EDITOR’S NOTE: This town hall forum has been canceled due to bad weather and poor roads. No new date has been provided.
FORKS — Ten state and local candidates are scheduled to appear at a town hall in Forks on Friday.
The forum will begin at 6 p.m. in the Forks High School lunchroom, 261 Spartan Ave.
The event is sponsored by the Clallam County Republican Party and organized by Katherine Davis, who is affiliated with the party.
It is tentatively scheduled for two hours. Snacks and refreshments will be served.
“It’s to help inform and educate, and also to try and help get people involved,” Davis said Wednesday. “Change starts at home.”
None of the candidates scheduled to appear at the town hall had an opponent lined up to be at the forum as of Wednesday.
There is a possibility that other candidates who have been invited to the forum will appear, Davis said.
“I really tried to get the opponents to come as well,” Davis said.
Here is a summary of the candidates who were scheduled to appear as of Wednesday, listed in alphabetical order with their challengers:
• John Alger, an “independent GOP party” candidate from Sequim, is running for state representative in the 24th Legislative District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula, against incumbent state Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim.
• Todd Bloom, R-Tacoma, is running for U.S. representative in the 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula, against incumbent U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor.
• Marty McClendon, Republican, is running for lieutenant governor against Democrat Cyrus Habib.
• Steve McLaughlin, Republican, is running for commissioner of public lands against Democrat Hilary Franz.
• Dave Neupert, a Port Angeles attorney, is running for Clallam County Superior Court judge against incumbent Brian Coughenour in a nonpartisan race.
• Ron Richards, D-Port Angeles, is running for Clallam County commissioner in central-county District 2 against Randy Johnson, no party preference.
Although Forks and other District 3 voters will not cast a vote in the District 2 commissioners race, Davis said she invited the candidates because commissioner decisions affect the entire county.
• Josh Trumbull, a Libertarian, is running for state attorney general against incumbent Bob Ferguson, Democrat.
• Danille Turissini, an “independent GOP party” candidate from Port Ludlow, is running for state Senate in the 24th District against state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim.
• George Vrable, R-Port Ludlow, is running for 24th District state representative against Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles.
• Michael Waite is running for state treasurer against fellow Republican Duane Davidson.
Each candidate will be given time to make opening remarks at the town hall.
That will be followed by a question-and-answer session, with each candidate getting three to six questions.
“The questions have been prepared in advance and will be asked by a moderator,” Davis said.
“They pertain to our area and some pretty important issues in our state.”
If time permits, audience members will have a chance to greet the candidates after the town hall.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.