Candidate forum in Tekoa set for Oct. 15

TEKOA – Candidates for local offices here are expected to square off in a forum/town hall on Sunday, Oct. 15, at the Empire Theater.

Candidates for the City Council, School Board and mayor have been invited to participate, with many having already confirmed attendance.

Doors open at 5 p.m., with the forum beginning at 6 p.m., organizer Kyle Dombroski said.

Mayoral candidates Roy Schulz and Shelly Ausmus have already committed to participate, he said. City Council candidates planning to attend include Todd Jensen, Position No. 1; Brad Chandler and Pete Martin, Position No. 3; Mike Hale, Position No. 4; Dave Tysz, Position No. 6; and Cheri Currier and Lydia Fletcher Position No. 7.

Candidates for other offices in Tekoa and other positions in nearby communities are eligible to come and participate, as well, Dombroski said.

The forum will open with statements from candidates, followed by a couple opening questions from the moderator, Whitman County Gazette Owner/Publisher Roger Harnack.

Those attending the forum will be allowed to submit questions to be read by the moderator.

Dombroski, who broadcasts City Council and School Board meetings via social media and leads the local Neighborhood Watch effort, said he decided to organize the forum/town hall so residents can get to know candidates.

“There are 18 candidates for office (in Tekoa),” he said. “Few people have had time to learn about them.”

The forum in the theater at 126 S. Crosby St. comes just days before ballots will begin arriving in the homes of registered voters.

Voters will have until Nov. 7 to return ballots.

Prior to the dissemination of ballots, the Whitman County Auditor’s Office will conduct a logic and accuracy test on elections machinery.

That test is planned for 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, in the Election’s Office in Colfax. The test is open to the public.