by TaLeiza Calloway
news@thenewsleaders.com
With the general election just weeks away more opportunities to hear from candidates have increased in the area. There will be several opportunities to hear from potential leaders in the coming weeks.
The St. Joseph Action Group will host a candidate forum from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28 at St. Joseph City Hall. The forum will feature candidates for the city council race and will be moderated by James Read, a political science professor at St. John’s University.
The mayoral seat and two seats on the St. Joseph City Council are open. St. Joseph Mayor Rick Schultz is running unopposed. City council incumbents Bob Loso and Renee Symanietz seek additional terms and face challenges from newcomers Troy Goracke, Mat Killam and Thomas Gustafson. The mayor serves a two-year term and council members serve for four years.
Each candidate will have one-and-a-half minutes to introduce himself/herself during the forum. Participants will also have up to two minutes to answer questions, according to organizers. While the first four questions for candidates have been forwarded to candidates, there will be a time for submitted questions during the forum.
Another opportunity to meet regional candidates before the Nov. 6 election is slated for Thursday, Oct. 25 in Cold Spring. The Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event from 7-9 p.m. at the Great Blue Heron restaurant. The restaurant is at 305 Fifth Ave. S in Cold Spring.
Attendees will get a chance to meet and hear from Sen. Michelle Fischbach (R-Paynesville) and senate hopeful Peggy Boeck (DFL-Paynesville) who are running in Senate District 13. Candidates Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) and Richard Bohannon (DFL-Cold Spring), who seek to serve in the House of Representatives District 13A, will be at the event as well as Stearns County Commissioner candidates Chad Middendorf and Jeff Mergen. For questions about the Cold Spring event, call the chamber at 320-685-4186.