By JIM FARIS
The League of Women Voters of Northwest Missouri is hosting two candidate and issues-based forums the next two Thursdays before the midterm elections November 3rd. Both will be at 6 PM, at the Rolling Hills Library's Riverside Branch, 400 Mosaic Court in Saint Joseph.
Up first, October 15th will feature Missouri House and Senate candidates. The list of invited candidates is as follows:
- House District 9- Gena Puckett (D) and Dean VanSchoiack (R)
- House District 10-Paul Gatewood (R) and LaTonya Williams (D)
- House District 11-Luke Rae (D) and Taylor Crouse (R)
- House District 13-John Elliot (R) and Jacoby Wynkoop (D)
- Senate Seat 12-Judy McNeece (D) and Rusty Black (R)
- Senate Seat 34-Mike Jones (R) and Shereka Barnes (D)
Of these candidates, VanSchoiack and Black are the only incumbents, with all other seats currently held by outgoing politicians.
The second forum is set for October 22nd, and will feature a U.S. House District 6 debate, with candidates Chris Stigall (R) and Josh Smead (D) invited. The seat is currently held by outgoing Representative Sam Graves. The evening will also include speakers for issues up and down the ballot, and the League of Women Voters' position on the issues headed to the polls in November.
Voters across Missouri will have to decide on 6 issues: Amendments 3, 6, 7, and 8, and Propositions A and K.