‘Change candidate’ forum to be held Friday
Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity will host a political forum on Friday, one that promises a different way for candidates to engage with their constituents.
Moderated by Dan Torres of WHMP’s “Panorama” show, the event bills itself as an “Unscripted Community Conversation,” allowing audience members to direct ask the candidates questions. The event starts at 6 p.m., with doors opening half an hour earlier.
The candidates participating (referred to by the event as “change candidates”) are part of a loose coalition of candidates who have become known for their opposition to the city’s budgeting policies, particularly when it comes to school spending.
Organizers said traditional forums tend to be scripted and include time-locked answers. “While those might help one get a sense of who to vote for, they only go so far in getting to know November 4th candidates and how they’d approach problems,” the event’s description states.,
City council candidates expected to participate include Meg Robbins (At-large), Michele Ronco (Ward 1), Quaverly Rothenberg (Ward 3) and Chris Stratton (Ward 6). For School Committee, candidates appearing are Anat Weisenfreund (Ward 2), Renika Montgomery-Tamakloe (Ward 3), Michael Stein (Ward 4) and Amy Martyn (Ward 5). Mayoral candidate Jillian Duclos is also scheduled to attend.
League of Women Voters to host two candidate forums
The Northampton area chapter of the League of Women Voters, in partnership with the Northampton Chamber of Commerce, is sponsoring two municipal candidate forums before the upcoming Northampton general election.
On Monday, Oct. 27, there will be two forum sessions for Ward 2 City Council candidates Al Simon and Deb Pastrich-Klemer, and Ward 6 candidates Chris Stratton and Marianne LaBarge.
The following night, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, forum sessions will take place for Ward 2 School Committee candidates Anat Weisenfreund and Angela Wack, followed by a session featuring School Committee at large candidates Tiffany Jewell, Robbie Saner Sullivan and Emily Serafy-Cox.
The forums will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity. There is still time to submit questions in advance for the candidates by visiting LWVNorthamptonarea.org. Questions for the candidates will also be collected on index cards handed out as the audience arrives, and continue during the forum sessions.
The League of Women Voter previously held two candidate forums during preliminary elections in August, featuring candidates for mayor, Ward 1, Ward 3, and Ward 5.
Sciarra gets support from Lt. Gov. Driscoll
Incumbent Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s campaign for reelection received support last weekend from the state’s Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, who joined Sciarra at a campaign event at JFK Middle School.
Driscoll, the former mayor of Salem, appeared with Sciarra on Saturday helping the mayor and supporters at a community service meet up, where they cleaned and swept leaves off the nearby Norwottuck Rail Trail before joining the Sciarra on a door-knocking campaign to try and drum up votes for the mayor’s campaign.
At the event, Driscoll said that Sciarra’s experience as mayor was necessary to fight against disruption at the federal level under President Donald Trump. Under Trump, the federal government has drastically reduced numerous federal departments and currently is in the midst of a prolonged government shutdown.
“At a time when Washington is turning its back on the state, it matters who is in your city hall making decisions,” Driscoll told those gathered. “We want people who are experienced and who have been there.”
Also taking part in the event was Ward 1 city councilor candidate Gwen Nabad and at-large incumbent Garrick Perry, who is seeking reelection for the position.
