The Crookston Chamber will host the 2020 Meet the Candidate Forum on Wednesday, October 21, at 6 p.m. Because of the COVID-19 restriction, the forum is not open to a public audience, explains Chamber Director Terri Heggie. “KROX will be doing a live feed,” said Heggie. “Something different this year is it will not be open to the public because of COVID guidelines. It will be live-streamed so you can view the candidate forum that way. We sent out 27 invitations for the forum this year from City Council to School Board, Senators to Commissioners. We’ve had a lot of RSVPs, so there should be a good turnout that night.”
Heggie said it is regrettable the forum is unable to be open to the public. “We regret that it has to be closed to the public, but we have to value the guidelines for COVID as well,” said Heggie. “Each candidate is invited to have two family members as guests. The attendance will just be candidates, their family members, and those helping with the event.”
Public questions should be submitted before the forum said, Heggie. “We do still value the impact from our community members and know your questions will be included,” said Heggie. “You can email Lance Norman at RiverView or me to ask your questions through email. We will try to get them in for the allotment of time that each candidate has.”
Heggie can be emailed at theggie@visitcrookston.com, and Chamber Board Chair Lance Norman will also accept questions at lnorman@riverviewhealth.com. Heggie said there isn’t a way for additional questions to be submitted during the forum. “We haven’t really set it up that way,” said Heggie. “One of the reasons is it’s a very full evening already. Just to be conscious of the time, we want to be sure we get the questions prior.”
Candidates have accepted invitation in the Crookston School Board, Crookston City Council, Polk County Commissioners, Minnesota House and Senate, and Ninth District Court races. Heggie discussed some of the more common questions submitted thus far. “I know for school board members there is some interest in a new football area as something that’s been brought up,” said Heggie. “For our judges, one, in particular, is what would you bring to this position? For the Senators, there is a lot of discussion about COVID and our small businesses as well. Those may not be just for our senators; they could be for our commissioners and City Council as well. Those seem to be common questions, but then, again, we don’t know what else will come in.”
The forum, which begins at 6 p.m., will be carried live on KROX 1260AM, 105.7 FM, 92.1 FM, and on the KROX radio livestream at KROXAM.COM. It will also be live-streamed with video on the KROX YouTube Channel (here). The forum will remain available for anyone unable to watch live on the KROX YouTube Channel.
Candidate interviews for local offices for the Crookston School Board, Crookston City Council, Polk County Commissioners, and candidates for the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate will air on the news on KROX beginning Thursday, October 22 through Friday, October 30.
Candidates are below –
Crookston School Board – Dave Davidson (Incumbent), Mike Theis (incumbent), Frank Fee (Incumbent), Marcia Meine, Jason Klinnert
Crookston City Council
Ward 1 – Jake Fee (Incumbent), Kristie Jerde
Ward 3 – Clayton Briggs (Incumbent), Blake Royal
Ward 5 – Joe Kresl (Incumbent), Casey Anderson, Marc Palmer
At-Large – Bobby Baird (Incumbent), Morgan Hibma, Wayne Melbye
Polk County Commissioners
1st District – Jerry Jacobson (Incumbent), Travis Johnson
3rd District – Gary Willhite (Incumbent)
5th District – Mark Holy, Tim Finseth
Ninth District Court – two races for different seats
Race one – Jan Austad (Incumbent), James Hughes
Race two – Charles Halvorson (Incumbent), Ben Lindstrom
Minnesota House of Representatives – District 1B
Deb Kiel (Incumbent) (R)
Cynthia Ansbacher (D)
Minnesota Senate – District 1
Mark Johnson (Incumbent) (R)
Reed Perkins (D)
