Informed Voting Choices Start with Candidate Forums
The McPherson Chamber is made up of members who live and work in the area. Our members and area citizens want to know their elected officials and those seeking office. They want to know where they stand on issues that affect us all. The McPherson Chamber is not a political action committee, nor does it endorse candidates in elections. We host candidate forums as a service, to allow candidates seeking public office to express their views openly so community members can understand their positions and make informed voting choices. The forums are free and open to the public. They will also be broadcast live on McPherson Radio 96.7 FM- KBBE for those that are unable to attend.
The format of the candidate forums are question and answer as opposed to debate. Candidates will draw numbers to determine the speaking order. No one candidate will go first each time. The candidates will each have a 3-minute opening statement to share their reasons for seeking office and their experience and qualifications. Questions from the audience will be collected in written form as the audience arrives. The questions will be screened by the committee for duplication and must be appropriate for ALL candidates. Candidates will each have one minute to address each applicable question.
Please join us as the McPherson Chamber B.A.M! (Business and Membership) Committee hosts the City Commission Candidate Forum on Wednesday, September 25th at 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post #24, 401 N. Main. Running for Commissioner of Streets & Utilities (ballot will say Commissioner of Public Works) are: Anne Hassler Heidel, Richard E. Keim and Larry E. Wiens (incumbent). Running for Commissioner of Public Lands & Facilities (ballot will say Commissioner of Public Facilities) are: Gary Mehl and Michael Yates.
The USD #418 Board of Education Candidate Forum will be held Wednesday, October 9th at 7:00 p.m. at KMU, 2019 East Avenue A. Candidates are: Alan L. Burghart, Jeffrey P. Butler, Emily Greer, Jeff L. Johnson, Brian Meek, Ann M.E. Parkins, Dale Patrick, Lara Vanderhoof, and Robin K. Werth.