Alcona County residents will be able to learn more about local candidates and the millage issues on the ballot for the primary election Aug. 5.
An Alcona County candidate forum, sponsored by the Alpena County League of Women Voters, will take place 7-9 p.m. Thursday at the Lincoln Senior Center.
"Sometimes the most important races are decided in the primary," said Dottie Haase, League of Women Voters board member. "They have a chance to hear these candidates speak on very local issues."
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the Alcona County Library and the Alcona County Commission on Aging renewal millages and to hear candidates from four contested races speak. Candidates for the county treasurer, register of deeds, road commissioner and county commissioner district one seat will be present during the forum.
"They're going to have an opening one and a half minute statement, then they will answer questions from the audience. Then they will have a one and a half minute closing statement," Haase said.
According to Haase, candidates will have one minute to respond to questions offered by the audience. Audience members will write their questions on cards which go to a screener and the questions are read by a moderator. An official timekeeper will track and warn speakers with a yellow card at the 45 second mark and a red card at the end of the time limit.
"We screen (questions) for duplicates and appropriateness," she said. "We want to be in charge of the meeting. We can make sure it's a very civilized forum and everyone can get something out of it. This is a regular, normal league procedure."
Haase said the league does not support or oppose any candidate and seeks to inform the voting public in an unbiased manner of candidates and issues.
Patty Ramus can be reached via e-mail at pramus@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.