Duane Hicks
Local voters will get the chance to hear what those running for mayor and town council have to say next Tuesday (Oct. 7) when the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce hosts a candidates’ forum.
The event will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Memorial Sports Centre auditorium.
Chamber president Mark Caron said the venue is handicap-accessible and will be able to house at least 200 people.
“We really want [the public] to attend,” he stressed. “We want this to be wide open, very transparent.
“I really want to endorse everyone coming out,” Caron reiterated.
“Instead of drawing your own conclusions in the coffee shop, come on down to the arena and hear it first-hand,” he reasoned.
Caron said candidates will be given three minutes to discuss their platform and outline what they’ll do to improve the community.
As well, prior to the forum, the candidates will be given five questions which they must answer and submit back to the Chamber before the event.
The candidates’ answers will be posted on the Internet, Caron noted.
The Chamber also will make some paper copies available for those without the means to read them electronically.
Caron said the forum should last about an hour-and-a-half, adding there will be a timer and “it should go fairly smooth.”
He added the Chamber decided not to include school board trustee candidates because that would draw out the event too long, adding the Chamber’s focus is on the municipal candidates.
“The community really needs to know,” said Caron.
“We’ve got a lot of people that want to be councillors and mayor, and they need to draw their own conclusion and see who’s best for the community.”
He added the event has been timed to coincide with electors receiving their mail-in voting kits in the mail.
