>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Union County voters have a chance to meet the candidates running for local office Tuesday, when the Union County Chamber of Commerce hosts a forum at La Grande Middle School.

Candidates running for office in Union County and in the cities of La Grande, Union and Elgin will be present at the event, which has a 6 p.m. start time.

Chamber Executive Director Judy Hector said Jim Mollerstrom and Mark Davidson, running for a single seat on the Union County Board of Commissioners, will participate in a question and answer session, as will incumbent county clerk Robin Church and her challenger, Landon Braden.

In addition, La Grande mayoral candidates Colleen Johnson and Daniel Pokorney will also meet in a question and answer session. Johnson is the incumbent; Pokorney is a city councilor seeking the mayor’s position.

In past forums, candidates were allowed to speak only if all his or her opponents were present. Hector said that this year, all candidates in the contested races who have accepted invitations will be given time to make short speeches.

“Those candidates who are not attending either had prior commitments or weren’t interested,” Hector said.

Democrat Jerry Sebestyen, who is challenging state Rep. Greg Smith, is taking advantage of the new format. Smith declined his invitation to the event, Hector said.

Union mayoral candidates Jack Zimmerman and Bill Lindsley have said they will appear. Dick Middleton, a third candidate, has not yet confirmed his appearance.

Others who have said they will attend include Joe Gonzales, candidate for Union City Council Position 3; George Washington Blanton, Union council Position 5; and Betty Bronson and Tony Prince, Union council Position 1.

Elgin mayoral candidate Tim McGinness has confirmed he will attend. Opponent Amy Nelson is tentative. Incumbent Carmen Gentry is not on the list of participants.

Forms will be handed out at the door so that the audience may write questions on them. The questions will be chosen by Ted Kramer, editor and publisher of The Observer, and Ken Kennedy of KCMB radio. Moderator will be DiLyn Larsen-Hill.

Candidates may place literature on a table for the audience to pick up. Time permitting, candidates will meet with the audience following the forum for one-on-one conversations.

For more information, call Hector at 963-8588.