The League of Women Voters of the Palatine Area continues to hold community forums ahead of the Nov. 8 election, with a virtual one Monday night and another set for this week.
The gubernatorial election next month will see congressional and Illinois General Assembly candidates on the ballot, among other offices.
Monday night, the LWV Palatine held a virtual forum featuring incumbent state Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, versus Republican challenger Patrick Brouillette, also of Hoffman Estates, in the Illinois House District 44 race. The forum was held via the Zoom video conferencing app, with LWVPA member Jan Wood as moderator.
Officials from the non-partisan LWVPA stated in a news release announcing the forums that the organization is holding them in order “to help inform and educate voters prior to the November 8 Midterm Election.”
Thursday, candidates for the 8th Congressional District are scheduled to square off in an in-person candidate forum at Harper College. It is expected to feature incumbent U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg, and challenger candidate Chris Dargis, R-Palatine, with Barb Laimins, of the League of Women Voters Wheaton chapter, moderating.
“Forums are a cornerstone of the LWV voter outreach and education activities,” Kathy Cortez, co-president of the League of Women Voters- Palatine Area stated in the release. “They are a great way for candidates to be seen by their constituents, and for voters to learn about candidates’ views so that they feel equipped to select the candidate that will best represent them.”
According to the release, at each of the candidate forums, LWVPA will select a number of questions based on relevant topics of interest to voters. The questions will be developed ahead of the forums and vetted by a panel of individuals who represent a cross section of party affiliations, the release states.
Audience questions will not be solicited during the live meeting “to reduce possible inherent bias from audience attendees,” officials said in the release.
Candidates will have an “equal and predetermined” amount of time to answer each question, according to the release, and will also be given two minutes each to present an opening statement and one minute for a closing one.
Both forums will be recorded and made available on the LWVPA website up until the Nov. 8 election, according to the release.
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Joseph Arnone is a freelancer.