We have finalized the schedule and format for the candidate forum next Wednesday - the day the ballots are mailed.  While all but one candidate have committed to the forum, we remain open to every candidate up to the time their name is called to stand before the voters and answer questions.  As such, all are listed on the schedule.

Because the US House and Senate candidates have either declined to attend or didn't respond at all (Rick Larsen), we have consolidated the planned two venues into one in the County Council Chambers of the courthouse.  The forum originally planned for the Cruise Terminal is cancelled and the 40th District candidates will appear at the courthouse.  

Our entire effort is to provide a fair forum for all candidates.  Some of us put on the Lunch Time Soapbox Forums several years ago which were well received and complimented for being fair.  Some of us put on the Whatcom Independent newspaper forums just a few years ago in these same council chambers - and they also were complimented for being fair and informative.  This forum is planned to be even better - just as fair, more informative, and more fun.  Not boring and not slow.  And no advantage to any candidate or faction.  This is formatted to give voters a clear comparison of the two candidates for each local elective office.  It is free and open to all.  

Below is the schedule and format for the forum.  This will printed and handed out to you at the door when you arrive at the forum.

You can also download a pdf file of this - see link below.  

-----------------------

NwCitizen.com Candidate Forum - Wednesday, Oct 13 - 7 pm to 9:45 pm

At the County Council Chamber of the Whatcom County Courthouse

Doors open at 6:15 pm. Free - no charge. All welcome. Open to the general public.

Each pair of candidates will speak and answer questions for about 25 minutes. Each pair of candidates will appear together, about 10 feet apart, and each with a microphone. No notes or written help. Questions will be live from the audience, plus each candidate will be able to ask one question of their opponent.

Schedule allows residents of northern Whatcom County in the 42nd District to leave about 8:45 pm after the County Council candidates, if they wish.

Schedule: times are approximate.
7 pm Opening comments by moderator.

7:05 42nd Legislative District, Position 1 - Jason Overstreet and Al Jensen.

7:30 42nd Leg, #2 - Vincent Buys and Kelli Linville

7:55 42nd Leg, State Senate - Doug Ericksen and Pat Jerns

8:20 County Council District 1 - Jean Melious and Tony Larson

--- When council candidates finish, there will be a 5 minute break for those leaving.

8:50 40th Leg, #1 - Kristine Lytton and Mike Newman

9:15 40th Leg, #2 - Jeff Morris and John Swapp

9:40 Forum over, or shortly after this target time.

Format:
Each candidate has a one minute opening statement.
Then each candidate asks one question of the other.
Then it is questions from the audience.
The moderator will call on a person with their hand up and a volunteer will bring a wireless microphone to that person.
Questions will be limited to 30 seconds. No speeches. A good question can be asked in 15 seconds.
We will give as many people as possible a chance to ask a question.
The moderator will reject an obvious snark question that has no merit or is intended to merely embarrass.
There will be no written questions. And no questions from those of us running the forum.

A question may be directed to one candidate - and that candidate will then answer first.
Each candidate will have the opportunity to answer every question.
Candidates will each have one minute to answer each question.

At the end of questions, each candidate will have a 2 minute closing comment.

Campaign materials:
Small card tables with brochures and flyers can be set up in the courthouse atrium and manned by campaign staff.
No signs or posters on walls. Strictly table top materials. No tripods or stands. Bring your own card table.
Issue and initiative campaigns can also set up a small card table and provide brochures and information.

If only one candidate shows up:
Candidate will have a 2 minute opening statement, questions for 15 minutes, and a 2 minute closing statement.

This forum is produced by the writers and editors of [url=http://www.nwcitizen.com]http://www.nwcitizen.com[/url], a web blog that has been discussing the public's political business since 1995. Writers on NwCitizen are independent, unpaid and vary across the political spectrum. Anyone can comment on articles so long as they use their real name. No anonymous commenting. This makes for fewer but higher quality comments. We invite you to visit Northwest Citizen. See for yourself what it provides for civil and informative community discussion. (And we seek more writers. Contact us if interested.)
We thank Steven Wood of True Tone Audio for providing and running the sound system and wireless microphones.