NORTH KINGSTOWN – The West Bay League of Women Voters is encouraging residents to participate in a candidate forum to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Hamilton Elementary School.
The forum will run from 7 to 9 p.m. and will be preceded by a ‘meet and greet’ hour where the public is invited to speak one-on-one with the candidates.
WBLWV Voter Service Chairperson Marie Hennedy will moderate the forum.
Audience members and individual candidates are invited to submit written questions to those participating in the forum. Event co-sponsors will screen all questions before they are read by the moderator.
"We have an unusual situation here in North Kingstown this election because you have a Town Council here with no carryover," said Joe Kochhan, who, with his wife Charline, are helping to promote the event. "That hasn’t happened for 80 years."
There are 10 candidates vying for the five open seats. All but one of those candidates – Republican Charles Stamm – are expected to attend next Wednesday’s forum.
North Kingstown Town Council candidates Michael Bestwick (D), Steven DeToy (D), Elizabeth Dolan (I), William H. Gilbert (D), Curtis Givan (R), Dorman Hayes Jr. (I), Carol Hueston (R), Matthew Leonard Sr. (D), and Tracey McCue (D) are expected to attend.
Four of the five North Kingstown School Committee candidates – Lynda Avanzato (D), Ralph Balsamo (R), Melvoid Benson (D) and Lance Chappell (R) – will also be present. Democrat Richard Welch will be absent.
Three seats on the School Committee are up for grabs this November.
The candidates for local office are scheduled to speak first, followed by candidates for state office including Sen. J. Michael Lenihan (D) and John Pagliarini Jr. (R) for Senate District 35; William Connelly (R) and Sen. James Sheehan (D) for Senate District 36; and Rep. Laurence Ehrhardt (R) and Mark Plympton (D) for the District 32 House seat.
The moderator will introduce Republican candidate Ann Marie Marshall who is challenging Rep. Kenneth Carter for his District 31 House seat prior to the question and answer session with local candidates. Carter will not attend the event and because IRS and FCC participation rules require the League to present at least two candidates per office, Marshall will not be eligible to answer direct questions during the forum itself.
"Voters can come and talk to the candidates, listed to what they have to say and make an educated decision," Charline said.
The League of Women Voters is a national, non-partisan political organization established in 1920 that strives "to make democracy work for all citizens," according to its Web site.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for people the town to actually see in one place all these candidates," Joe said.
Senior citizens who require transportation to the event are asked to call the North Kingstown Senior Center at 268-1590.
Residents who are unable to attend may submit questions in advance to Kochhan by calling 295-8488, e-mailing her at 
