Seven candidates for three county and state elections have been invited to discuss local and regional issues in the meeting room of the Blaine County Courthouse in Hailey at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6.
The first Pizza and Politics forum of 2010 is sponsored by the Idaho Mountain Express as a public service. Members of the press and the public will present questions to the candidates, who will have the chance to express their views on the major issues of the campaign—and, of course, eat pizza.
All three candidates for the District 25 Senate race are expected to attend. Democratic candidate and Ketchum resident Michelle Stennett is the acting senator, having stepped in for her husband, Clint Stennett, who retired due to health reasons in January 2009.
During her time in the Senate, Stennett has voted on issues including health care and funding for higher education.
Republican candidate Jim Donoval, a Sun Valley resident who has sought a series of debates with Stennett, has been outspoken about issues ranging from campaign finances to the validity of the Constitution Party.
Constitution Party candidate and Carey Mayor Randy Patterson, who owns and operates a marketing business, was on the Carey City Council for nearly a decade and is passionate about the need for locally based governing.
Candidates for the District 25B seat in the state House of Representatives are also expected to show.
Democratic candidate and current incumbent Donna Pence has held her seat since 2006, voting in favor of scholarships for drug-free students and a measure to prevent local governments from regulating firearms.
Alex Sutter, her Republican opponent, served as a corporal in the U.S. Army and owns an insurance company. Sutter is the current district vice chair of the Republican Party, a post he's held since 2008.
County Commission candidates Angenie McCleary and Mickey Garcia will also face off during the forum. Garcia and McCleary are competing for the District 3 seat, which runs from the north side of East Fork Road north to Smiley Creek in northern Blaine County.
McCleary is the Democratic candidate and incumbent, appointed by Gov. Butch Otter in July 2008 to replace retiring Commissioner Sarah Michael. Since her appointment, McCleary has served as liaison to the Snake River Juvenile Detention Center and on the board of the Blaine Manor nursing home.
Garcia, a 25-year Ketchum resident and previous candidate for public office, is registered as an independent. He has recently been outspoken on issues such as the Ketchum idling ordinance and affordable housing.
Express editor Gregory Foley will moderate the discussion. The format allows five minutes for questions from the audience for the candidates of each race, though questions cannot be directed at specific candidates. The candidates will also have 30 seconds to pose questions to their opponents. The event is free.
Katherine Wutz: kwutz@mtexpress.com
