City Council candidates to appeal to voters

Sisters residents will have the opportunity to hear from the candidates for Sisters City Council in person at the Sisters Fire Station Community Hall.

The City Club of Central Oregon (CCCO) and the League of Women Voters of Deschutes County (LWVDC) have partnered to bring Deschutes County voters a series of in-person candidate forums for positions on the general election ballot. The Sisters forum on Wednesday, October 5, at 6:30 p.m., will be the first one.

The purpose of the forum is to provide impartial discourse, educate voters about candidates’ views on issues, and stimulate voter participation in the November 8 general election.

The Nugget editor Jim Cornelius will act as moderator for the evening, asking questions of three of the four Sisters candidates for City Council — Gary Ross, Sarah McDougall, and Susan Cobb. Incumbent Mayor Michael Preedin will be out of town at the time of the forum. The format consists of opening remarks, questions asked of the candidates by the moderator, and closing comments.

There is no cost or pre-registration for the forum, and entrance will be granted until the room is full. The forum will be recorded for viewing and posted at least 48 hours following the event. Questions may be submitted via the events page on the LWVDC and CCCO websites and at Vote411.com. If there is time that evening, written questions may be submitted at the forum. All questions, whenever submitted, will be screened by the sponsoring organizations.

Attendees at the forum are asked to conduct themselves with civility. According to LWVDC President Carol Loesche, civil discourse means, at a minimum, mutually respectful, courteous, constructive, and orderly communication.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. They never support or oppose any political party or candidate.