Local candidate forum slated for Oct. 20

The Jasper County League of Women Voters and the Newton Daily News are co-sponsoring a candidates forum at 6 p.m. Oct. 20 in the Newton City Council chambers.

The invitees include Iowa House District 29 Rep. Dan Kelley, along with Democratic challenger Wes Breckenridge, and Republican candidate Patrick Payton. House District 28 incumbent Rep. Greg Heartsill (R-Columbia) and challenger Martin Duffy (D-Knoxville) have also been invited.

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors candidates, vying for the seat to be vacated by Denny Stevenson, who is stepping down, have also been invited to the forum. They are Democrat Sandy Shaver, Republican Doug Cupples and Libertarian Keith Laube, all of Newton.

Candidates from Senate District 14 will not be participating as incumbent Sen. Amy Sinclair has a previous commitment on that date.

Catherine Fouts will moderate for House candidates, who will hold their forum at 6 p.m., and Linda Kirchhoff will moderate for supervisor candidates, whose forum will begin at about 7:30 p.m.

Fran Henderson of the League of Women Voters said Newton-area Mediacom customers can watch the forum on TV.

“The forum will be covered on the city’s government channel (Mediacom 85 or digital 121-12),” Henderson said.

The format will include a brief opening statement from each candidate, followed by a question-and-answer period. Those in attendance will be allowed to anonymously write and submit questions, to be reviewed by the League of Women Voters and possibly read aloud for all of the candidates to answer.

The League and the Newton Daily News sponsored a similar forum May 22, just before the June 7 primary election. That forum included the two Republicans and two Democrats seeking the supervisor nominations, along with Kelley and Breckenridge, who were both seeking the Democratic House District 29 nomination.

Breckenridge went on to defeat Kelley in the June 7 Democratic primary. Kelley, who has been the District 29 Representative since 2010, later filed to run for his own seat under the “Stand Up to Bullies” party.

Payton, who lost to Kelley in the 2014 general election, and Laube, who announced his candidacy just before the June 7 primary, were unopposed in their parties and did not participate in the May 22 forum.

House District 28 includes the townships of Palo Alto, Fairview, Elk Creek and Lynn Grove in Jasper County, most of Marion County , and the townships of Liberty, English, Pleasant, Lincoln, Cedar, Benton and Washington in Lucas County.

House District 29 includes Jasper county with the exception of Palo Alto, Fairview, Elk Creek and Lynn Grove townships.

Senate District 14 includes the townships of Palo Alto, Fairview, Elk Creek & Lynn Grove in Jasper County and all of Marion, Clarke, Lucas, Decatur and Wayne counties. Sinclair and her challenger, Ruth Smith of Lamoni, will be allowed to submit proxy statements to be read at the forum during opening statements.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com