducted with a live audience. Candidates and presenters will respond to questions posed by the moderator. Audience members may ask questions in writing. The forums will be available for later viewing on the Appeal’s YouTube page and through links on each organization’s website, Facebook page and other social media.
“Voters who view these forums can become fully informed about the candidates and the ballot questions,” said Catherine Cunningham, LWVNNV board member. “We are excited to be able to have a live audience for these forums.”
Oct. 7 will focus on Congressional District 2 with Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Mercedes Krause. Republican Stavros Anthony and incumbent Lt. Gov. Lisa Cano Burkhead, a Democrat, have both been invited to participate in the forum about the lieutenant governor’s race. Also discussed will be state question No. 1 about a proposed equal rights amendment, and state question No. 2 about a $12 minimum wage. Both question forums will feature pro and con speakers.
Oct. 10 will focus on local races. Carson City School Board Trustee Lupe Ramirez and challenger Jason Stinson will discuss issues for the School Board District 1 race, and Shanna Cobb-Adams has been invited to participate with Molly Walt in the forum for the School Board District 6 race. For the Carson City Board of Supervisors Ward 1 race, incumbent Stacey Giomi will speak with challenger Wade Bradshaw. For Board of Supervisors Ward 3, candidates Curtis Horton and James Wells are expected to participate.
Oct. 11 will see a forum on Nevada Senate District 16 with Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner, a Republican, and candidate Aaron Sims, a Democrat. Democratic candidate Shannon McDaniel and Assemblyman Philip “PK” O’Neill, the Republican incumbent, will discuss issues for Assembly District 40. Janice Noble, a Democratic candidate, will discuss issues for Assembly District 39; Republican Ken Gray declined.
Oct. 17 will close out the series with another forum for local candidates: Candidates William Scott Hoen and Stacie Wilkie-McColloch discussing their respective runs for Carson City Clerk-Recorder. The Secretary of State race will bring Democratic candidate Cisco Aguilar; Republican candidate Jim Marchant has been invited. The last forum will focus on state question No. 3 that proposes to amend the Nevada Constitution to allow for open primaries and ranked-choice voting.
The general election is fast approaching. Mail-in ballots will be sent to all Carson City voters. In-person early voting is Oct. 22- Nov. 4.
For information about candidates and voting, visit www.vote411.org, https://www.carson.org/government/departments-a-f/clerk-recorder/elections-department or https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/election-information.
The League of Women Voters of Northern Nevada is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization supporting public information and involvement to promote informed voting and public participation.
Sierra Nevada Forums provides citizens with information to assist them in making decisions on issues of importance to the community
The mission of the American Association of University Women is to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy. AAUW Capital (NV) branch is the local entity.
