Johnson County voters, candidates invited to issues forum

Local organizations and the Daily Journal are hosting voter forum later this month.

The Daily Journal, along with Bridges Alliance of Johnson County, the League of Women Voters of Johnson County and Franklin College’s Department of Political Science, invite voters and candidates to the forum. The event will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 23 at the Johnson County Museum of History, 135 N. Main St., Franklin.

Why attend?

Republican and Democratic candidates from many offices on May 7 primary ballots have RSVP’d to attend and more are registering as the event approaches. Voters from all over Johnson County can hear from and meet candidates running for local and statewide offices. Meanwhile, candidates can opine about issues impacting voters to a large group and share their vision in intimate conversations with voters.

What’s on the agenda?

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with an introduction by emcee Jody Veldkamp, marketing and communications manager for the Johnson County Public Library.

For approximately 80 minutes starting at 6:40 p.m., local experts will give short presentations on housing, child care, transportation and mental health. The experts include local nonprofit leaders and people with personal experience on the topics. Candidates will speak about each issue following the expert’s presentation.

Discourse on the four topics will be followed up by general questions from the audience, which can be directed to a particular candidate or candidates in general.

The program will end with a 30-minute meet and greet between candidates and voters beginning at 8 p.m.

Questions?

Candidates or voters with questions can email Daily Journal Editor Leeann Doerflein at [email protected] or Jody Veldkamp at [email protected].