League of Women Voters to host Candidates Forum Oct. 5 in Wooster

The community is invited to a Candidates Forum on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. at Shisler Conference Center on the CFAES campus, formerly known as the OARDC, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. The free event gives Wayne County voters the opportunity to get to know local candidates for public office, ask questions and hear them speak about the issues. The goal is for voters to be more educated when going to the polls.

The League of Women Voters of Wayne County hosts the annual event. This year additional sponsorship is provided by the Wooster branch of the American Association of University Women, Wooster/Orrville NAACP and AloNovus Corp.

The forum will feature roundtable-style discussions. Attendees will be divided into groups, with the candidates sitting down to talk with each group in a rotation. This allows for questions and answers between the voters and candidates in a less formal manner.

Those attending may express concerns through their questions, and the candidates can share their viewpoints, opinions and ideas. Unopposed candidates will not participate in the rotating groups but will give an opening statement and be available at the end of the event to speak with attendees.

This format ensures every attendee is able to hear every candidate during the course of the evening.

“Engaging in dialogue with candidates helps voters gain insight into how that candidate will represent them once in office,” said Joi Hemphill, president of the League of Women Voters of Wayne County. "This event is a great way to encourage community members to engage in discussions with those candidates who will ultimately be representing them in community government.

"As voters we elect officials who will make significant decisions that affect our lives — taxes, roads, teacher pay, school building improvements, you name it. It is important that voters have as much information as possible about the candidates' positions on the issues pertinent to their office.”

All candidates for contested races receive equal invitations and treatment, and no candidate is endorsed by the league. The candidates who will attend the event are Wooster City Council At-large candidate Steven Huszai; Wooster City Council Ward 4 candidates Tyler Owens and Carrie L. Snyder; and Wooster City School Board candidates Dr. Clayton Deighan, Gail Guzzo, Ted Hill, Bonnie Nair and Jody Starcher. The other candidates for the uncontested races on the Wooster City ballot declined to participate due to scheduling conflicts.

Oct. 6 is the last day to register to vote in the November election. One way to check voter status and polling location is to visit voterlookup.ohiosos.gov/voterlookup.aspx. Information regarding candidates and assistance in checking registration status also is available at www.Vote411.org. The board of elections also provides a wealth of information including registration, polling location, absentee ballot status and sample ballots at www.waynecountyoh.gov/.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, and early in-person voting will begin Oct. 7 at the Wayne County Board of Elections, 200 Vanover St., Wooster.

For more information on the League of Women Voters of Wayne County, visit www.lwvwaynecounty.org or League of Women Voters of Wayne County, Ohio on Facebook.

“I encourage members of the community to attend and become informed,” Hemphill said. “Every person's vote counts. The only time your vote doesn't count is when you don't vote.”