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.
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 Jody Veldkamp, a member of the Bridges Big View committee and 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.
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
