Five candidates are running to be the new mayor of Ladysmith in what will be a hotly contested election.
The Ladysmith Residents Association will be hosting a Ladysmith mayoralty candidates forum to help local voters find out more about the candidates and the reasons they are seeking the top job in town.
The public forum is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the Eagles Hall (921 1st Ave.) with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the forum starting at 7 p.m. From 6:30 until the forum starts the public will be able to informally meet candidates.
“This is an organization of interested, engaged Ladysmith citizens," residents association spokesperson John Craig said. "This group grew out of the Ladysmith Ratepayers Association of 2018. This LRA is specifically a non aligned group, a non partisan group. Our interest is the wise use of tax dollars and good government at the municipal level and also the provincial and federal levels.”
By the end of the nominating period, which was Jan. 24, six people had filed nomination papers. The five hopefuls are Russ Barling, Deena Beeston, Raymon Farmere, Joe Friesenhan and Tee Hanssen.
General election voting day is Saturday, March 1, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Frank Jameson Community Centre, at 810 Sixth Ave. There is advance voting on Feb. 19 and 26, again from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. but the advance voting location will be at City Hall.
The start of the forum will see each candidate given an opportunity for a two minute introduction, which will then be followed by a series of questions directed by Craig, who will be the moderator for the evening.
“The questions will not be shared with the candidates prior to the forum,” Craig said.
Following the prepared questions, there will be time for some questions from the audience. Candidates will be given two minutes to answer questions and there will be no rebuttals.
At press time it was believed that all of the candidates will be in attendance. The association said there will be no live-streaming of the forum but they are looking at possibly recording the event.
