Candidates to square off in forum

Sisters Country residents will get an opportunity to hear about the backgrounds and platforms of the five candidates running for the three open Sisters City Council seats on October 13.

The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a public forum on Monday, October 13, 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the FivePine Conference Center.

Three of five councilors will be elected this November by city residents. Mayor Brad Boyd, Lon Kellstrom, and Shawna Bell's terms expire this year. Boyd and Kellstrom are running for re-election while Bell has chosen not to run. Council President Bill Merrill and Councilor Sharlene Weed's terms continue into 2009.

The three new candidates who have filed to run for a council seat are Wendy Holzman, Chair of the City's Committee for Citizen Involvement (CCI); Pat Thompson, owner of Sisters Rental; and Jerry Bogart, owner of Steelhead Construction Services.

Sisters' City Charter states that, "At each general election after the adoption, three councilors shall be elected. Of the three, the two receiving the two highest numbers of votes shall each hold office for four years, and the one receiving the next highest number of votes shall hold office for two years."

City residents do not elect a Mayor; the new council will elect him or her at the beginning of 2009.

Jim Cornelius, Editor of The Nugget, will serve as moderator for the public forum. The event will include "frequently asked questions" solicited from Sisters Country residents and the format will be based on recently televised presidential forums. Each candidate will have an opportunity to address the audience and each will be asked the same questions by the moderator.

Sisters Country residents who would like to submit questions for the forum may do so by e-mailing the forum's organizer, Bill Mintiens, [email protected]

The FivePine Lodge & Conference Center is located at 1021 Desperado Trail on the eastern end of Sisters. The center's Web site is http://www.fivepinelodge.com.

Residents and media are encouraged to arrive early for the 7:30 p.m. event. A large audience is expected for this forum.