Candidates for mayor, municipal council and the Okanagan Skaha School Board will have the opportunity to present their platforms and answer questions at two upcoming forums.
The forums, on Oct. 3 and 4, are organized by the Summerland Chamber of Commerce. Both forums will be held at Centre Stage Theatre, beginning at 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, Oct. 3, the forum will be for school trustee candidates, followed by mayoral candidates.
On Thursday, Oct. 4, the forum will be for the councillor candidates.
Both forums will follow the same format.
Candidates will each have the opportunity to present opening and closing remarks. They will also be asked a variety of questions.
The question portion follows a different format than has been used in previous years.
Instead of each candidate answering each question, questions will be drawn randomly and asked to specific candidates.
Each candidate will also be given six 30-second rebuttal cards. These cards can be used to allow candidates to respond to another candidate’s statements, or to extend an allotted speaking time.
Some of the questions for the candidates will be prepared in advance, while others will be taken from those in the audience.
Questions from the audience must be written and will be vetted before they are asked.
“The chamber is committed to keep this forum focused, fair and balanced,” said David Hull, executive director of the Summerland Chamber.
“In recognition of the significance of this election to Summerland going forward, and in respect of the democracy that Canadians enjoy, we ask that the candidates join the chamber in making this forum an inetgeral and significant portion of Election 2018.”
For each session, doors will open to the public at 6 p.m.
The municipal election will be held on Saturday, Oct. 20. Summerlanders will elect one mayor, six municipal councillors and two school board trustees.
Those elected will serve for four-year terms.
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