Entry 619 of 1039
By Think! Christiansburg On September 23, 2009 at 11:50 PM

A previous blog discussed using the State Board of Elections web site to ensure citizens are registered to vote, and now it's time to get to know the candidates and relevant issues these elected officials are expected to grasp to best represent the common good of their constituents.

The League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, Virginia is sponsoring four candidate forums for November's local elections and is also promoting a statewide gubernatorial debate which will be televised. These forums carry on the League’s 90-year history of promoting informed voter choice in the U.S.

On Thursday, October 1 from 7 to 9 pm, the League will host a forum for candidates seeking office on the Montgomery County Public School Board in the meeting room of the county's Government Center, 755 Roanoke Street, Christiansburg.

Two dates have been scheduled for Blacksburg Town Council candidate forums. Both will be held in the Roger Hedgepeth Town Council Chambers, 300 South Main Street, Blacksburg from 7 to 9 pm. The first council forum will be held on Monday, October 5 and the second date has been set for Monday, October 26. 

A candidate forum for two area Virginia House of Delegates seats will be held on Thursday, October 15 from 7 to 9 pm in the meeting room of the Montgomery County Government Center, Christiansburg.

All meetings are open to the public, and citizens are encouraged to attend and address written questions to the candidates during each forum. Links to video recordings of each of these events will be posted at http://vaopengov.org. The Blacksburg Town Council forums will also be rebroadcast on WTOB.

On a state level, the League of Women Voters of Virginia and the AARP of Virginia are co-hosting "The People's Debate" between gubernatorial candidates. This live event will be televised statewide beginning at 8:00 pm on Monday, October 12. Richmond television stations CBS 6 WTVR and WCVE are co-producing and distributing the debate to all Virginia broadcasters, and a total of seven CBS and public television affiliates have agreed to broadcast this debate.

More information about each of these events is available at www.lwvmcva.org or by contacting LWV of Montgomery County Virginia Voter Services Chair Meghan Dorsett at 540-382-6431.

Christiansburg voters are reminded they will see a referendum on November's ballot asking citizens:  Shall the town of Christiansburg change the election date of the mayor and members of town council from the May general to the November general election in odd numbered years, beginning with a change in the scheduled May 2012 election to November 2011?