ONTARIO – The Ontario Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a candidate forum Monday night at Treasure Valley Community College.
The event begins at 6 p.m. in room 110 of TVCC’s Weese Building.
Executive Director John Breidenbach said candidates will be asked four questions – chosen by the chamber board of directors – and be allowed two-minute opening and closing statements. Candidates have two minutes to answer each question.
The public, said Breidenbach, will not be allowed to ask questions.
“We are not endorsing anyone but just giving people a chance to ask questions,” said Breidenbach.
Cathy Yasuda, executive director of the TVCC Foundation, will moderate the forum.
Among those invited to attend the session are State Sen. Cliff Bentz and State Rep. Lynn Findley. Three county officials are set to be on hand: Commissioner Don Hodge, District Attorney David Goldthorpe, and County Clerk Gayle Trotter.
Hodge, Goldthorpe, Trotter and Findley are running unopposed. Bentz will face Democratic candidate Solea Kabakov. Breidenbach said Kabakov has been invited but has not confirmed she will be at the session.
Several Ontario candidates also are slated to appear at the forum: mayoral candidates Billy Carter, Frank Griffith, Riley Hill, and Marty Justus; and council candidates KyLee Aguiar, Michael Braden, Dan Capron, Cydney Cooke, Thomas Jost, Freddy Rodriguez, and Ethel “Eddy” Thiel.
The November ballot also will include seven candidates seeking five seats on a proposed recreation district board.
They are Ontario residents Robert J. Boyd, Megan Cook, Toni Davila, Mary Jo Evers, Harvey Hatfield Jr., Matt Mejia, and Melissa Weiland.
Because the recreation district would be formed by a measure on the same ballot, Breidenbach said candidates for its board will be introduced but will not participate in the session.
Trotter said today that ballots will be mailed out Oct. 17.
Reporter Pat Caldwell: [email protected] or 541-473-3377.