The Galesburg NAACP in a partnership with the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Candidates Forum on Wednesday, March 27th. The two entities wanted to provide a platform for local candidates to introduce themselves and meet constituents. Dwight White with the NAACP sits on a Political Action Committee and wanted to create an atmosphere that was wasn’t a debate – keeping the night about the candidate, not the opponent. “It’s going to be nice, and light-weight,” White said. “We’re just going to allow them to speak for three to five minutes, and then after everybody gets done, then we’ll just mingle. We just want everybody to know who the candidates are, (and) get a chance to talk to them up close and personal. That’s something that’s important to us. What their issues are, and things like that – let them do that some other place. I just want you to be able to see your candidates and have a chance to talk to them.” Many of the county races are uncontested, but White says it’s important to meet your candidate because many times they’re the ones that make decisions that affect your daily life. For instance, for Galesburg City Council – constituents will vote on three wards: Ward 1, Bradley Hix versus Angela Bastian; Ward 3, Russell Fleming versus Lindsay Hillery; Ward 7, Larry Cox versus Ashley Worby; and Peter Schwartzmann in Ward 5 is unopposed. The forum is March 27th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Cedar Creek Hall. Election Day for the 2019 consolidated election is next Tuesday, April 2nd.
