Tuesday, January 23rd, there will be a Democratic Candidates forum at The Smith Opera House in Geneva. The forum will bring together the seven announced candidates for U.S. House of Representatives in the 23rd congressional district. That’s the seat currently held by Tom Reed.
No one organization brought this event together. Eileen Buckley is one of the organizers. She said the forum came together over coffee out of a desire to get to know the candidates in time to make an informed decision.
“In March, each one of these candidates have to go out and begin circulating petitions. Each have to have 1,250 signatures from registered Democrats before they are even allowed on the ballot for the primary. The primary is June 26th. So, that means every Democrat in the 23rd Congressional District hopefully will go out and vote and figure out which one of these seven they feel will best represent them and also have the best chance of beating Tom Reed if that is their wish. So, that was the impetus, just we gotta get going. Time is moving fast.”
The event is free and open to the public. There will be a moderator and a few prepared questions. The audience will be encouraged to ask their own. That puts some responsibility back on the voters.
“The fact that they would be present is, to me, huge. It shows they’re interested. It shows they’re a little curious. It show we have to be serious and we have to be an educated voter. So, if they just come in with an open mind and listen. Hopefully, when we have audience questions they will ask a question and not, in all honesty, give their opinion in that moment, if only because it takes up time from everybody else.”
The Democratic Candidates forum happens Tuesday, January 23rd from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at The Smith Opera House in downtown Geneva.
