The candidate RSVPs are in and voters are invited to meet and speak with candidates running for offices up and down the ballot.
The Johnson County Voter Forum will be held at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Johnson County Museum, 135 N. Main St., Franklin. The free event is organized by Bridges Alliance of Johnson County, the Daily Journal, the League of Women Voters and the Franklin College Political Science Department.
Organizers say the forum is a rare chance for voters and candidates from both major political parties to learn together and speak with each other.
“It is important for voters to be able to meet one-on-one with candidates. This is the only forum I am aware of where candidates from both parties appear together. It gives the voters an opportunity to share their views with candidates and everyone an opportunity to listen, learn and speak,” said Jody Veldkamp, a member of Bridges’ Big View Committee and emcee of the event.
Organizers say bringing the parties together to talk about the issues is good for democracy and for Johnson County.
“As a nonpartisan educational organization dedicated to empowering voters and defending democracy, the League of Women Voters of Johnson County is excited to bring local candidates and citizens together to discuss these topics that affect the lives of all county residents,” said Karen Lunsford, of the League. “It’s an added bonus that members of the community will have an opportunity to speak directly to the candidates.”
About the event
Voters will get to meet 20 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.
Doors will open at 6 p.m., with the event to begin at 6:30 p.m. There will be an introduction by emcee Veldkamp, who is also the marketing and communications manager for Johnson County Public Library.
For approximately 80 minutes starting at 6:40 p.m., local experts and candidates 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.
First up, Ross Stackhouse, of the Whiteland Tornado Recovery Task Force and HeavenEarth Spaces, and Franklin resident Alex Raines will speak about the need for more diverse housing options.
Next, Bev Martin, of Bridges, will speak about how the shortage of childcare impacts the workforce.
Then, Lydia Wales, the Franklin Union Needham Township Trustee, will speak about how transportation issues impact the public.
Last but not least, Kaleb Lane, a peer recovery coach with Upstream Prevention, will speak about mental health challenges in the county, available programs and his personal addiction story.
Candidates registered to talk about one of the four topics when they RSVP’d and voters will hear from three to five candidates following each topic presentation from the local experts.
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.
Who’s coming?
All Democrats and Republicans running for most statewide and Johnson County offices were invited to this event. Of the more 60 candidates invited, 20 said they would attend. Most who could not attend sent their regrets but others didn’t respond to the invitation.
Here’s a list of candidates who said they would attend:
- U.S. Senate — Democratic candidate Dr. Valerie McCray
- Indiana’s 6th Congressional District — Republican candidates Mike Speedy and Darin Childress, and Democratic candidate Cinde Wirth
- State Senate District 37 — Republican incumbent Rod Bray and Republican challenger Jay Hart
- State Senate District 36 — Democratic candidate Suzanne Fortenberry
- State Rep. District 47 — Democratic candidate Michael Potter
- State Rep. District 58 — Democratic candidate Sandy James
- State Rep. District 60 — Democratic candidate Michelle Higgs
- Johnson County Commissioner District 3 — Republican incumbent Ron West and Republican challenger Steve Powell
- Johnson County Council at-large Democrats — Blythe Potter, Charrie Stambaugh and Saad Tawfeeq
- Johnson County Council at-large Republicans — incumbents Ron Deer and Melinda Griesemer, challenger Ron Bates
- Judge, Johnson Circuit Court — Republican incumbent Andy Roesener
- Judge, Johnson Superior Court No. 1 — Republican Brandi Foster Kirkendall
- Johnson County Coroner — Republican Robbie Williams
Note: This does not reflect a full list of candidates on the ballot. To find a full list of candidates on your ballot visit indianavoters.com.
For more information
To learn more about the candidates in Johnson County’s contested races visit the Daily Journal’s Elections page, dailyjournal.net/local/elections/. Voters can read local candidate Q&As, find out where and when to vote, and read stories from news gathering partners on state and national races.
The League also invites voters to visit vote411.org, which gives voters information needed to successfully participate in every election.
