Those in the running for city government will have their chance to comment on the issues making headlines during the Prince George Citizen's all-candidates forum tonight from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza Convention Centre.
"A community newspaper's top mandate is always to inform," said Citizen managing editor Sylvie Paillard. "It's a crucial aspect of democracy since an informed population is an empowered population. So we're pleased to provide this platform giving voters a chance to decide who they want making the decisions that impact them in such profound ways."
The first half of the forum will feature questions from a panel of the Citizen's leading political reporters and commentators.
Featured on the panel is award-winning Citizen city politics reporter Arthur Williams who joined the news team last February but has been covering City Hall in Prince George since 2005.
Joining Williams is Bruce Strachan, a freelance writer and long-time political columnist for the Citizen. Strachan is also a former member of the B.C. Legislative Assembly and a former Prince George city councillor.
Third on the panel is Dr. Todd Whitcombe, a Citizen columnist and chemistry professor at the University of Northern B.C.
Moderating the evening is Randall Heidt, former city editor of the Citizen and current director of communications for the College of New Caledonia.
The second half of the forum will allow attendees to put their questions - written and submitted throughout the evening - to the candidates.
Who's on the ballot
The candidates in the running for mayor are incumbent Dan Rogers, Shari Green, Bruce Fader, Eugene Fetterly, Alex Huber and Brandon Lewis.
Those looking to fill the eight council seats are incumbents Debora Munoz, Garth Frizzell, Murry Krause, Brian Skakun, Cameron Stolz and Dave Wilbur and challengers Scot Affleck, John Beebe, Joanne Dickenson, Frank Everitt, Dorothy Friesen, Jordan Gadsby, Brad Gagnon, Lyn Hall, Albert Koehler, Travis Shaw, Myrt Turner and Harry Ulch.
The municipal election takes Nov. 19. Those over the age of 18 who have been residents of B.C. for the past six months and of Prince George for the past 30 days are eligible to vote. There are three opportunities for advance voting - Nov. 9 and Nov. 15 at City Hall and Nov. 16 at UNBC.
