The Peru Gazette

NEWS FROM THE PEOPLE’S FORUM 

Confirmed Participants: Tanya Boone-D, Granville; Don Boyajian-D, Cambridge; Tedra Cobb-D, Canton; Russell Finley-R, Lisbon; Sara Idleman-D, Greenwich; Ronald Kim-D, Queensbury; Emily Martz-D, Saranac Lake; David Mastrianni-D, Schroon Lake; Patrick Nelson-D, Stillwater; Katie Wilson-D, Keene; Invited (but unable to attend): Elise Stefanik-R, Willsboro. 
E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium, Hawkins Hall, SUNY Plattsburgh
Saturday, February 17, 2018, 3:00-5:00pm. 

The People’s Forum is a non-partisan congressional candidate forum (open to the public, no charge) organized by Plattsburgh-based community group Change Through Action in collaboration with SUNY Plattsburgh’s Institute for Ethics in Public Life and the Center for Community Engagement. The event will be co-moderated by Julia Devine (Center for Community Engagement) and Dr. Jonathan Slater (Institute for Ethics in Public Life).

The mission of The People’s Forum is to provide a truly engaging, educational, and authentic town hall-style dialogue between the people of the district and the district’s 2018 congressional candidates. All questions will come directly from audience members with questions being chosen via lottery and not pre-screened or pre-selected in any way. Similarly, a candidate will be selected to answer each question by random draw, though still in such a way as to ensure all candidates in attendance are given equal speaking time. All candidates will be given Wild Cards that may be used claim additional speaking time during the forum by either a) adding time to the direct response to an audience member’s question, or b) as an opportunity to “jump in” on a question asked of another candidate with additional information or rebuttal. A straw poll will be conducted and results shared as to which candidate audience members feel would best represent New York’s 21st congressional district in 2018.